Friday, February 9
Montgomery, Ala.
6 PM ET
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Houston Christian
Alanah Jones
Photo by: Valerie Garrett
Mastodon Softball Opens 2024 Season at Alabama State's Stinger Classic
2/7/2024 10:45:00 AM | Softball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne softball opens the 2024 season with a road trip to Montgomery, Alabama, to play in Alabama State's Stinger Classic event.
Stinger Classic Information
Host: Alabama State
When: Friday, Feb. 9 - Saturday, Feb. 10
Where: Montgomery, Ala.
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4
Watch: Link
Tournament Schedule
Friday, Feb. 9
6 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Houston Christian
8 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Mississippi Valley State
Saturday, Feb. 10
4 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne at Alabama State
8 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Austin Peay
Series History
Houston Christian: First Meeting
Mississippi Valley State: First Meeting
Alabama State: Alabama State leads 3-2. Last meeting: 2/11/2022, L, 7-0
Austin Peay: Austin Peay leads 0-3. Last meeting: 2/11/2022, L, 14-0
Know Your Foes
• Houston Christian was 20-33 last year and 9-15 in their Southland Conference games. The Huskies are returning their best two hitters from last season: AB Garcia and Haylie Savage. Their best pitcher, Ronni Grofman, is returning for her senior season after a 5-6 season last year.
• Mississippi Valley State was 2-38 last season and 1-22 in SWAC games. They lost to SWAC foe, Alabama State, six times last year, who is also in the field. The Devilettes are returning one of their best hitters from last season, Kaitlyn Harper. Their best pitcher, Morgan Gutierrez, is returning for her junior season.
• Alabama State was 30-21 in 2023 and 17-7 in SWAC games. The Hornets highlighted last season with a win against Georgia Tech. They won their six matchups against SWAC opponent Mississippi Valley State, last year. Alabama State is returning two of their three best hitters from 2023: Kindall DeRamus and Jaeda Gardner. The Hornets are returning one of their best pitchers, Olivia Brown, after a 5-3 season.
• Austin Peay was 27-24 last year and 12-12 in Atlantic Sun Conference games. The Governors beat Evansville twice last season, who Purdue Fort Wayne lost to twice last season. Austin Peay is returning two of their three best hitters from 2023: Kylie Campbell and Megan Hodum. Their best pitcher, Jordan Benefiel, sister of former Mastodon pitcher Bailey, is returning for her senior season after a 18-12 season last year.
Fresh Faces
The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team welcomes four freshmen to the 2024 roster, including Gwen McMenemy, Aglaia Rudd, Kayla Roberts and McKenna Minton.
Still Awards SZN
Tori Countryman and Bailey Manos were awarded All-Horizon League Second Team honors last season. Countryman was awarded with All-Horizon League Freshman Team, along with Grace Hollopeter and Alanah Jones. Countryman and Hollopeter were also awarded three Horizon League Player of the Week awards last year, two from Hollopeter and one from Countryman.
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will head south to take part in the UTEP Invitational on Feb. 16-18 in El Paso, Texas.
Stinger Classic Information
Host: Alabama State
When: Friday, Feb. 9 - Saturday, Feb. 10
Where: Montgomery, Ala.
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4
Watch: Link
Tournament Schedule
Friday, Feb. 9
6 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Houston Christian
8 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Mississippi Valley State
Saturday, Feb. 10
4 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne at Alabama State
8 PM ET - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Austin Peay
Series History
Houston Christian: First Meeting
Mississippi Valley State: First Meeting
Alabama State: Alabama State leads 3-2. Last meeting: 2/11/2022, L, 7-0
Austin Peay: Austin Peay leads 0-3. Last meeting: 2/11/2022, L, 14-0
Know Your Foes
• Houston Christian was 20-33 last year and 9-15 in their Southland Conference games. The Huskies are returning their best two hitters from last season: AB Garcia and Haylie Savage. Their best pitcher, Ronni Grofman, is returning for her senior season after a 5-6 season last year.
• Mississippi Valley State was 2-38 last season and 1-22 in SWAC games. They lost to SWAC foe, Alabama State, six times last year, who is also in the field. The Devilettes are returning one of their best hitters from last season, Kaitlyn Harper. Their best pitcher, Morgan Gutierrez, is returning for her junior season.
• Alabama State was 30-21 in 2023 and 17-7 in SWAC games. The Hornets highlighted last season with a win against Georgia Tech. They won their six matchups against SWAC opponent Mississippi Valley State, last year. Alabama State is returning two of their three best hitters from 2023: Kindall DeRamus and Jaeda Gardner. The Hornets are returning one of their best pitchers, Olivia Brown, after a 5-3 season.
• Austin Peay was 27-24 last year and 12-12 in Atlantic Sun Conference games. The Governors beat Evansville twice last season, who Purdue Fort Wayne lost to twice last season. Austin Peay is returning two of their three best hitters from 2023: Kylie Campbell and Megan Hodum. Their best pitcher, Jordan Benefiel, sister of former Mastodon pitcher Bailey, is returning for her senior season after a 18-12 season last year.
Fresh Faces
The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team welcomes four freshmen to the 2024 roster, including Gwen McMenemy, Aglaia Rudd, Kayla Roberts and McKenna Minton.
Still Awards SZN
Tori Countryman and Bailey Manos were awarded All-Horizon League Second Team honors last season. Countryman was awarded with All-Horizon League Freshman Team, along with Grace Hollopeter and Alanah Jones. Countryman and Hollopeter were also awarded three Horizon League Player of the Week awards last year, two from Hollopeter and one from Countryman.
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will head south to take part in the UTEP Invitational on Feb. 16-18 in El Paso, Texas.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
RHP/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ SoftballHuge Dubs!
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