MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU Softball team releases their 2024 roster, announced today by head coach
Jexx Varner.
In 2023, the Colonials finished 24-23 overall and were 14-8 in Horizon League play, finishing second in the conference.
"We're really excited about this group," said Varner. "We have a lot of experience on the roster and through the Fall semester we saw major development in each of their games."
RETURNERS
INFIELD
For the upcoming campaign, the Colonials roster will be bolstered by 10 infielders returning to the lineup in 2024. Mainly playing this past season at shortstop, senior
Charlotte Grover is coming off a successful season, playing in all 47 games for RMU in 2023. She owned a team-high .257 batting average, 35 hits and three home runs. She was also second on the team in RBI's (25) and walks (24). Next to her on the diamond in 2023 was
Anna Resnik, featuring most play time at second base. The incoming junior from Elizabeth Forward High School also appeared in all 47 games. She was second on the squad in batting average (.244) and third on the team in hits (31). Together, Grover and Resnik have each started in 98 consecutive games together. Appearing consistently at third base last season,
Alaina Koutsogiani out of Peters Township prepares for her junior campaign. Koutsogiani finished 2023 with a team-high 29 runs and ended first in doubles (9) and triples (2). At first-base,
Avery Winchell returns to the Colonials for her last year of collegiate softball. Winchell hit .236 this past year and hit a team-high 27 RBI's and three home runs. Her 27 RBI's ranked sixth in the Horizon League. Sophomore
Abby Quickel (2B) will also be able help in the infield. Kaitlyn Jardine out of Heath, Ohio will be another contributor to the Colonials infield.
CATCHERS
Rounding out the diamond on defense, catcher
Meadow Sacadura comes into 2024 as a redshirt-junior. Behind the plate, Sacadura posted 32 hits and 21 RBI's. She threw out a base runner stealing on 12 occasions. Providing depth,
Logan Black,
Bailee Bertani and
Makayla Jardine will all get opportunities to catch this year.
OUTFIELD
Contributing to the roster in the outfield are seven returners. Senior
Catalina Saxen in last year's campaign played in 37 games and provided 10 RBI's. She performed well this past season in pinch-hit at-bats. Slap-hitter
Julia Ehrman played in 45 contests and was 9-12 on her stolen base attempts. Appearing in 44 games last season for RMU, junior
Jess Matheny produced 20 hits and nine RBI's.
Kinsey Ventura for her senior year is a lefty batter for the Colonials that pinch hit on several occasions for RMU. She recorded 11 hits and seven RBI's in 2023.
Faith Miller heading into her senior season is also another utility option for the Colonials. Also, returning to the outfield is
Logan Black,
Mackenzie Hoover,
Bailee Bertani and
Courtney Poulich.
PITCHERS
Headlining the pitching staff for the Colonials will be senior
Jane Garver and junior
Madison DeVault as the team's anchors in the circle. From Ligonier, Pa., Garver won seven games last season and paced for a 2.97 ERA. She reached 69 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched. Her teammate DeVault also won seven contests. Out of Dover, Ohio, she registered a 3.20 ERA, pitched five complete games and threw 68 strikeouts in 81 innings.
TRANSFERS
Jaimee Hardy comes to RMU after spending two seasons at Campbell. She owned a sub 1.40 ERA in her last 11 appearances, including time in the NCAA Regionals. She can also contribute at 1B if needed, but most of her work will be as a P and DP.
FRESHMEN
Kailani Tatro and
Kaitlyn Molitoris both come to RMU for their first year of collegiate softball. Both will pitch in the circle spring and provide unique looks as starters or in relief. From Pataskala, Ohio,
Kaylyn Hopf joins RMU to help in the outfield. She throws and bats left-handed.
"We have three freshmen on this team this year and bringing in Hardy gives us four new young women that add depth and talent in the circle and at the plate," said Varner. "We also had basically five players from last season who were limited due to various injuries. So, it has been very exciting from the Fall till now to see each of them hit the ground running even better."
RMU will begin their 2024 campaign at the Terrier Invite this upcoming weekend. The tournament will be played February 9-11.
"There is a lot of talent on this roster that very few people in the conference have ever seen play. Along with our experience, we've got a group of women who are ready, capable and hungry to reach the top of the Horizon League," stated Varner.
To view the 2024 roster, click
here.
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