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Softball Primed for UCF Knights ClassicSoftball Primed for UCF Knights Classic

Softball Primed for UCF Knights Classic

The Purdue softball team travels south for the Knights Classic this weekend, hosted by No. 23/25 UCF. The Boilermakers, coming off a 3-1 showing at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, is set the enter the weekend with a 5-3 overall record.

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KNIGHTS CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, February 24
vs. Columbia | 2 p.m. ET
vs. Bradley | 4:30 p.m. ET
 
Saturday, February 25
vs. Bradley | 4:30 p.m. ET
at #23/25 UCF | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Sunday, February 26
vs. Louisville | 11 a.m. ET
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball team travels south for the Knights Classic this weekend, hosted by No. 23/25 UCF. The Boilermakers, coming off a 3-1 showing at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, is set the enter the weekend with a 5-3 overall record.
 
LAST WEEK LOOK BACK: AT CAMPBELL & THE ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
  • Eight Boilermakers posted a .400 batting avg. or higher last week with at least two plate appearances, including: Kiara Dillon (9 AB, .556), Tyrina Jones (18 AB, .500), Anna Lonchar (10 AB, .400) and Khloe Banks (10 AB, .400).
  • As a team, Purdue went 3-2 on the weekend, with a .333 batting avg., a .521 slugging % and a .981 fielding %.
  • On Saturday, Purdue posted back-to-back shutouts with wins vs. Syracuse (7-0) and at NC State (4-0). The shutout was the first time since 2016 the program has accomplished two in a single day.
  • The Boilermakers totaled 12 doubles in four consecutive games, the most since 2019.
 
ON THE RISE: TYRINA JONES
  • From the plate, Tyrina Jones is leading the team with a .407 batting average this season.
  • The sophomore shortstop has recorded a hit in six of the team's eight games and is currently riding a four-game hitting streak.
  • Jones' four hits at NC State marked the second-most by a Boilermaker in a single game. It has happened 44 times in program history, last two seasons ago by 2022 All-America Honorable Mention Rachel Becker, who posted four vs. Rutgers (2021).
  • Jones' five RBI vs. Syracuse (2/17) was the third-most in a single game by a Boilermaker and most since 2021 (Ryleigh Scott at Michigan State, 4/23/21).
 
THE PITCHING STAFF: MO WIMPEE & ALEX ECHAZARRETA
  • Senior Mo Wimpee and fifth year Alex Echazarreta both posted complete game shutouts during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
  • Over a five-game span in Week 2, Mo Wimpee held a 0.05 ERA over 14 innings in the circle. The Boilermaker posted a career-high six strikeouts during her first complete game showing vs. Syracuse (2/18). In the outing, she allowed just three hits.
  • Veteran Echazarreta notched her first complete game of the season with a one-hitter shutout vs. NC State. In the win, the righty tossed 11 strikeouts, just one shy of her career-best.
 
SCOUTING COLUMBIA
  • Notably, Knight's Classic is the first time Columbia is set to play this season.
  • Columbia graduated its top-two offensive threats in Abby Stuart (.373 batting avg.) and Maria Pagane (.258).
  • Top returners include #6 Maddie Souza, who was third on the team with a .250 batting avg. a season ago,
  • Columbia's roster is evenly split among upper and lowerclassmen: five freshmen, four sophomores, five juniors and four seniors.
  • Last year, #22 Jordan Hill led the pitching staff with a 3.18 ERA, followed by #3 Raquel Reyes (4.00).
  • Hill led the team with a 6-12 record in the circle.
 
SCOUTING BRADLEY
  • Batting avg. leaders include #23 Lauren DeRolf (.483) followed by #32 Grace French (.480) and #17 Angela Cirone (.406).
  • DeRolf (8), Cirone (6) and #5 Addie Welsh (6) have scored the most runs for the Braves.
  • Leading in pitching with an ERA of 5.25 is #9 Camryn Schaller followed by #6 Abbott Badgley (7.41) and #32 Grace French (9.95).
  • #9 Camryn Schaller leads in pitching wins-losses at 2-0 along with #6 Abbott Badgley at 2-2.
 
SCOUTING #23/25 UCF
  • Leading the team in batting average is #12 Chloe Evans (.375) followed by #5 Micaela Macario (.320) and #46 Shannon Doherty (.313).
  • Meanwhile, the most runs have been scored by #17 Jada Cody (10), Evans (8) and #1 Jasmine Williams (7).
  • Leading in pitching with an ERA of 2.62 is #6 Angelina DeVoe followed by #18 Kaitlyn Felton (3.41) and #66 Sarah Willis (4.61).
  • #6 Angelina DeVoe leads in pitching wins-losses at 3-2.
  • Significantly, UCF defeated #25 Michigan with an 8-2 victory.
 
SCOUTING #RV LOUISVILLE
  • Leading the team in batting average is #22 Daisy Hess (.333), #8 Taylor Roby (.333), and #2 Sarah Gordon (.333).
  •  #33 Korbe Otis and #9 Vanessa Miller have posted the most runs this season with seven apiece.
  • The pitching effort is guided by #8 Taylor Roby (.046 ERA), #16 Gabby Holloway (1.27 ERA) and #13 Alyssa Zabala (1.35 ERA).
  • Zabala's 3-1 record in the circle leads the pitching staff.