Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 3/27/2026 12:01:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball To Have Six Consecutive Home Games Starting Saturday

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (8-13 overall, 0-4 GLIAC) will play its next six games at Gary Bryce Field on the WSU campus. The Warriors will have home GLIAC doubleheaders against Parkside (11-15 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) on Saturday at 1 PM, and Roosevelt (7-15 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) on Sunday at noon, along with a non-conference twinbill vs. Ashland (15-9 overall, 4-0 GMAC) on Tuesday at 2:30 PM.

SERIES HISTORY
Parkside has a 29-27 edge in the all-time series, which began in 1992. The Rangers took five of the six meetings last year, including both match-ups in the GLIAC Tournament (8-0 in five innings and 2-1 in 12 innings). WSU is 10-10 at home vs. UWP after dropping both decisions last season (3-2 and 3-1 on April 13, 2025).

Wayne State holds a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series with Roosevelt with all five meetings taking place in 2025. WSU won twice in Chicago, split at home, and then won 4-3 in eight innings in the GLIAC Tournament.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Junior Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) is hitting .353 (12-for-34), while contributing six extra-base hits (3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR). Sophomore shortstop Hunter Near (Coopersville, Mich.) is batting .343 (23-for-67) with eight extra-base hits and a team-leading .438 on-base percentage. She is one of five Warriors with a team-high 10 RBI (along with Elly Koopman, Molly Hool, Kate DeWitt and Maddie Hool). Freshman right fielder Brooke Bunch (Almont, Mich.) leads the squad in doubles (8) and stolen bases (9).

Long also leads the pitching corps in wins (4), innings (57.1), and strikeouts (34), while junior Kyra Shadduck (DeWitt, Mich. [Lansing C.C]) and sophomore Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.) each have two victories and 21 strikeouts apiece.

Fifth-year head coach Nicole Tines' squad has stolen 28 bases this year, which is the most since the 2017 team totaled 47 stolen bases.

LEADING THE RANGERS
UWP is led by two-time GLIAC Player of the Year Mia Johnson. The senior third baseman/catcher is hitting .514 (38-for-74) with eight home runs and 24 RBI. She has walked 30 times for a .654 on-base percentage. Freshman left fielder Isabel Aranda is batting .380 (27-for-71) with 11 extra-base hits and 19 RBI. Junior second baseman Taylor Utrata has a team-leading five stolen bases.

The Rangers pitching corps is led by Junior College transfer Holly Lowenberg, who has compiled a 6-4 record with a 3.00 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 65.1 innings with two shutouts and one save. Sophomore Casey Jo Vermett has a 5-3 mark with a 4.48 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Head coach Kristin Ortman is in her 10th season leading UWP.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Roosevelt enters Saturday's doubleheader at Saginaw Valley State with a 7-15 overall record. Sophomore Rebecca Urbaniak has started every games at either left field, first base or designated player and has also made six relief appearances in the circle. Urbaniak is batting a team-best .338 (24-for-71) with a team-high three doubles. Sophomore center fielder Kendall Pearson is hitting .333 (21-for-63), while junior right fielder Ella Dvoracek leads the squad with 10 stolen bases and 10 runs scored.

Three hurlers have pitched at least 27 innings each this spring for fourth-year head coach Michele Alexander. Junior Kailey Hancock has a 3-2 record and a 2.38 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 56 innings. Sophomore Riley Czarnecki is 4-8 with a 4.29 ERA and a team-high 27 strikeouts in 49 innings, while sophomore Catie Luzzi is 0-4 with a 6.22 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 27 innings.

UP NEXT
After the four-game GLIAC weekend set, the Warriors will entertain former GLIAC rival Ashland University at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31st.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Bunch: RF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Kate DeWitt: 3B; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#3 Molly Hool: 1B/C; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#21 Elly Koopman: P/1B/DP; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

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

#8 Hunter Near: SS; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#9 Kyra Shadduck: P; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Bunch
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: RF

#20 Kate DeWitt
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: 3B

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

#3 Molly Hool
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: 1B/C

#21 Elly Koopman
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: P/1B/DP

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

#8 Hunter Near
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: SS

#9 Kyra Shadduck
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: P