Game Time:

• the Dordt University softball team will host Mount Marty this weekend for the second of its 11 doubleheaders in conference play
• Saturday's games will be the first played on the Defenders home outdoor field at Open Space Park
• first pitch for game one is scheduled for 1pm, followed by a 3pm start of game two
• the Defenders are 2-0 in the conference, 21-6 overall; Mount Marty is 1-1 in the GPAC, 8-11 overall

• 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

In the National Poll:

• Dordt is one of three GPAC teams currently recognized in the NAIA Coaches' poll
• the Defenders are the fourth team to receive votes, totaling 71 points
• Northwestern is ranked 18th, down one spot from its spot at No.17 in the preseason poll
• Midland fell eight spots to No.19 in the latest edition of the national poll
• NAIA Coaches Poll - March 4

Last Time Out:

• Dordt totaled 23 hits and 17 runs in a doubleheader sweep (11-1, 5 innings; 6-1) against Waldorf on Wednesday night in the GPAC opener for both teams
• the Defenders hit four home runs, two by Chloe Kreuz, who had one in each game
• Rylee Yager picked up her GPAC-leading 10th win of the season in game one where she limited Walforf to one hit and totaled 12 strikeouts
• Abigail Tweedy matched Yager with 12 strikeouts in game two, giving up just two hits and one run

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:
  • Dordt leads the GPAC with a .338 batting average
  • the Defenders are scoring 6.8 runs / game and average 9.1hits / game
  • Dordt leads the GPAC in hits (247), triples (22) and home runs (28)
  • the Defenders rank second in the GPAC with a 1.99 ERA
  • Dordt is giving up 2.6 runs and 5.5 hits / game
• Stat Leaders, 2026 (GPAC ranking, if top 10):
  • Rylee Yager - .483 BA (1st), 26 runs, 42 hits (2nd), 13 SB (3rd)
    • 10-4 record, 2.14 ERA (10th), 98 IP (1st), 119 K's (2nd)
  • Chloe Kreuz - .448 BA (5th), 43 hits (1st), 9 HR (1st)
  • • 3-0 record, 1.47 ERA, 19 IP, 15 K's
  • Annabelle Hensley - .354 BA, 6 HR (3rd), 24 RBI (4th)
  • Lauren Steenstra -  .353 BA, 10 2B (3rd), 28 RBI (2nd)
  • Tera Lynn Price - .349 BA, 6 3B (2nd)
  • Abigail Tweedy - 5-1, 1.31 ERA, 37.1 IP, 42 K's (3rd)
• the Defenders are off to their best start in program history
• 3 Defenders have earned GPAC Player / Pitcher of the Week this season:
  • Lauren Steenstra - March 4
  • Abigail Tweedy - Feb.19
  • Chloe Kreuz - Feb.12

Scouting Report:

• Mount Marty Lancers:
  • Head Coach: Cassandra Brown (2nd year)
    • previous assistant at Alabama A&M for three years
    • was a standout pitcher for Alabama A&M
  • 2026 Record: 1-1 (GPAC), 8-12 overall
    • last time out: split with College of Saint Mary on March 19
      • lost game one 8-6, won game two 9-2
  • last season: 10-12 (T7th w/ Hastings and Doane), 20-21 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return two starters, #2 pitcher and 13 players from last year
  • picked to finish T7th w/ Hastings in preseason poll
  • by the numbers:
    • 4.6 runs, 6.8 hits / game
    • .275 BA (12th)
    • 4.6 runs, 7.8 hits given up  /game
  • Leaders (2026 stats) (GPAC ranking, if top 10):
    • Kayleen Jacinto (1st team all-conference) - .420 BA (7th), 13 runs, HR, 14 RBI, 8 2B (5th)
    • Kalli Bloom - .400 BA (9th), 15 runs, 13 RBI
    • Lily Boykin - .360 BA, 5 runs
    • Alyssa Krause - .344 BA, 6 runs, 2 HR
    • Jacey Hayen - 3-6 record, 47.2 IP, 4.41 ERA, 26 k's