CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - Rutgers softball returns to the prestigious Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic for six games on Feb. 20-22.
Head Coach: Kristen Butler (Florida '06) - 246-280 overall (11th Season)/142-158 at Rutgers (Seventh Season)
2025 Record: 5-5
Top Scarlet Knights:
Batting
- Jillian Anderson - .407 BA, 4 runs, 11 hits, 1 double, 5 RBIs
- LA Matthews - .387 BA, 4 runs, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBIs
- Hailey Stripling - .300 BA, 7 runs, 6 hits, 4 RBIs
Pitching
Head Coach: Courtney Deifel (California '03) - 352-192 overall (11th Season) at SIU/325-165 at Arkansas (10th Season)
2025 Record: 10-0
Ranking: ESPN.Com/USA Softball - No. 7; USA Today/NFCA - No. 10; D1Softball - No. 9; Softball America - No. 9
All-Time Series: Arkansas Leads 3-1 (Last Meeting: February 10, 2022 - L, 0-4)
Top Razorbacks:
Batting
- Bri Ellis - .583 BA, 12 runs, 14 hits, 3 doubles, 7 HRs, 24 RBIs
- Atalyia Rijo - .474 BA, 7 runs, 8 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple 1 HR, 9 RBIs
- Raigan Kramer - .444 BA, 10 runs, 8 hits, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBIs
Pitching
- Robyn Herron - 3-0 W-L, 0.74 ERA, 2 CG, 1 shutout, 19.0 IP, 27 Ks
- Payton Burnham - 3-0 W-L, 1.02 ERA, 13.2 IP, 17 Ks
- Cam Harrison - 1-0 W-L, 2.27 ERA, 2 saves, 12.1 IP, 21 Ks
Head Coach: Karen Weekly (Pacific Lutheran '86) - 1318-438-2 overall (29th Season)/1095-341-2 at Tennessee (24th Season)
2025 Record: 10-1
Ranking: ESPN.Com/USA Softball - No. 7; USA Today/NFCA - No. 5; D1Softball - No. 6; Softball America - No. 7
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Top Lady Vols:
Batting
- Taylor Pannell - .500 BA, 11 runs, 17 hits, 3 doubles, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs
- Saviya Morgan - .464 BA, 16 runs, 13 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs
- Gabby Leach - .421 BA, 6 rus, 8 hits, 1 triple ,1 HR, 3 RBIs
Pitching
- Karlyn Pickens - 3-1 W-L, 0.32 ERA, 2 CG, 1 shutout, 22.0 IP, 39 Ks
- Sage Mardjetko - 4-0 W-L, 1.15 ERA, 2 CG, 1 shutout, 24.1 IP, 35Ks
Head Coach: Larissa Anderson (Gannon '97) - 356-194-1 overall (11th Season)/223-120 at Missouri (Seventh Season)
2025 Record: 6-5
Ranking: ESPN.Com/USA Softball - No. 22; USA Today/NFCA - No. 22; D1Softball - No. 21; Softball America - No. 22
All-Time Series: Missouri Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: March 17, 2017 - L, 1-9 (5))
Top Tigers:
Batting
- Julie Crenshaw - .382 BA, 13 runs, 13 hits, 3 doubles, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs
- Claire Cahalan - .375 BA, 6 runs, 9 hits, 2 triple, 2 RBIS
- Stefania Abruscato - .355 BA, 7 runs, 11 hits, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBIs
Pitching
- Marissa McCann - 3-0 W-L, 2.15 ERA, 2 CG, 26.0 IP, 16 Ks
- Cierra Harrison - 2-2 W-L, 5.11 ERA, 1 CG, 1 shutout, 24.2 IP, 18 Ks
- Taylor Pannell - 1-2 W-L, 3.00 ERA, 7.0 IP, 7 Ks
Head Coach: Laura Watten (UT Arlington '92) - 803-709 overall (27th Season)/515-480 at Bethune Cookman (18th Season)
2025 Record: 4-8
All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 4-1 (Last Meeting: March 13, 2009 - W,4-1)
Top Wildcats:
Batting
- India Stokes - .357 BA, 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 RBIs
- Emma Bradley-Tse - .278 BA, 4 runs, 10 hits, 1 double, 3 RBIs
- Joslynn Davis - .278 BA, 6 runs, 10 hits, 1 double, 3 RBIs
Pitching
- Halyne Gonzalez - 3-6 W-L, 4.14 ERA, 5 CG, 49.0 IP, 23 Ks
- Alyssa Lopez - 1-2 W-L, 5.83 ERA, 1 saves, 12.0 IP, 10 Ks
Head Coach: Laura Berg (Fresno State '98) - 307-295-2 overall (13th Season)/307-295-2 at Oregon State (13th Season)
2025 Record: 0-5
All-Time Series: Oregon State Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: March 1, 2015 - L, 3-8)
Returning Beavers:
Batting
- Paige Bambarger - .450 BA, 4 runs, 9 hits, 1 triple, 4 RBIs
- Nicole Donahue - .320 BA, 4 runs, 8 hits, 3 doubles, 7 RBIs
- Lici Campbell - .304 - 4 runs, 7 hits, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBIs
Pitching
- Logan Hulon - 2-4 W-L, 2.46 ERA, 3 CG, 31.1 IP, 36 Ks
- Ellie Garcia - 1-1 W-L, 3.10 ERA, 1 CG, 20.1 IP, 11 Ks
Head Coach: Brittney Matta (Arizona State) - 6-6 overall (First Season)/6-6 at UC Riverside (First Season)
2025 Record: 6-6
All-Time Series: UC Riverside Leads 2-1 (Last Meeting: March 22, 2024 - W, 7-5)
Top Highlanders:
Batting
- Kamryn Davis - .425 BA, 7 runs, 17 hits, 1 double, 3 triples, 3 RBIs
- Leilani Juan - .324 BA, 3 runs, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 3 RBIs
- Trende Kahunahana - .306, 6 runs, 11 hits, 3 doubles, 3 RBIs
Pitching
- Raegan Everett - 3-1 W-L, 3.18 ERA, 22.0 IP, 13 Ks
- Maddie Hinlin - 2-2 W-L, 3.63 ERA, 3 CG, 1 save, 34.2 IP, 20 Ks
- Brooke Perez - 1-3 W-L, 5.67 ERA, 21.0 IP, 7 Ks
- Freshman right-hander Ella Harrison collected three complete game victories at the Lion Invitational last week for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched to earn Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week honors alongside Nebraska's Jordy Bahl. Harrison held opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs.
- Harrison earned her first victory of the year as RU downed SIUE, 9-3, going the distance and allowing only one earned run on six hits while fanning eight in her first collegiate victory.
- She followed tossing nine strikeouts and no earned runs in a 2-1 win over Abilene Christian, holding the Wildcats to four hits, none for extra bases.
- In the Lion Invite finale with host East Texas A&M, Harrison made it three consecutive complete-game victories in the 4-2 win. She hurled nine strikeouts for the second straight game.
- Rutgers went 4-2 at the prestigious Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with victories over Hawaii, UC Riverside, Cal Poly and CSUN.
- Tournament action opened with RU coming back from a 6-1 deficit to take a 14-7 win over Hawaii and open up with a 4-1 edge after one inning in a 7-5 win over UC Riverside.
- RU split day two a, dropping an 11-7 decision to LMU before returning to the field to defeat Cal Poly, breaking open the game in the top of the third on a two-run blast from Morgan Smith and Kayla Bock, Bock adding on with a two-out, two-RBI single.
- Play concluded with the Scarlet Knights exploding for six runs in the ninth for an 8-3 extra innings loss to CSUN before falling 9-1 to BYU.
- The Scarlet Knights went 4-1 at the Lion Invitational in week two of the season. RU opened with a 9-3 victory over SIUE and the first shutout of the year in a 7-0 win over host East Texas A&M on day one. Picked up a 2-1 win over Abilene Christian to start off day two before falling 4-1 in the second meeting with SIUE. RU, however, rebounded with another victory of ETAMU, 4-2, on the final day.
- In the circle, Ella Harrison wen, combining for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched while keeping opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs. Kelsey Hoesktra was 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA and shared the shutout over East Texas A&M.
- At the plate, Jillian Anderson hit .500 with six hits in 12 at-bats, driving in four runs while scoring three runs. LA Matthews batted .438,going 7-for-16, with a home run and pair of doubles resulting in 4 RBIs and two runs scored. Bailey Briggs also accounted for four runs batted in and came across the plate three times.
- The Scarlet Knights opened up the 2025 campaign last weekend at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. Rutgers opened the season with a 6-2 victory over defending Horizon League Champion Cleveland State before falling 8-1 to MTSU,
- Veterans Jillian Anderson and LA Matthews both hit .333 with five hits, including a double on the weekend. Matthews recorded three RBIs while Anderson sent home a pair of Scarlet Knight base runners. Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs logged five hits with a pair of RBIs.
- Redshirt freshman Hailey Stripling made her RU debut and finished out the weekend with three RBIs, four runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Stripling was responsible for three of RU's six runs in the 6-3 season-opening victory over Cleveland State.
- Inside the circle, freshman Ella Harrison made three appearances with 14.2 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts, including 10 in her Scarlet Knight debut against MTSU. Her double-digit strikeouts marked the most by a rookie hurler since Jaden Vickers in 2020.
- Classmate Kelsey Hoekstra got the start and the win against Cleveland State and went the distance in Sunday's game with Liberty and totaled 13.0 innings on the weekend with five earned runs allowed.
- Seniors Georgia Ingle and Laurelai DePew also saw time in relief. DePew threw the final inning in the win against the Vikings and struck out two. Ingle made three trips to the circle, including both games with Liberty as well as Louisville. Ingled totaled 4.1 innings of work with one earned run allowed.
