Thursday, February 9
Wilmington, N.C.
Noon
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
East Carolina
Alanah Jones
Photo by: Jim Whitcraft
Mastodon Softball Opens 2023 With Top-15 Virginia Tech and UNCW Event
2/8/2023 12:16:00 PM | Softball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne softball opens the 2023 season at the UNCW Home Weekend #1, highlighted by the season opener against No. 13/11 Virginia Tech. The schedule has changed from its original schedule due to forecasted rain in the Wilmington area.
UNCW Home Weekend #1 Information
Host: UNCW
When: Friday, Feb. 10 - Sunday, Feb. 12
Where: Wilmington, N.C.
Live Stats: Link
Watch: None
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 9
Noon - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
2:30 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
Friday, Feb. 10
9 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
2 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 11
10 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. #13/11 Virginia Tech
Series History
Virginia Tech: First Meeting
UNCW: First Meeting
East Carolina: East Carolina leads 1-0. Last meeting: 3/13/2016, L, 5-1
Know Your Foes
• Virginia Tech was 46-10 a year ago and won the ACC regular season title. The Hokies earned a berth to the NCAA Super Regional before dropping 2-of-3 to Women's College World Series participant Florida. VT returns their top four sluggers from a year ago: Emma Ritter, Meredith Slaw, Morgan Overaitis and Bre Peck. All of had a batting average over .300 and slugged over .550. Second-best pitcher from a year ago, Emma Lemly, also returns for 2023. She won 16 games last year.
• UNCW was 32-15 last season and won the Colonial Athletic championship after knocking off No. 1 Delaware in the tournament semifinal. The Seahawks fell to No. 10 Clemson 9-0 and Louisiana 3-1 in the NCAA Regional. UNCW returns its top two batters from 2022 in Janel Gamache and Morgan Britt. Gamache batted .347 and slugged .661. with a team-high seven home runs last season. The Seahawks return their entire pitching staff that finished with a 1.85 team ERA last year.
• East Carolina went 20-36 in 2022, but 2-16 in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates' season was highlighted by a pair of wins over Power Five programs Georgetown and Michigan State.The Pirates have two of their top three hitters back from last year: Bailee Wilson and Sydney Yoder. Their best pitcher, Madisyn Davis, is back for her junior season after a 7-5 season a year ago.
Fresh Faces
The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team welcomes eight freshmen to the 2022-2023 roster, including Bailey Manos, Brooke Lickey, Ella Carriere, Alanah Jones, Tori Countryman, Grace Hollopeter, Kennedy Peckinpaugh and Ryleigh Carraway. This includes five Indiana natives.
Back in Black
Junior Brooke Wintlend was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team in 2022. In the 2022 season, Wintlend started in 37-of-41 games in her first year with the Mastodons. Wintlend led the 'Dons with a .515 slugging percentage, while also batting .255. She had a slugging percentage of .615 in league play, which was the seventh-best in the league.
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will head south to take part in the Bob Heck Classic hosted by Georgia State on Feb. 17-19 in Atlanta.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
UNCW Home Weekend #1 Information
Host: UNCW
When: Friday, Feb. 10 - Sunday, Feb. 12
Where: Wilmington, N.C.
Live Stats: Link
Watch: None
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 9
Noon - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
2:30 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
Friday, Feb. 10
9 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne at UNCW
2 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. East Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 11
10 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. #13/11 Virginia Tech
Series History
Virginia Tech: First Meeting
UNCW: First Meeting
East Carolina: East Carolina leads 1-0. Last meeting: 3/13/2016, L, 5-1
Know Your Foes
• Virginia Tech was 46-10 a year ago and won the ACC regular season title. The Hokies earned a berth to the NCAA Super Regional before dropping 2-of-3 to Women's College World Series participant Florida. VT returns their top four sluggers from a year ago: Emma Ritter, Meredith Slaw, Morgan Overaitis and Bre Peck. All of had a batting average over .300 and slugged over .550. Second-best pitcher from a year ago, Emma Lemly, also returns for 2023. She won 16 games last year.
• UNCW was 32-15 last season and won the Colonial Athletic championship after knocking off No. 1 Delaware in the tournament semifinal. The Seahawks fell to No. 10 Clemson 9-0 and Louisiana 3-1 in the NCAA Regional. UNCW returns its top two batters from 2022 in Janel Gamache and Morgan Britt. Gamache batted .347 and slugged .661. with a team-high seven home runs last season. The Seahawks return their entire pitching staff that finished with a 1.85 team ERA last year.
• East Carolina went 20-36 in 2022, but 2-16 in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates' season was highlighted by a pair of wins over Power Five programs Georgetown and Michigan State.The Pirates have two of their top three hitters back from last year: Bailee Wilson and Sydney Yoder. Their best pitcher, Madisyn Davis, is back for her junior season after a 7-5 season a year ago.
Fresh Faces
The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team welcomes eight freshmen to the 2022-2023 roster, including Bailey Manos, Brooke Lickey, Ella Carriere, Alanah Jones, Tori Countryman, Grace Hollopeter, Kennedy Peckinpaugh and Ryleigh Carraway. This includes five Indiana natives.
Back in Black
Junior Brooke Wintlend was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team in 2022. In the 2022 season, Wintlend started in 37-of-41 games in her first year with the Mastodons. Wintlend led the 'Dons with a .515 slugging percentage, while also batting .255. She had a slugging percentage of .615 in league play, which was the seventh-best in the league.
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will head south to take part in the Bob Heck Classic hosted by Georgia State on Feb. 17-19 in Atlanta.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
RHP/OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballHuge Dubs!
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