UMAC PREVIEW: Softball
ST. PAUL, MN – The 2023 UMAC softball season gets rolling this Saturday and it’s time to take a look at which teams and players fans should watch for this spring. The University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets captured the regular season title a year ago, finishing with a record of 33-10 and 18-3 in conference play. In the UMAC tournament however, it was the number three seed Bethany Lutheran Vikings that went on to win the tournament and earn the UMAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
At the top of this year’s preseason poll is last year’s UMAC Softball Tournament champion, the Bethany Lutheran Vikings. The Vikings finished 29-16 overall a season ago and qualified for the NCAA Tournament where they participated in Bethel University’s regional. Bethany Lutheran returns a couple of All-UMAC players from a year ago in Kaija Mork and Kayla Senne. Mork was also named to the All-Region First Team after hitting .426 and driving in 46 runs a year ago. Senne, the sophomore pitcher that received UMAC Tournament MVP honors a season ago, also returns for the Vikings after winning 20 games in 2022 with a 2.73 earned run average (ERA) and 184 strikeouts. Katelyn Halbach also returns for the Vikings after hitting .398 a year ago with 26 stolen bases.
Picked to finish second in this year’s poll is the Northwestern Eagles. The Eagles finished second in UMAC play a season ago after going 17-4 in the league and 23-15 overall. Northwestern returns three All-UMAC Honorable Mention selections from a season ago in Jadyn Iverson, Sydney Lane, and Grace Bentley. Iverson hit .349 a season ago, driving in 28 runs to go along with 2 homeruns. Lane hit .323 in 2022 with 23 runs batted in and 31 runs scored. Bentley has the ability to play all around the infield while also hitting .292 with 20 runs batted in last season.
The UW-Superior Yellowjackets are in the third spot in this year’s preseason poll. Last season, the Yellowjackets won the regular season title after finishing 18-3 in UMAC play and 33-10 overall. Returning for the Yellowjackets are a couple of All-UMAC First Team selections a season ago in Tayler Kraemer and Tiffany Kirk. Kraemer was named the UMAC Pitcher of the Year in 2022, finishing with a 2.13 earned run average while also hitting .361 with 25 stolen bases. Kirk also returns for her fifth season after hitting .384 with 47 runs batted in and a .529 slugging percentage. Coming off of the 2022 UMAC regular-season title, the Yellowjackets, with 55 wins the last two seasons, have the second-most victories in any two-year stretch in program history.
The Cougars of Minnesota Morris are picked to finish fourth this season. The Cougars finished 9-11 in UMAC play in 2022 and 13-23 overall which was good for fourth place and a UMAC Tournament appearance. Returning for Minnesota Morris is All-UMAC Second Team selection Olivia Diver who finished last season hitting .268, and an impressive .959 fielding percentage which was good enough to land her on the All-UMAC Defensive Team. Tori Nichols also returns for the Cougars after hitting .333 with 11 doubles and 19 runs batted in in 2022.
Picked fifth in this year’s poll is the Crown College Polars. The Polars were 6-14 in conference play a year ago, and 8-20 overall. Returning for the Polars this season is one of the top offensive players in UMAC play from a season ago in Maria Lilienthal. Lilienthal was named to the All-UMAC First Team in 2022 while hitting .482 with a .783 slugging percentage and a UMAC leading 17 doubles. Abbey Underdahl also returns for the Polars after hitting .352 a season ago.
Martin Luther was picked to finish sixth in this year’s preseason poll. The Knights finished 5-15 in UMAC play and 10-24 overall. The Knights return All-UMAC First Team selection Jordyn Heckendorf who hit .474 in 2022 with 68 total bases while hitting for a slugging percentage of .716. Lisa Hoffer also returns for Martin Luther after hitting .426 a year ago and being named to the All-UMAC Honorable Mention team.
Northland was picked to finish seventh in this year’s poll. Northland was 7-13 in UMAC play and 8-28 overall a season ago. Kaylee Harnack returns this season for Northland after hitting .348 a year ago. Junior catcher Izzy Peters also returns after finishing 2022 with a .323 batting average and a .795 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Picked eighth in this year’s UMAC preseason poll were the North Central Rams. The Rams finished 3-16 in UMAC play a year ago and 12-26 overall. Returning for the Rams is senior Kaylee Harnack who hit .348 a year ago. Lenisa Tomasini also returns after finishing 2022 with a .634 on-base plus slugging percentage and a .235 batting average.