- This season, Rutgers softball boasts a youthful squad with 12 newcomers, including Witchita State transfer shortstop Siera Hoekstra along with 11 true freshman. Five members of the freshman class were named to Softball America's Freshmen To Watch list - Infielders Addie Osborne and Baileigh Burtis and pitchers Ella Harrison, Kelsey Hoekstra and Dezaria Johnson.
- Graduate student first baseman LA Matthews, senior outfielder Jillian Anderson and freshman right-handed pitcher Ella Harrison were named Big Ten Players to Watch .
- Also returning to the roster for the 2025 campaign are senior left-handed reliever and designated player Georgia Ingle, senior right-handed pitcher Laurelai DePew, junior catcher Gaelen Kelly, redshirt sophomore infielder Bailey Briggs along with redshirt freshmen Stephanie Kraska and Hailey Stripling.
- A trio of Scarlet Knights were lauded by the Big Ten as Players To Watch in 2025.
- Graduate student LA Matthews begins her second season after starting all 55 games last season for the Scarlet Knights, primarily at first base. She hit .306 in a season that saw RU go 33-22 overall for the Scarlet Knights' second consecutive 30-win season and finish third in the Big Ten regular season standings, RU's best finish since joining the conference in 2014. Matthews totaled 56 hits and 34 runs on 13 doubles, a trio of triples and a home run. She also racked up 34 RBIs, including four contests with three runs batted in.
- Jillian Anderson, also entering her second season at Rutgers, having patrolled the outfield in all 55 games a year ago. Her prowess robbed opponents from home runs and she committed no errors with 60 putouts for a perfect fielding percentage playing both in left and center. At the plate, Anderson batted .288 with 38 hits, 25 runs scored, three doubles and 12 RBIs.
- Ella Harrison is in her first season "On The Banks". A member of the Softball America Freshman To Watch List, Harrison comes to Rutgers having earned 2023 New York State Class AA Player of the Year honors at Clarence High School. During her junior campaign she threw 134 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA while hitting .382 with 19 singles, six doubles and a triple. Additionally, she pitched 11 innings in a state championship shutout.
- Five members of Rutgers landed on Softball America's Freshmen To Watch list in January.
- Addie Osborne, an infielder from Erie, Colorado, was the 2023 5A State and Conference Player of the Year. During scholastic career, she hit .452 with 134 runs, 131 hits, 160 RBIs , 38 home runs, .993 slugging percentage and 1.509 OPS. She hit .518 as a senior behind 41 runs, 44 hits, 58 RBIs and 19 home run, 1.305 slugging percentage and 1.890 OPS
- Baileigh Burtis, a fellow infielder from Friendswood, Texas was a two-time First Team All-State, three-time First Team All-District and three-time First Team All-County selection. She hit .438 as a senior with 15 doubles, seven triples, and one home run and holds the Friendswood High School Single Season Doubles (15) and Career Doubles (42) records.
- Ella Harrison, a right-handed hurler from Clarence, New York, earned 2023 New York State Class AA Player of the Year honors. During her junior campaign she threw 134 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA while hitting .382 with 19 singles, six doubles and a triple. Additionally, she pitched 11 innings in a state championship shutout.
- Kelsey Hoekstra, also a right-handed pitcher coming in from Overland Park, Kansas, was the 2023 Sunflower League Pitcher of the Year as well as a two-time First Team All-State and three-time All-League pick. She helped her 20-2 squad to the state quarterfinals and picked up strikeouts in 112 innings pitched with a 1.00 ERA and hit .476 with 21 runs along the way.
- Dezaria Johnson, another right-hander inside the circle hailing from Covington, Georgia, ranked No. 20 in 2024 Extra Elite 100. She was a two-time 8AAAAA All-Region selection, two-time Pitcher of the Year and the 2022 Region Pitcher of the Year.
- A year ago, Rutgers captured back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history, a program record for Big Ten victories and Big Ten series wins and the highest Big Ten Tournament seed since joining the league in 2015.
- The Scarlet Knights set a total of 11 school records - six career (Payton Lincavage - at bats; Kyleigh Sand - batting average, runs; Katie Wingert - home runs, RBIs, walks), four team season (runs, RBIs, walks and total bases) and two individual season (Kyleigh Sand - runs & Morgan Smith - RBIs) along with 23 career top 10 entries.
- Former Scarlet Knight Morgan Smith became the first RU player to earn NFCA All-America distinction with a second-team selection along with first-team honors from Softball America, in addition to being named ECAC Player of the Year. Additionally, three Scarlet Knights were named to NFCA All-Region and All-Big Ten squads in Smith, Sand and Mattie Boyd. After the season Smith and Sand both signed professional contracts following the season and are currently playing professionally in Mexico.
Rutgers softball returns to the field at the Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament with host Auburn along with Louisiana and McNeese State on Feb. 28 - Mar. 2.
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