Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 2/12/2025 7:15:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball To Begin 2025 Season In Tennessee This Friday

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (17-30 overall in 2024) will commence its 2025 season this Friday at the Lincoln Memorial Tournament in Harrogate, Tenn. The tournament has been reduced to one day due to the forecast of inclement weather in the area on Saturday and Sunday.

The Warriors will face the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (0-5 overall) at noon on Friday, followed by a 4 p.m. contest against the host Railsplitters, who are 6-3 this spring and currently ranked No. 28 nationally. WSU will conclude tournament play at 6 p.m. on Friday with a match-up vs. the 2-7 Davis & Elkins Senators.

Complete Tournament Schedule

SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State and Kentucky Wesleyan have met 13 times previously with WSU leading 9-4. The last meeting was a 3-1 Warrior triumph in 2015 at the Charger Chillout as Hall of Famer Lyndsay Butler went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, along with earning a two-inning save with four strikeouts.

The Warriors have faced LMU just once prior winning 1-0 in 2015 as part of the North Georgia Tournament. Briana Lee tossed a three-hit shutout and Shelby Spano drove in the only run in the top of the first with an infield single plating Kristen Lucas.

Wayne State has a 3-2 all-time series lead over the Senators. All five previous match-ups were held in Akron, Ohio, and between 1987 and 1990 as part of the AU Zip Invitational.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Senior designated player Rylie Josephson was a First Team All-GLIAC selection a year ago after batting .396 with a .470 on-base percentage (19 walks to 18 strikeouts), while sophomore catcher/utility Logan Forman hit .292 with a team-leading 26 RBI last season to earn Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition.

Senior outfielder Mady Ruczynski batted .280 in 2024 with eight walks to eight strikeouts in 117 plate appearances. Other starters returning include Maddie Hool at second base and Madison Martinez at third base.

Other key members returning include Kennedy Cole, Lauren Fritz, Mia Hool, Molly Hool and Jessie O'Donnell. Utility player Danielle Fick, a transfer from Notre Dame College, adds versatility and could see playing time at multiple positions. Head Coach Nicole Tines and assistant coach Hannah (McClounie) Kelly brought in six freshmen to bolster the lineup in shortstop Hunter Near, catcher/utility Abby Barnes, third baseman Katelyn DeWitt and first baseman/outfielder Morgan Williams along with pitchers Elly Koopman and Montgomery Pepin.

The WSU pitching staff has one returnee from last season in sophomore Sydney Long, while Hayden Batton returns after missing all of last season with an injury. NDC transfer Grace Fisher has solidified the pitching corps, while the two freshmen mentioned above will provide depth and give Tines plenty of options when filling out the lineup card.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Junior catcher Kennedy Matheis is hitting a team-best .444 (4-for-9) with a double after five games, while sophomore outfielder Chloe Apple has a team-high six hits (6-for-14, .429, .529 on-base percentage). KWC has nine extra-base hits (six doubles, three triples) and is hitting .273 as a team.

Senior Immi Mann has tossed three complete games and 19.1 innings with an 0-3 mark and a 5.79 ERA. Both Lexie Onyett and Augusta Garr have made two appearances this spring. Head coach Miles Mallette is in his 20th season leading the Panthers.

LEADING THE RAILSPLITTERS
Junior outfielder Anna Kate Reichter is batting a team-high .367 (11-for-30) with team-best totals of five stolen bases and a .533 slugging percentage. Sophomore infielder Hannah McMeen is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with a team-high nine runs scored. LMU has 12 extra-base hits in nine contests and is hitting .246 as a team with a .345 on-base percentage.

Senior pitcher Halle Grace Patton has a 5-1 record with a 1.84 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 38 innings. She pitched at Trevecca Nazarene a year ago following a stint in junior college. LMU head coach Ritchie Richardson is in his eighth season at his alma mater, following an NAIA Hall of Fame career at Olivet Nazarene and one season at Purdue Northwest before they transitioned to the GLIAC.

LEADING THE SENATORS
Senior outfielder Lina Gutierrez has a team-best .484 batting average (15-for-31) with four extra-base hits and a team-high six stolen bases. Junior utility player Ashlyn Zapach is next at .483 (14-for-29) with a team-best 15 RBI. DEC is averaging over six runs per game, but is allowing over 10 runs per contest.

Fifth-year head coach Elle Fracker has used six pitchers this season with sophomore Sammie Jarvis having tossed a team-high 22.2 innings with a 5.56 ERA. She leads the pitching corps with 18 strikeouts.

UP NEXT
After the trio of games on Friday, Wayne State will head to the Windy City the following weekend (Feb. 21-22) for the Lewis University Dome Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Abby Barnes: C/LF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#18 Hayden Batton: P; 5' 8"; Junior; L/L

#10 Kennedy Cole: C/DP; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#20 Kate DeWitt: 3B/DP; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#7 Danielle Fick: OF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#16 Grace Fisher: P; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#11 Logan Forman: C/UT; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#13 Lauren Fritz: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#2 Maddie Hool: 2B; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#1 Mia Hool: OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#14 Abby Barnes
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: C/LF

#18 Hayden Batton
: 5' 8"; Junior; L/L
: P

#10 Kennedy Cole
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: C/DP

#20 Kate DeWitt
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: 3B/DP

#7 Danielle Fick
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#16 Grace Fisher
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: P

#11 Logan Forman
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/UT

#13 Lauren Fritz
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#2 Maddie Hool
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: 2B

#1 Mia Hool
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF