BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary softball team (9-20, 2-2 NSIC) prepares for a mid-week doubleheader against in-state rivals Minot State University on Wednesday, March 26, at 1 pm at the UMary Softball Field.  

HOW TO WATCH
Fans can watch the games or follow the live stats at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split doubleheaders against the University of Sioux Falls and Wayne State College. UMary defeated USF 4-2 due to excellent pitching performances by Elyssa Verploegen and Hannah Chambers. They combined for seven innings pitched and allowed only two runs.

Janelle Bergmann lifted the Marauders to a 9-8 victory over WSC after she hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a one-run lead. Bergmann finished the game 3-for-3 with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs.

STAT LEADERS
Janelle Bergmann leads the team in home runs (4), OPS (.975), slugging percentage (.610) and RBIs (17). Bermann has a .339 batting average and a .365 on-base percentage.

Sariah Perez has the most extra-base hits on the team with nine. Perez has a .307 batting average, a .493 slugging percentage, a .373 on-base percentage and a .866 OPS.

Chloe Robinson leads the Marauders in batting average (.345), on-base percentage (.449) and steals (12). Robinson has a .414 slugging percentage and a .863 OPS.

Ariana Retuta has the most hits (24) on the Marauders. Retuta has a .304 batting average, a .405 slugging percentage, a .337 on-base percentage and a .847 OPS.

Elyssa Verploegen has the most wins (4) on the team. Verploegen has 39 strikeouts, more than any pitcher had for the Marauders last season.

OPPO RESEARCH – MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY
MSU is 15-12 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC. The Beavers are led by senior pitchers Jasmine Blizzard and Reegan Floyd. Blizzard has a 1.66 ERA, a 5-5 record and 37 strikeouts. Floyd has an 8-3 record, a 1.81 ERA and 67 strikeouts. Junior outfielder Sara Van Wickler leads MSU in OPS (.981) and slugging percentage (.595).

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 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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