Mastodon Softball Season Opens at Kickin' Chicken Classic

Friday, February 7

Conway, S.C.

Noon

Purdue Fort Wayne

Creighton

Bailey Manos

Photo by: Rachel Von Art

Mastodon Softball Season Opens at Kickin' Chicken Classic

2/5/2025 11:16:00 AM | Softball

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The 2025 Purdue Fort Wayne softball season is upon us. The Mastodons open the season at the Kickin' Chicken Classic at Coastal Carolina on Friday (Feb. 7), squaring off against the host Chanticleers and Creighton.

Kickin' Chicken Classic Information
Host: Coastal Carolina
When: Friday, Feb. 7 - Sunday, Feb. 9
Where: Conway, S.C.
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5
Watch: Game 2 Only

Tournament Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7
Noon - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Creighton
5 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at Coastal Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 8
11 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Creighton
1:30 PM - Purdue Fort Wayne at Coastal Carolina
Sunday, Feb. 9
10 AM - Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Creighton

Know Your Foes
• Creighton is coming off a 36-22 season in 2024. The Bluejays ultimately fell to Villanova in the Big East title game to end their season. Creighton lost their top two hitters and best pitcher to graduation, but returns its second-best pitcher Kensie Schopfer, who threw a 5.14 ERA last season. Lily West is the leading returning batter for the Bluejays; she hit .326 last season. Top batter from 2024 Madeline Vejvoda joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
• Coastal Carolina had a 34-21 mark last year, but did not make it past the quarterfinal of the Sun Belt tournament. The Chanticleers return Georgia Hood and Delaney Keith, who were both All-Sun Belt performers a year ago. Hood batted .402 and slugged .750, while Keith hit .317 and slugged .593. Coastal's second-best pitcher from last year, Nicolette Picone is back for her senior season after tossing a 3.04 ERA last year.

Series Histories
Creighton: Creighton leads 3-0, last meeting 2/28/2020
Coastal Carolina: Purdue Fort Wayne leads 1-0, last meeting 2/25/2012

All-League Love
Three Mastodons that earned All-Horizon League nods are back for 2025. Grace Hollopeter and Aglaia Rudd were selected to the All-League First Team, with Rudd also picking up the Freshman of the Year award. Hollopeter was the best slugger in the league last year, slugging .776 in league play. Rudd was fifth in the league with a .650 slugging clip in league play. Alanah Jones earned Second Team All-League honors after pitching 103.2 innings in league play and striking out 107, the second-most in the league.

A Lineup Not Out of Left Field
Seven Mastodons that started at least 35 games last season are back this year: Grace Hollopeter, Aglaia Rudd, Bailey Manos, Brooke Lickey, Gwen McMenemy, McKenna Minton and Tori Countryman.

Meet the Freshmen
The Mastodons have six freshmen on the 2025 roster: Alexa Carter, Morgan Cantrell, Mackenzie Arroyo, Aubrey Zachary, Addison Zimpleman and Skylar Smith. Arroyo and Zachary are pitchers, Smith and Carter are catchers/utility players, Cantrell and is an outfielder and Zimpleman is an infielder.

Last Season Recap
Purdue Fort Wayne finished last season 14-33 and 9-15 in Horizon League play. The Mastodons had series wins over Green Bay, Detroit Mercy, IU Indy and Robert Morris.

Up Next
The Mastodons will head to Martin, Tennessee to play in the Skyhawk Classic on February 14-15. Western Michigan, Murray State and DePaul are on tap for the 'Dons.

~ Feel the Rumble ~