2023 UMAC Softball Preseason Poll
- Bethany Lutheran – 48 points (6)
- Northwestern – 40 points (1)
- UW-Superior – 39 points (1)
- Minnesota Morris – 27 points
- Crown – 26 points
- Martin Luther – 18 points
- Northland – 13 points
- North Central – 10 points
Team Previews
Bethany Lutheran College
Head Coach: Dan Nessler| 7th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 16-5, Overall: 29-16| 3
rd | UMAC Tournament Champions
Postseason: NCAA Regional participants at Bethel Regional
Top Returners
- Kaija Mork, Soph, UTL | UMAC All Conference| All-Region 1st Team | .426 BA, 60 H, 46 RBI
- Kayla Senne, Soph, Pitcher | UMAC All Conference | UMAC Tournament MVP | 20 wins, 2.73 ERA, 184 K’s
- Katelyn Halbach, Senior, OF | UMAC Honorable Mention | .398 BA, 39 R, 26 SB
Need to Know
Set 15 team records in 2022 season
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Crown College
Head Coach: Ashlyn Englehorn | 2
nd season
2022 Season
UMAC: 6-14, Overall: 8-20 | 6
th
Top Returners
- Maria Lilienthal, SO., C/3B | UMAC First Team All-Conference | NCCAA All-Region | .482 BA, .783 SLG%, Led Conference in Doubles (17) |
- Abbey Underdahl, SO., UTL/P | .352 BA, 100% Stolen Bases (11-11) |
Need to Know
11 newcomers join the Polars this spring, while returning top UMAC offensive performer, Maria Lilienthal.
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Martin Luther College
Head Coach: Becca Doering | 1st season
2022 Season
UMAC: 5-15, Overall: 10-24 | 7th
Top Returners
- Jordyn Heckendorf, Junior, OF, IF|First Team UMAC All-Conference- BA: .474, 68 Total Bases, SLG %: .716 |
- Lisa Hoffer, Senior, IF |UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | BA: .426, 49 Hits, 41 runs |
- Madison Uhlenbrauck, Sophomore, Pitcher/ IF - 12 Complete Games pitched, 37 Strikeouts
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North Central University
Head Coach: Matt Haefner | 1
st season |
2022 Season
UMAC: 3-16, Overall: 12-26 | 8th
Top Returners
- Delaney Riddle | 3B - .372 Average, 2nd on the team with 26 Rbi’s|
- Aurora Prettyman | Catcher - .337 Average, 3rd in Rbi’s and 2nd on the team for walks
- Carla Mendoza | Pitcher – top returning pitcher
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Northland College
Head Coach: Cora Zackrison | 1
st Season
2022 Season
UMAC: 7-13, Overall: 8-28 | 5th
Top Returners
- Kaylee Harnack, Senior, MIF/OF | UMAC Honors | Other Honors | .348 BA, .868 OPS, Top stat three |
- Lenisa Tomasini, Junior, MIF/C | .634 OPS, .329 SLG%, .235 BA |
- Izzy Peters, Junior, C | .795 OPS, .323 BA, .948 FLD% |
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University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach: Heather Pennie-Roy | 25th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 9-11, Overall 13-23 | 4th
Postseason: 1-2 in the UMAC Tournament
Top Returners
- Tori Nichols, Jr, 3B | .333 BA, 11 2B, 19 RBI |
- Olivia Diver, Sr, 2B/1B | Second Team All-UMAC | UMAC All-Defensive Team| .268 BA, 4 3B, .959 Fielding % (only 3 errors in UMAC play)
- Autumn Theis, Sr, P/1B | .279 BA, .390 OBP, 2.80 ERA in 35.0 IP |
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University of Northwestern – St. Paul
Head Coach: Alicia du’Monceaux | 15th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 17-4, Overall: 23-15 | 2
nd
Top Returners
- Jadyn Iverson, So., First Base | UMAC Honorable Mention | .349BA, 28RBI, 2 HR |
- Sydney Lane, So., Outfield | UMAC Honorable Mention | .323 BA, 23 RBI, 31 Runs Scored |
- Grace Bentley, Jr., Infielder | UMAC Honorable Mention | .292BA, 20 RBI, 2 HR |
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University of Wisconsin-Superior
Head Coach: Melissa Fracker | 3rd season
2022 Season
UMAC: 18-3, Overall: 33-10 | UMAC regular-season champion |
Postseason: UMAC tournament runner up
Top Returners
- Tayler Kraemer, Senior, RHP/1B | UMAC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-UMAC, All-Defensive Team | Four-time UMAC Pitcher of the Week, one-time UMAC Player of the Week | 2.13 ERA, .361 BA, 25 SB |
- Tiffany Kirk, 5th Year, UTL | First Team All-UMAC | Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, UMAC Academic All-Conference | .384 BA, 47 RBI, .529 SLG% |
- Zoe Thomson, So., C | All-UMAC Honorable Mention, UMAC Academic All-Conference | .354 BA, 41 RBI, .515 SLG% |
Need to Know
Coming off of the 2022 UMAC regular-season title, the Yellowjackets -- with 55 wins the last two seasons -- have the second-most victories in any two-year stretch in program history, and return 14 letter winners and welcome 10 newcomers for 2023.