HAYS, KS – The University of Mary softball team (7-14) hits the road for four games in two days. UMary travels to Hays, KS, to challenge Fort Hays State University in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 16, starting at noon. The Marauders then take on the University of Nebraska at Kearney in a doubleheader, beginning at noon on Monday, March 17, in Kearney, NE.
HOW TO WATCH
Fans can watch the games or follow the live stats at
www.GoUMary.com/coverage
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders went 2-4 in their Florida Spring Break games. UMary defeated California University of Pennsylvania 8-4 and West Virginia Wesleyan College 14-3.
Ariana Retuta went 2-for-2 with two walks, three runs scored, three RBIs and one home run against WVWC.
Sariah Perez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one double against CUP.
STAT LEADERS
Sariah Perez leads the team in OPS (1.161), slugging percentage (.688), hits (19). and extra-base hits (9). She is tied for first on the team in home runs (2). Perez has a .396 batting average and a .473 on-base percentage.
Chloe Robinson leads the Marauders in batting average (.400) and steals (12). Robinson has a .489 on-base percentage, a .425 slugging percentage and a .914 OPS.
Kelsey Mischel leads the team in walks (11) and on-base percentage (.512). Mischel has a .333 batting average, a .433 slugging percentage and a .945 OPS.
Janelle Bergmann has the most RBIs (13) on the team and tied for first in home runs (2). Bermann has a .357 batting average, a .571 slugging percentage and a .949 OPS.
OPPO RESEARCH – FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY
FHSU is 14-6 overall. The Tigers are led by senior catcher Madison Pierce, who has an OPS of 1.118 in 20 games. Senior pitcher Morgan Schmidt leads FHSU in ERA (2.03), strikeouts (73) and wins (7).
OPPO RESEARCH -UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY
UNK is 10-13 overall. The Lopers are led by junior shortstop Mary Chvatal, who has a 1.012 OPS and eight stolen bases. Freshman pitcher Jerzie Schindler leads UNK in ERA (3.33) and wins (5).
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 Johnson and
Madison Schamanski.
UMary also adds six transfers:
Peyton Whitehead,
Cassidy Bagnell,
Chloe Robinson,
Rilyn Kirkland 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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