Game Time:

• the Dordt University softball team plays host to No.23 Saint Xavier (Ill.) for a single, non-conference game on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the American State Bank Sports Complex (ASB Dome). 
• first pitch is scheduled for noon
• Dordt is off to its best start in program history with a 10-1 record; Saint Xavier is 4-2 this season

• live stats for all of the Defenders games this season are at this link: 
  • Live Stats
• watch all of the Defenders home games, courtesy of the Dordt Media Network:
  • Watch

GPAC Preseason Coaches Poll:

• the Great Plains Atheltic Conference (GPAC) released its annual preseason coaches' poll on Feb.1
• Dordt was picked to finish fourth out of 12 teams and totaled 83 points
• Midland was picked as the preseason favorite with 114 points and six first place votes
• Morningside (2nd) and Northwestern (3rd) follow Midland
• GPAC Preseason Poll

Last Time Out:

• the Defenders finished with a perfect 4-0 record last weekend in the second edition of the ASB Dome Classic held at the Dome on Feb.13-14
• on Friday, Dordt earned wins over Valley City State (N.D.) and Dakota State (S.D.)
• the Defenders came back on Saturday and earned wins over Bismarck State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.)
• Annabelle Hensley hit a walkoff single in the 6-5 win against the Blue Hawks, capping a three-hit game by the sophomore that included a pair of home runs

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach Jeff Zomer is in his 17th season in charge of the Defenders program
• Zomer is the all-time winningest coach in program history (330-358-1) and is also the longest tenured coach within the program
• 2026, by the numbers:
  • .302 batting average, 9 HR, 60 RBI
  • 5.8 runs / 7.6 hits per game
  • opponents batting average: .201 BA
  • giving up: 5.1 hits / 2.4 runs per game
• Stat Leaders, 2026:
  • Rylee Yager - .500 BA, 12 runs, 3 RBI
    • 5-0 record, 1.89 ERA, 37 IP, 50 K's
  • Annabelle Hensley - .438 BA, 8 runs, 3 HR, 12 RBI
  • Tera Lynn Price - .391 BA, 8 runs, 4 triples, 7 RBI
  • Chloe Kreuz - .359 BA, 11 runs, 2 HR, 4 triples, 9 RBI
    • 2-0 record, 0.54 ERA, 13 IP, 9 K's
  • Lauren Steenstra - ,344 BA, 2 HR, 11 RBI
• Notes:
  • the Defenders are off to their best start in program history
  • Abigail Tweedy was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Pitcher of the Week for the games from Feb. 9- 15
    • Tweedy went 1-0 in two games last week, earning a complete-game win (6 innings) against Bismarck State
    • Tweedy allowed just one hit against the Mystics and struck out six
    • the freshman also pitched three innings and earned a no-decision against Wayne State
  • the Defenders rank among the NAIA's top 10 in:
    • triples - 13 (1st)
    • home runs - 9 (5th)
    • total bases - 150 (8th)
  • several individuals rank among the NAIA's top 10 as well:
    • Rylee Yager - 17 hits (8th)
    • Rylee Yager - 5-0 record (T2nd in wins)
    • Rylee Yager - 37 innings pitched (4th)
    • Rylee Yager - 50 strikeouts (3rd)
    • Annabelle Hensley - 3 home runs (T3rd)
    • Chloe Kreuz - 4 triples (T1st)
    • Chloe Kreuz - 30 total bases (7th)

Scouting Report:

• No.23 Saint Xavier Cougars:
  • Head Coach: Erin Mollohan (10th year)
    • appointed to head coach in 2017 after a 4-year stint as the assistant
    • guided the Cougars to three conference regular season titles and five straight conference tournament titles
    • led Saint Xavier to seven NAIA Opening Rounds
  • 2026 Record: 4-2
    • lost a doubleheader to Madonna (Mich.) to open year
    • won four straight since, vs Missouri Valley, Midland and Clarke (2x)
  • Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic
  • 2025 Record: 16-0 (1st), 37-8 overall
    • fourth 35-plus win season in last five years
    • went 1-2 in the Ashland bracket of the NAIA Opening Round
  • return top four hitters and top three pitchers from last year
  • Leaders (2026 stats):
    • Fiona Crane (All-American, CCAC Player of the Year in 2025) - .571 BA, 16/17 SB
      • reigning CCAC Player of the Week after stealing seven bases vs Clarke
    • Haley Matlock (2x all-conference) - .474 BA, 4 RBI
    • Isabelle Poortenga - .462 BA, 3 runs
    • Jazmyn Casas - .400 BA, HR, 7 RBI
    • Lily Strand (all-conference, CCAC Pitcher of the Year in 2025) - 2-1, 2.33 ERA, 18 IP, 18 K's
    • Payton Antkiewicz (all-conference, Freshman of the Year in 2025) - 1-1, 7.00 ERA