THIS WEEK
The University of Mary Softball team returns to the diamond after a two-week absence for the spring games in the Sunshine state. The Marauders will play eight games from the March 13-17 span this week in Leesburg, FL.
SPRING GAMES SCHEDULE
Monday, March 13 | vs University of New Haven, 8 am (cst) | vs Southern Connecticut State, 10:30 am (cst)
Tuesday, March 14 | vs Felician University, 1 pm (cst) | vs Le Moyne College, 3:30 pm (cst)
Thursday, March 16 | vs Wayne State University, 1 pm (cst) | vs Salem University, 3:30 pm (cst)
Friday, March 17 | vs Alliance University, 10:30 am (cst) | vs University of New Haven, 1 pm (cst)
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders are coming off a cold and wet stay at the Washburn Invite two weeks ago. UMary suffered 0-7 and 4-18 setbacks to Washburn and Newman on February 25. They closed the weekend with 3-11 and 0-9 losses to Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hays State on February 26.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Devyn Ritz currently stands as the Marauders top hitter with a .381 batting average and an .891 OPS.
Brooke De Jonge is batting .350 currently with one home run.
Sariah Perez is batting .346 with a team-high nine base hits, three of which are for extra bases.
Madison Wszolek is batting .300 with a team-best six runs batted in.
Nicole Eckhardt is 1-1 in the circle this season with one save, as well as 21 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.
COVERAGE
Live video streams of the Marauders 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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