TOPEKA, KS – The University of Mary softball team (0-7) heads to Topeka, KS, to compete in the Washburn Invite. UMary opens the invite on Saturday, February 26, against Newman University (12:30 pm) and then takes on Washburn University (4:30 pm). The Marauders wrap up the invite on Sunday, February 27, competing against the University of Nebraska at Kearney (1:30 pm) and Fort Hays State University (2:30 pm).

About the Opposition
Newman University has opened the season with a 2-4 record overall. Freshman Lindsay Mayo leads NU in batting average (.526), on-base percentage (.640), slugging percentage (.737) and OPS (1.377). Freshman Gianna Navarro leads the team in hits (11) and RBIs (8).

Washburn University is 7-6 to begin the season. Sophomore outfielder Hadley Kerschen leads the team in batting average (.444), slugging percentage (.600), hits (20) and RBIs (13). Sophomore pitcher Jaycee Ginter has been electric to start the season. Ginter has a 6-1 record as she had struck out 57 batters in 39 innings pitched, giving her a 2.12 ERA.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney opens the season with a 3-7 record. Junior infielder Bri Healy leads the team with a .440 batting average. Senior first baseman Hailey Schaneman leads UNK with 10 RBIs to go along with a .348 batting average. Senior pitcher Kelsey Goodban has a 2-3 record and an ERA of 3.50.

Fort Hays State University opens the 2022 season with a 4-8 record. Freshman outfielder Lindsey Kelly leads FHSU in batting average (.409) and on-base percentage (.458). Senior catcher Sara Breckbill leads the Rigers in home runs (3) and RBIs (7). Freshman pitcher Savanah Egger has a 3.72 ERA and a 2-3 record overall.

UMary Stats
Haley Berube leads UMary in slugging percentage (1.227), on-base percentage (.565), batting average (.591), OPS (1.792), home runs (2) and RBIs (7).

Sariah Perez is second on the team in batting average (.438), on-base percentage (.524), RBIs (4), slugging percentage (.625) and OPS (1.149).

Brooke De Jonge is second on the team in hits (10) to go along has a .472 batting average and an OPS of 1.004.

Kaylee Kannegiesser has a .391 batting average and an OPS of .962.

Players to Watch
University of Mary infielder Kaylee Kannegiesser and pitcher Emari Evans were named 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Players to Watch for the Marauders as the NSIC released the preseason coaches' poll.

Kannegiesser led the team last season in RBIs as she had had career-high 32 hits while hitting two home runs. She would finish the 2021 season with a .278 batting average and a .688 OPS.

Emari Evans transferred to UMary from Howard University. Evans competed at Shadow Ridge High School, where she was named to the 2019 5A All-Region First Team. She posted a 2.61 ERA during her senior year of high school.

NSIC Preseason Ranking
UMary is projected to finish 13^th in the Northern Sun, according to the NSIC preseason coaches' poll.

New Coach
Frantz enters her first year in charge of the Marauders softball program. She returns to the program as one of the most decorated scholar-athletes in the history of UMary softball. The former All-American was the assistant coach at Bismarck State College last year and was elevated to co-head coach of the Mystics following the season.

Returners
Eryn De Jonge returns after leading the team in batting average (.296). Rachael Laestch returns as a fifth-year senior after leading the team in slugging percentage (.451) while hitting five home runs. Brooke DeJonge, Mckenzie Reinhardt, Haley Berube, Avery Dome, Devyn Ritz, Madison Wszolek, Morgan Diedrich, Nicole Eckhardt all return for another year in the UMary softball program.

New Faces
UMary brings in six new freshmen to Marauders softball program. Natasha Stubbs, Erin Murphy, Sariah Perez, Ariana Retuta and Sarah Martin will look to bring an immediate impact to the UMary lineup. Pitcher Hannah Chambers will look to bring a new dynamic to the Marauders pitching staff.

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