The IU Columbus softball season was full of individual and program highlights: 

* Third place in the River States Conference tournament
* Two players named to first team All-Conference
* River States Conference Player of the Week
* Outstanding leadership from the senior class
* Four game home weekend sweep
*, First no-hitter in program history

The college softball season starts in February, and the weather is always a factor. The Crimson Pride opened theStateir season in North Carolina on February 6th. They played a pair of doubleheaders against Montreat College and Alice Lloyd College. They went 1-3 in those first four non-conference games. Scheduled home games against Calumet College and Huntington University were canceled due to the weather. They finally played a home opening doubleheader against Grace Christian University at CERA Sports Park on February 28th, and they swept the visitors to even their record at 3-3. Due to the weather, that would be all of the non-conference games for the season, with the River States Conference action coming quickly.

Head Coach Tommi Stowers substituted liberally throughout the early portion of the season, looking for the right combinations for the season. Her use of the entire roster in close games all year led to quality depth up and down the lineup and all over the field defensively.

Conference play got underway on February 6th. Due to weather conditions the Crimson Pride played host to West Virginia Tech on Friday and Rio Grande on Saturday at Columbus East High School ( Thank you to Columbus East!). Both doubleheaders were exciting, and both were split. The two IUC wins were last inning, walk-off wins, setting the stage for an exciting season.

The following weekend saw the Crimson Pride lose a pair on the road at Shawnee Stae before coming home to face Brescia University on Saturday. They won the second game against the Bears 17-6, giving some momentum heading into the following weekend with two home doubleheaders scheduled - and what a weekend it was! IUC pounded Midway University on Friday 12-7 and 14-6. They continued the offensive onslaught by defeating Kentucky Christian on Saturday by the scores of 14-8 and 12-3. This marked the first time in IU Columbus softball history they swept four home games in the same weekend. Carli Hosler was sensational, going 7-11 with four home runs on the weekend, earning River States Conference Player of the Week honors.

The following week showed playing conference games on the road is never easy as they lost both doubleheaders to IU Southeast and Oakland City. They did salvage a pair of road wins on a rare Sunday doubleheader at St. Mary of the Woods, evening their season record at 12-12. April began with a four game road trip, and the Crimson Pride swept West Virginia Tech on Friday before losing both ends of the Saturday doubleheader at Rio Grande. After splitting a rare Tuesday doubleheader with IU Southeast, IU Columbus hosted Shawnee State. The Bears won the opener easily, 13-0. The second game went back and forth, with the Crimson Pride on the short end of an 8-7 game. The following day they lost both games by one run at Brescia, 1-0 and 10-9.

A trip to Kentucky to play Midwaylosers' University proved to be a highlight of the season. Chloe Linn was locked in a pitchers duel with Midway's Breanna Beach. The Crimson Pride scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning, and only collected four hits in the game. That was two more runs and four more hits than the opposition as Linn threw a complete game no-hitter, striking out seven against two walks. This was the first no-hitter in IU Columbus softball history. They completed the sweep with an 8-6 win in the second game. 

The regular season ended with a pair of home doubleheaders at CERA  Sports Park. Friday saw the Crimson Pride sweep St. Mary of the Woods by the scores of 9-1 and 9-3. Regular season conference champion Oakland City provided the opposition on Saturday, and IU Columbus showed they were prepared for the tournament as they split the doubleheader, losing the first game 4-1 before winning the final game of the regular season 5-3.

The conference tournament was played in Charleston, West Virginia. The Crimson Pride came in as the sixth seed, which pitted them against third seed Rio Grande. Rio Grande defeated IU Columbus in three of the four games in the regular season, and they were victorious again in the tournament opener by a score of 7-3, sending the Crimson Pride into the losers bracket. They then faced top seed Oakland City in an elimination game. They dominated the Mighty Oaks and sent them home with an 11-3 win. Next up was the number two seed Shawnee State. The Crimson pride offense stayed hot, and they defeated the Bears 7-2, with Mallory Shelton's three run homer the offensive highlight. The tournament run ended the following day as Rio Grande continued their dominance over IU Columbus with a 4-3 win.

Mallory Shelton and Linnea Baldner each were named first-team All-Conference after their outstanding regular seasons, which continued with their performances in the conference tournament. Shelton finished with several offensive season and career records, and opponents feared her in the middle of the lineup. Baldner was the best defensive center fielder in the conference, and her speed at the top of the order was an offensive weapon.

Seniors Linnea Baldner, Mallory Shelton, Lex Heafner, Olivia Bright, Renee Lecher, Carli Hosler and Justice Cash showed outstanding leadership all season, and the team reflected that with their unselfish play throughout the year. The possibility of one or more of these players with eligibility returning next season remains, but their careers at IU Columbus will be remembered as they laid the foundation for future success for the program. The program is in good hands with Head Coach Tommi Stowers. Her assistants Erica Henry and Kaylee Cole deserve recognition for their countless hours of hard work and preparation.