BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary Softball team prepares to take the field for their first games in two weeks in Washburn, Kansas. The Marauders (2-5) will play a pair of doubleheaders at the Washburn Invite on February 25 and 26.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 25
• UMary vs Washburn University - 1:30 pm
• UMary vs Newman University - 5:30 pm
Sunday, February 26
• UMary vs Northwest Missouri State - 9:30 am
• UMary vs Fort Hays State - 1:30 pm
WEATHER ADJUSTMENTS
The Marauders were originally slated to play six games at the Washburn Invite, but Friday's doubleheader against Pittsburg State and Emporia State has been canceled due to weather.
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders hit the diamond for the first time since the Kelly Laas Invitational on February 11-12 in St. Cloud, MN. The Marauders dropped their first three games at the invite, twice to St. Cloud State and once to Minnesota Duluth before ending the tournament on a high note.
In the last game in St. Cloud, UMary defeated Bemidji State 10-8 in epic comeback fashion.
Devyn Ritz,
Brooke McClure, and
Sariah Perez all came up big at the plate as the Marauders plated 10 unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat the Beavers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sariah Perez has had a strong start to her sophomore season through the first two weekends. The third baseman from Patterson, CA is currently batting .429 with a team-high nine base hits, three for extra bases, and has driven in 5 runs.
Devyn Ritz is also having a great start to her senior season. The first baseman from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada currently holds team-highs in batting average (0.533) and on-base percentage (0.600).
Brooke McClure has been another difference-maker at the plate. The senior from Bell Buckle, TN is batting .389 with four runs scored and three runs batted in.
Madison Wszolek is currently hitting .357 with a home run and five RBIs.
Brooke De Jonge is currently hitting .333 with a home run and a team-best five runs scored.
Nicole Eckhardt has pitched a team-high 18 strikeouts in 22 complete innings. The junior right-hander from Cornelius, OR is credited with a win and a save thus far.
LIVE COVERAGE
Links to live stats and a video stream of the games can be found at
goumary.com/coverage.
THE STAFF
Dre Frantz returns to the University of Mary in her second year as head softball coach. Frantz brings a desire to elevate the program where she excelled as one of UMary Softball's most decorated athletes.
As a Marauder, Frantz earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA first-team All-American honors as a utility player after her impressive senior season. One of only three Marauders during the program's NCAA era to earn All-American honors, she was also a Daktronics All-American honorable mention selection and a Louisville Slugger/NFCA and Daktronics All-Region choice in 2010 after hitting .427 with a .469 on-base percentage and a .680 slugging percentage, all career-highs. In her four-year career, Frantz posted a batting average of .393 with a .432 on-base percentage and a .605 slugging percentage.
Before taking over as Head Coach, Frantz stayed close with the program, serving six total years assisting the coaching staff. Frantz's coaching history also expands throughout the community, helping coach Mandan in 2014, Bismarck from 2015-18, and then taking over the helm with Legacy softball. In 2020, Frantz returned to the collegiate coaching level as an assistant at Bismarck State College.
Frantz is joined by other familiar faces in the UMary Softball program.
Cassidy Barclay returns to the Marauders for her second season as an Assistant Coach. Barclay was a four-year starter and all-conference catcher for Emporia State University.
Kaitlyn Alvarado returns to UMary this season in her first year as an Assistant Coach. Alvarado was a standout player for the Marauders from 2019-2021, both in the circle and at the plate. She batted a career average of .288 and had a career slugging percentage of .413.
Jared Sotelo comes to UMary for his first season as an Assistant Coach for the Marauders. Sotelo brings experience to the staff, coaching softball for the last nine years and most recently assisting the Park University Softball program.
Kennedy Cowart returns to UMary as the Marauders Student Coach. Cowart was a .310 hitter for the Marauders in 2022 as a senior. Cowart also played at West Virginia Wesleyan College where she earned two-time MEC First Team All-Conference honors.
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