WAVERLY, Iowa—Opening the home season before hitting the road, the No. 22 Wartburg College Knights Softball squad is set to take on the University of Dubuque and St. Catherine's University, March 26 and 27.
The Knights will host the Spartans of Dubuque on March 26 at Lynes Field in Waverly. The doubleheader will be the American Rivers Conference opener for the Knights. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
The Knights will hit the road for a non-conference doubleheader at St. Catherine's on March 27. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
Game Information
University of Dubuque Spartans (12-2) vs No. 22 Wartburg College Knights (13-5)
March 26, 2022 | 1 p.m. | Lynes Field
Live Stream
No. 22 Wartburg College Knights (13-5) vs St. Catherine's University (7-7)
March 27, 2022 | 1 p.m. | St. Paul, Minn.
Previewing Dubuque
After dropping a pair of games at the Spring Games in Florida, the Spartans are on a nine-game winning streak.
Rachel Trader leads the Spartans with 18 hits this season, while Dariann Diorio leads the team with 12 runs off 17 hits. Trader has recorded 14 RBIs in the early season. Emily Bloomer leads the team in doubles (7) as Lauren Brown leads the team in home runs (2).
Megan Wolff has an ERA of 1.04 in five games. Wolff has recorded two shutouts and four complete games. The Spartans pitching has recorded an ERA of 2.53 and an opponent batting average of .251.
Previewing St. Catherine's University
Coming off their Florida trip, St. Catherine's is on a three-game losing streak as they open the season at home when the Knights visit. St. Catherine's has gone 1-2 against American Rivers Conference opponents this season, winning against Luther College.
Taylor Brunn leads St. Catherine's with 14 runs off 19 hits. Angela Huepfel leads the team in RBIs (20) and in doubles (6). Huepfel has a batting average of .434 while Brunn is close behind at .380.
Alyssa Montero leads the pitching and ERA at 3.77. Annabelle Schutte has recorded five complete games and one shutout. St. Catherine's has recorded two complete games from their pitching and an ERA of 4.40.
Checking out the Numbers
Leading the team with 19 runs off 27 hits,
Kaylie Springer has a batting average of .450 with 18 appearances for the Orange & Black.
Ella Link has a batting average of .400 with 12 runs scored for the Knights. Link,
Lauren Frerichs, and
Sydney Illg have recorded three homers for the Knights offense (14 total).
On the pitchers' mound,
Carly Salutric (2.22 ERA) and
Ashley Nelson (2.26 ERA) lead the Knights. Salutric and Nelson have recorded a pair of complete games and have contributed to the five shutouts by the Orange & Black this season. Salutric has recorded the lone save for the Knights this season.
Moving in the Record Book
With her 14 runs scored this season, Illg has moved to No. 4 in the record book for career runs. Illg is 26 runs away from tying the record and needs 27 runs to pass Ashley Rogers (143 runs).
Illg, who has recorded two triples this season, is three away from cracking the Top-10 in the career record. Illg leads the record book for most hit-by-pitch has added to her record (33) as Frerichs is tied for sixth with nine HBP. Illg is one away from tying for the second spot on the Top-10 list for career-stolen base (at 76 currently).
National Rankings
After receiving votes early this season, the Knights are in the Top-25 poll of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Knights enter the poll at No. 22.
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