MARSHALL, MN – The University of Mary softball team (9-22, 2-4 NSIC) is moving up their games against Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato, due to inclement weather.
UMary takes on SMSU in a doubleheader on Friday, March 28, beginning at 1 pm in Marshall, MN. The Marauders then challenge MSU on Saturday, March 29, in a doubleheader at 1 pm in Mankato, MN.
HOW TO WATCH
Fans can watch the games or follow the live stats at
www.GoUMary.com/coverage
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders fell 2-1, 9-0 in a doubleheader to Minot State University.
Janelle Bergmann smashes a solo home run in game one.
Arria Johnson pitched seven innings and allowed zero earned runs.
STAT LEADERS
Janelle Bergmann leads the team in home runs (5), OPS (1.023), slugging percentage (.646), batting average (.354) and RBIs (18). Bermann has a .354 batting average and a .377 on-base percentage.
Sariah Perez has the most extra-base hits on the team with nine. Perez has a .293 batting average, a .463 slugging percentage, a .356 on-base percentage and a .819 OPS.
Chloe Robinson leads the Marauders in on-base percentage (.449) and steals (12). Robinson has a .345 batting average, a .414 slugging percentage and a .863 OPS.
Ariana Retuta has the most hits (25) on the Marauders. Retuta has a .291 batting average, a .384 slugging percentage, and a .323 on-base percentage.
Elyssa Verploegen has the most wins (4) on the team. Verploegen has 41 strikeouts, more than any pitcher had for the Marauders last season.
OPPO RESEARCH – SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
SMSU IS 20-12 overall and 2-4 in the Northern Sun. Sophomore outfielder Brynn Webber leads the team in batting average (.341), slugging percentage (.463), on-base percentage (.471) and OPS (.934). Freshman pitcher Jordyn Marsh leads the Mustangs in ERA (2.68).
OPPO RESEARCH – MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO
MSU is 21-11 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC. Freshman outfielder Finley Anderson leads the Mavericks in batting average (.446), on-base percentage (.526), slugging percentage (.923), OPS (1.449), home runs (4), RBIs (23), and steals (13). Senior pitcher Brianne Stone leads the team in ERA (1.56) and WHIP (.97).
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.
#marauders#
