2026 Softball

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Jaxhen1
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by Jaxhen1 »

Freshman Diamond hits two home runs (16th and 17th) to tie for the league lead and sophomore Chapman hits a three-run home run. Maddie Diamond is going to be fun to watch for hopefully the next three years. She’s an outstanding power hitter and had some really nice defensive plays as well. The young freshmen are really contributing with Nankivel going 3 for 3 with excellent base running skills, Diamond, and Blazys getting a clutch 3-run double with the bases loaded.
UDFootballFan
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by UDFootballFan »

Ladies lost the opener to #1 Jax State, 7-0 and now play at 630-7.
Udforever1
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by Udforever1 »

Hens fall to 2 seed Western Kentucky on a walk off single and the season is done.
UDFootballFan
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by UDFootballFan »

How would you rate the season? A success, failure etc
Udforever1
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by Udforever1 »

UDFootballFan wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 1:46 pm How would you rate the season? A success, failure etc
I think with the jump up in competition it was pretty successful. Like I posted before, CAA was 23rd in RPI, CUSA 8th last year. Hens were picked 6th, finished 4th. Team was pretty young as well. Just gotta hope some of those players don’t get poached now.

Only 3 freshmen signed next year, plus a transfer who played a lot from Penn State coming in. I know the recruit from Lake Forest had P4 interest but chose to stay home. I do hope they can get some talent in the portal to go with this young core.
UDFootballFan
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by UDFootballFan »

They were def more successful than I thought they would be ....lets hope they keep the talent in Newark and they can continue to grow together.
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Info Hound
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by Info Hound »

Definitely a successful season, but disappointed that we could not go a little further in the tournament. This squad has become my second favorite team at UD.

The outstanding freshmen this year were especially fun to watch.:

Maddie Diamond 3rd base (outstanding hitter and fielder)
Allie Nankevil (sp) at center field (good slap hitter and one of the fastest runners I've seen)
Karley Challburg, pitcher

I've got the spellings all messed up, but Jen Steele is doing a hell of a job. I'll miss following this team the rest of the year.
#JUST WIN
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Jaxhen1
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Re: 2026 Softball

Post by Jaxhen1 »

I think it was definitely a success, not just because of the jump up in competition, but they had to replace their two main pitchers from last year, Kerwood and Hess. They also had to replace several of their top hitters from last year in Blantz, Hess, Cahalan, and Diomede.

I think we need to add a shutdown pitcher to supplement our returning pitchers (Crossman, Challburg, and Wilkerson) and a good defensive catcher who can hit with power to replace Shaffer, and more depth. WKU and Jax St. are also pretty young teams so I would expect them to be strong next year as well.
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