ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany softball is set to open the season at the Charlotte Invitational.
GAME INFORMATION
Charlotte Invitational
SITE: Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium
RECORDS:
UAlbany: 0-0, 0-0 America East
Charlotte: 2-9, 0-0 AAC
Ball State: 3-1, 0-0 MAC
Lehigh: 1-4, 0-0 Patriot League
STATS:
Charlotte49ers.com
UAlbany vs Ball State
DATE: Friday, February 21
TIME: 1:30 PM
UAlbany at Charlotte
DATE: Friday, February 21
TIME: 5:30 PM
STREAM:
ESPN+
UAlbany vs Lehigh
DATE: Saturday, February 22
TIME: 12:30 PM
UAlbany at Charlotte
DATE: Saturday, February 22
TIME: 5:30 PM
UAlbany vs Ball State
DATE: Sunday, February 23
TIME: 10:00 AM
*records as of 2/20
GREAT DANE REWIND
- UAlbany finished the 2024 season with an America East title and a run to the NCAA Tournament.
- Going 14-6 in conference play, the Great Danes were Co-Regular Season Champions and entered the AE Tournament as the first seed.
- After beating fifth-seed UMass Lowell in five innings and second-seed Binghamton, UAlbany won the championship game against the River Hawks with a shutout.
- Of the 11 active players from 2024 (2 PA/G & 75% games played or 1 IP/G for pitchers), six have returned - Victoria Vilarchao, Sara Anderson, Mary Kate Murray, Deanna Grahek, Kasey Conn, and Kate Powers.
- The five players who graduated consisted of a talented and highly-decorated class - Wendi Hammond (2024 AE Pitcher of the Year), Morgan Petty (2023 AE Player of the Year), Maddi Petrella (2024 First Team All-Conference), Jordan Nastos (2x All-Conference), and Caitlyn Mitros (3x All-Conference). They made up the starting outfielders, catcher, and one of two starting pitchers.
- The infield and DP as well as a deep bench return from the 2024 champion team.
- Often the DP, Vilarchao finished third on the team with nine home runs and 39 RBI while shortstop Deanna Grahek was third with eight doubles and pinch-runner Caitlyn Frederick was third on the team with eight stolen bases (out of eight attempts).
- America East 2024 All-Academic honoree Kate Powers leads the pitchers from the circle after a 2024 season that saw a 2.41 ERA in 20 appearances, including nine complete games and four shutouts.
- Returning freshman batting leader, Mary Kate Murray, and Powers were named to the first ever America East Preseason All-Conference Team.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE
- The 49ers will head into their second home tournament after two weeks of competition.
- Starting the year at the Tiger Classic (Feb. 7-9) in Baton Rouge, Charlotte went 2-3 with wins against Southeastern Louisiana and Central Arkansas and losses to Southeastern Louisiana and LSU (x2).
- The 49ers are on a six-game losing streak with five losses at the Clearwater Invitational (Feb. 14-16) and a single-game loss at Clemson (Feb. 18).
- Teegan Ritchie leads the team with a .344 average and 11 hits including a team-best three home runs and three doubles.
- Savanna Nguyen is tied with Ritchie for the team lead with eight RBI.
- On the mound, the 49ers have had four different pitchers throughout its 11 games. Brooke Bowling leads with 15 strikeouts in 23.0 innings.
ABOUT BALL STATE
- The Cardinals opened their season at the Mustang Classic (Feb. 6-8).
- Ball State went 3-1 beating Cal Poly twice and splitting two games against Oregon State.
- McKayla Timmons leads the team with a .500 average while Kara Gunter leads with five hits and six RBI.
- In the circle, Ball State has had four different pitchers throughout its four games.
- Ella Whitley leads the way with a 1.17 ERA and 12.0 innings pitched while Breanna Severino is atop the team with six strikeouts.
ABOUT LEHIGH
- The Mountain Hawks have started the year 1-4 with five games in California.
- Lehigh split its opening day with a loss to Nevada and a win over Loyola Marymount but followed it with three consecutive losses to close the weekend.
- Kelly Fricker leads the team with a .375 average, six hits, and two doubles.
- Rory Dudley has hit the team's only home run.
- Four different pitchers have taken the mound for Lehigh. Chloe Hess leads the team with 12.0 innings pitched and Madison Finnerty is close behind with 11.0 innings pitched. Both are tied with four strikeouts each.
PICKED FIRST
- The Great Danes were picked to finish first in the 2025 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll
- UAlbany earned 23 points with three first-place votes.
- Binghamton was close behind UAlbany with 22 points and two first-place votes.
- Kate Powers and Mary Kate Murray made the first-ever preseason all-conference team.
2024 POSTSEASON AMERICA EAST AWARDS
- America East Woman of the Year - Morgan Petty
- America East Pitcher of the Year - Wendi Hammond
- NFCA All-Region
- First Team All-America East
- Second Team All-America East
- America East All-Rookie Team
- America East All-Academic Team
- All-America East Tournament
- Elite 18 - Caitlyn Mitros
- America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Wendi Hammond
- SUNY Scholar-Athlete - Morgan Petty
AROUND THE AMERICA EAST
- Binghamton leads the conference with a .500 record (5-5) after two weekends of play.
- Bryant (3-6) and UMBC (1-3) with wins on their season.
- Maine (0-3) and UMass Lowell (0-7) are looking for their first win of the season.
- UAlbany will begin play this weekend.
AMERICA EAST CONTESTS THIS WEEK
- Friday
- Maine vs Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, 10 am
- UAlbany vs Ball State, 1:30 pm
- Maine vs Lipscomb, 3 pm
- UAlbany at Charlotte, 5:30 pm
- Saturday
- Lipscomb vs Maine, 10 am
- Niagara at UMBC, 12 pm (DH)
- UAlbany vs Lehigh, 12:30 pm
- Maine vs Notre Dame, 3 pm
- UAlbany at Charlotte, 5:30 pm
- Sunday
- UAlbany vs Ball State, 10 am
- Saint Francis at UMBC, 12 pm (DH)
- Maine vs South Alabama, 1:30 pm
UP NEXT
- The Great Danes will head to Florida to compete at the Spring Games at Madeira Beach on February 28-March 2.
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