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Wayne State University Athletics

2026 Softball Roster

Romer Santacruz
Jacqueline Jozefczyk
Zack Belsky/WSU Athletics
Izzy Rincon
Marissa Krynak

8 Hunter Near

8 Hunter Near

  • Position:
    SS
  • Height:
    5-8
  • Class:
    Sophomore
  • Hometown:
    Coopersville, Mich.
  • High School:
    Coopersville
  • Letters:
    2

Summary

Biography

Career Notes:  Started all 104 games played in two seasons at WSU (103 at SS, and 1 at DP) ... tied-for-fifth in school history in triples (10), 19th in slugging percentage (.492), tied-for-20th in hit by pitches (9), tied-for-21st in home runs (11), stolen bases (14) and double plays defensively (14), 38th in fielding assists (164), and tied-for-50th in walks (27) ... Link to Career Statistics.

2026:  Named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team ... started all 49 games at shortstop and batting leadoff ... one of two Warriors to start every game ... led the squad in runs (31), hits (49), triples (7), home runs (5), extra-base hits (21), total bases (87), slugging percentage (.554), plate appearances (187), fielding assists (79) and defensive double plays (8), while ranking tied-for-first in hit by pitches (5) and multiple-hit affairs (13) ... finished second on the team in walks(20), on-base percentage (.404), stolen bases (8), fielding chances (192) and fielding putouts (109), tied-for-second in RBI (18), and third in average (.312) and doubles (9) ... one of two WSU batters with a four-hit game (March 17 vs. Minot State) ... posted a .400 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage (eight extra-base hits) in the first inning ... had a two-run triple in the eighth inning in the aformentioned win over Minot State ... hit .400 (10-for-25) with six RBI and a .531 on-base percentage in the fifth inning ... totaled 16 extra-base hits (6 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR) with the bases empty ... smacked home runs vs. Bluefield State (Feb. 14), Franklin Pierce (March 14), at Purdue Northwest-1 (April 9), and both games of an April 26 doubleheader against Grand Valley State ... batted .476 (10-for-21) on 1-0 counts ... began the season 10-for-15 (.667) during the first four games ... recorded two five-game hitting streaks (April 7-10, 7-for-18; and April 22-26, 7-for-17) ... totaled more walks (20) than strikeouts (17) ... Game-By-Game Statistics.

2025:  Started all 55 games played (54 at SS, 1 at DP) ... the 55 starts tied for the team lead ... batted third through eighth, but usually fifth (34 times) ... recorded eight multiple-hit games, include one three-hit affair (3/28 at Roosevelt-Game 2) ... posted four multiple-RBI contests, including one three-RBI game (2/28 at Findlay-Game 1) in which she smacked two home runs ... delivered a six-game hitting streak (3/11-3/15, 7-for-20, 6 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, and four runs scored) ... led the team in both stolen bases (6) and double plays defensively (6) ... finished second on the squad in both home runs (6) and hit by pitch (4) ... placed third on the team in runs scored (23), triples (3), plate appearances (179) and at bats (164) ... batted .286 (16-for-56) with two outs ... led WSU in fielding chances (218) and fielding assists (85), while ranking third in putouts (117) ... played errorless defense the last 13 games (30 PO, 18 A, 0 E) ... garnered a season-high seven fielding putouts on 3/19 vs. Northwood-Game 2 ... produced three contests with five fielding assists - 2/28 at Findlay-Game 1, 4/4 vs. Grand Valley State-Game 1, and 4/9 at Saginaw Valley State-Game 2 ... totaled three game-winning RBI (two-out single in sixth vs. Lake Erie snapped a 1-1 draw; two-run double in fourth against Slippery Rock broke a 1-1 tie; and two-run single vs. Saint Michael's snapped a scoreless draw in the fourth) ... Game-By-Game Statistics.

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Coopersville High School ... was a four-year letterwinner for the Broncos ... selected to both the 2022 and 2023 Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association (MHSSCA) Division 2 Honorable Mention All-State team ... helped CHS to back-to-back District titles in 2022 and 2023 ... batted .542 as a freshman, then .472 as a sophomore and .466 as a junior ... earned OK Conference Blue Division, All-District and All-Region accolades each of her first three seasons ... set school records for doubles (23), triples (8) and runs scored (59) ... selected team MVP as a sophomore ... also competed in volleyball and basketball ... served as a team captain in volleyball ... garnered All-League and All-Area recognition in volleyball ... notched over 1,000 digs for CHS ... received Academic All-State honors as a senior volleyball player ... plays summer ball for the Sabercats Jozsa 18u.

Personal:  Full name -- Hunter R. Near ... born on July 4, 2006, in Coopersville, Mich. ... daughter of Wes Near and Jayne Paulson ... has an older brother, Wesley ... is majoring in Exercise and Sport Science ... named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) for Winter 2025 (4.00) and Fall 2025 (4.00).
No stats available for the current season.

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Stat Snapshot (Career)

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APP
Strikeouts
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WHIP
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OBP

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Season Stats

Season:
2026
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Career Stats

Career Statistics

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Historical Player Information

  • 8

    2025Freshman

    SS
    5'8"
    8
  • 8

    2026Sophomore

    SS
    5'8"
    8