Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 3/13/2025 4:07:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball Prepares For Final Four Games In Florida

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball squad has compiled a 5-3 mark in its first eight games in Florida to improve to 8-9 overall. The Warriors will conclude their trip with two games each on Friday and Saturday.

WSU will battle in-region rival Hillsdale (11-8 overall) at 9 a.m. on Friday, and PSAC-member Slippery Rock (4-10 overall) at 1:45 p.m. (adjusted time from previously stated). On Saturday, Wayne State will face Saint Michael's College (0-0 overall) at 9 a.m. and Emporia State (16-9 overall) at 11:15 a.m.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wayne State has belted 16 home runs through the first 17 games, which is already tied-for-16th for a single-season in program history. The school record is 38 set by the 2011 team.

Three of the top hitters for WSU are freshmen in pitcher/first baseman Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.), third baseman/designated player Katelyn DeWitt (Grand Blanc, Mich.) and right fielder Morgan Williams (Midland, Mich.). Koopman is hitting .429 (21-for-49) with seven extra-base hits and a team-leading 20 RBI. She also leads the squad in slugging percentage (.694). DeWitt is batting .389 (21-for-540 with a team-high 18 runs scored. Williams has a team-best 10 walks and leads the club in on-base percentage (.488).

Junior Grace Fisher (Painesville, Ohio / Riverside [Notre Dame College]) has a 2.91 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 43.1 innings with two complete games, while sophomore Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) has a 2-1 record along with a 4.40 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 43 innings. Head coach Nicole Tines is in her fourth season leading the Warriors.

LEADING THE CHARGERS
HC is 5-1 during its trip to Florida heading into Friday's match-up with WSU. Sydney Davis leads the squad in batting average (.365 / 19-for-52) and walks (13), while Maggie Olaveson is hitting .345 (19-for-55). Emma Vis has a team-high three home runs and 15 RBI, with Taylor Lewis being 10-for-10 in stolen bases.

Seventh=year head coach Kyle Gross has used four pitchers for at least 20 innings this spring in Joni Russell (4-1, 2 SV, 1.26 ERA, 48 SO), Anistyn Foster (1-0, 4.94 ERA, 15 SO), Grace Harris (2-1, 5.23 ERA, 4 SO), and Mackenzi Maxson (3-3, 7.95 ERA, 16 SO).

LEADING THE ROCK
Slippery Rock is 4-10 overall heading into Friday morning's contest vs. Saint Michael's. Emma Kennedy is hitting .310 (9-for-29), while Julia Montie is tied for the team lead in RBI (6) with Alexsa Hurd. Montie is batting .244 (10-for-41) with two home runs. Jessica Goldhardt is 5-for-5 in stolen bases despite only having 13 plate appearances.

The two main hurlers for 11th-year head coach Stacey Rice are Alexsa Hurd (3-2, 2.86 ERA, 54 SO) and Paige Gresgott (0-5, 3.66 ERA, 23 SO).

LEADING THE PURPLE KNIGHTS
Head coach Nick Goodreau embarks on his seventh season leading SMC on Friday (3/14) with games against Slippery Rock and Shepherd, before facing WSU on Saturday morning.

LEADING THE HORNETS
Emporia State has compiled a 16-9 mark and begins its Florida trip on Friday with games versus Bemidji State and Lake Erie. ESU will battle Shepherd on Saturday morning before playing the Warriors.

Leslie Ramos is leading the Hornets in batting at .356 (16-for-45), while Taryn Burkhardt has 20 walks in 97 plate appearances and leads ESU in on-base percentage (.469). Burkhardt also has a team-best 17 stolen bases. Brooke Flewelling has six home runs and a team-high 26 RBI. All three hurlers for ESU have thrown at least 30 innings this spring in Jordan Harrison (8-2, 2.69 ERA, 69 SO), Gracie Rabe (5-6, 2.92 ERA, 49 SO), and Jayda VanAckeren (3-1, 5.19 ERA, 8 SO). ESU alum April Rosales is in her 10th season leading the Hornets.

UP NEXT
After returning from Florida, WSU is slated to have six home games in the next week starting with a non-conference twinbill vs. Northwood (Wednesday, 3/19 at 3 p.m.). GLIAC play commences on March 22 vs. Davenport (1 p.m.) and continues on March 23 vs. Ferris State (12 p.m.).

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#21 Elly Koopman: P/1B/DP; 5' 9"; Freshman; L/R

#6 Sydney Long: P; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#15 Morgan Williams: RF/1B; 5' 8"; Freshman; L/L

Players Mentioned

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

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

#21 Elly Koopman
: 5' 9"; Freshman; L/R
: P/1B/DP

#6 Sydney Long
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#15 Morgan Williams
: 5' 8"; Freshman; L/L
: RF/1B