MINOT, ND – The University of Mary softball team opens their 2025 season this weekend with five games in three days in Minot, ND. The Marauders open with a doubleheader against Black Hills State University on Friday, January 31, at 1/3 pm.
UMary then takes on the University of Providence on Saturday, February 1, at 10 am and Minnesota State University Moorhead at 2 pm. The final game of the weekend for the Marauders is against the University of Providence on Sunday, February 2, at 12 pm.
HOW TO WATCH
Fans can watch the games or follow the live stats at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
SARIAH PEREZ NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH
Sariah Perez is the Marauders NSIC Player to Watch. Last season, Perez recorded a .348 on-base percentage and a .413 slugging percentage to give her an OPS of .761. The senior from Patterson, CA, led the Marauders in total bases last year with 50. Perez started a team-high 44 games last season and collected 35 hits in 121 at-bats.
HANNAH CHAMBERS NSIC PITCHER TO WATCH
Hannah Chambers is the Marauders NSIC Pitcher to Watch in 2025. Last season, Chambers led UMary in innings pitched with 72.0. The senior from Paso Robles, CA, has the best ERA (5.74) of any returning starting pitcher. Chambers recorded three wins and struck out 14 batters last year.
NOTABLE RETURNERS
Janelle Bergmann returns to the team as a junior middle infielder. Bergmann led the team in OPS (.873) and slugging percentage (.488).
Francesca Villaneda returns for her junior season at first base. Villaneda led the team in batting average (.357) and on-base percentage (.405).
Arria Johnson returns for her sophomore season at the circle. Johnson led the team in wins (4) and recorded 24 strikeouts to go along with a 5.81 ERA.
Other returners include
Ariane Sims,
Jenel Mallari,
Kelsey Mischel,
Jaraya Diaz,
Ariana Retuta,
Emma Kimberling,
Katelyn Falk and
Whitney Carnes.
NEWCOMERS
Head coach
Amy Schmeckpeper adds 13 newcomers to the roster. The Marauders have seven freshmen on the roster:
Genevieve Hastings,
Elyssa Verploegen,
Madison Hunter,
Jayleen Rojas,
Hailey Altenhof,
Ivee Johnsen and
Madison Schamanski.
UMary also adds six transfers:
Peyton Whitehead,
Cassidy Bagnell,
Chloe Robinson,
Rilyn Kirkland,
Delaney Lindstrom and
Alyssa Opgenorth.
THE STAFF
Amy Schmeckpeper enters her second year as the Marauders head softball coach. In her first season in charge, the Marauders went 10-38, an improvement of three wins from the season prior. UMary posted a team ERA of 5.82 last season, compared to a 7.43 ERA for the 2023 season.
Kaitlyn Alvarado returns to UMary this season in her third 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.
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