Watch |
Live Stats
MENOMONIE (February 26, 2021) - The UW-Stout softball team was the last Blue Devil team to play before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 spring season and the university sent students home to learn remotely. The softball team will be the first Stout spring sport to return to action when they travel to Mankato, Minn., to take on UW-Superior, Saturday, Feb. 27 in a doubleheader at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Dome starting at 2 p.m.
The games are expected to be available in a
live stream and
live stats.
The Blue Devils last played March 8, 2020, in a four-game tournament in the Chicago area, going 3-1, sweeping Buena Vista University, defeating Lake Forest College in extra innings and falling to the University of Chicago.
Stout will carry a large, 25-player roster, led by seniors, first baseman
Meghan Kelly, catcher
Michala Belter and pitchers
Melea Bruns and
Sommer Kunstmann.
Juniors Jessica Christianson,
Korin Hall,
Kelly Beck, Maddie Kleinschmidt,
Addison Murry,
Kaylee Peterson, and
Shannon Jones, sophomores
Kayli Pfeffer,
Kate Funk,
Allegra Larson,
Maggie O'Brien, and
Mackensie Wolterstorff, and freshmen
Ashley Jacobson,
Katelyn Belleau,
Taylor Mancl,
Alyssa Albrecht,
Jordan Caby,
Lexy Kupczak,
Amanda Shipley and
Bella Anderson make up the remainder of the roster.
It will be 356 days in between games. Following a 19-18 overall record in 2019, Stout went 3-1 last season before the season came to a premature end after a pair of games March 8, 2020, in Rosemount, Ill. Practices resumed in the fall in a socially-distanced way and, at the beginning, in pods to keep the numbers down on the field. Indoor practice resumed in late January with the entire team working together.
Becky Iaccino begins her sixth season as the Blue Devil head coach. She is assisted by
Chris Iliopoulos, Jessica Stine and Sam Hintzman.
Stout has not played Superior since the Yellowjackets left the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) to join the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The Yellowjackets hold a 31-30 lead in the series that stretches back to 1992 when Stout became a varsity program. The Blue Devils have won the last five meetings, including the last doubleheader, 5-4, 10-3, in Superior, April 27, 2015. The Yellowjackets are coached by first-year head coach Melissa Fracker. The Yellowjackets were 5-5 overall last season.
After facing Superior, Stout will take three weeks off before returning to action traveling to face St. Thomas, Saturday, March 20 in St. Paul, Minn. The Blue Devils turn around the next day and face the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., the next day, then will return to Mankato, Minn., to meet Bethany Lutheran College, Saturday, March 27. Stout's first home game is scheduled for Thursday, April 8 when they are scheduled to host UW-Eau Claire.
