MARION, Ind. - Indiana Wesleyan softball is just over a month away from the start of the 2023 season. Entering his 12th season at the helm, Head Coach Steve Babinski and the Wildcats are excited to build off of last year's 54-win season, the most in the NAIA. They also earned the program's third appearance in the NAIA World Series. The team returns all four of last season's Crossroad's League Gold Glove recipients and combines them with a highly talented signing class. IWU will take the field on February 24th at #6 in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.


TOP RETURNERS


Elisa Koshy

• Koshy returns for her senior season after earning a spot on the All-Crossroads League 1st Team and Gold Glove Team in 2022.
• She finished tied with Buck for second on the team with 12 home runs while racking up a .636 slugging percentage. 
• The Round Lake, Ill product tallied 261 putouts with a .986 fielding percentage at first base for the Wildcats.

Alyssa Wagner

• Wagner begins her junior season after an elite first half of her college career as a pitcher for the Wildcats.
• A 2021 NAIA All-American, a 2x All-Crossroads League 1st Team recipient, a 2022 NFCA NAIA All-Region member, and a 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-American are just a few of her accolades.
• The Monroe, Ohio native led the team with 163.1 innings, 23 wins, 195 strikeouts, and just 102 walks.

Emma Etter-Cox

• Etter-Cox is back for Year 2 after a stellar freshman pitching campaign.
• She threw 76 strikeouts with a 1.76 ERA in 25 appearances in the circle.
• The Indianapolis, Ind. native threw 75.2 innings while giving up just 43 walks.

Jennah Yost

• Yost enters her junior year after earning NFCA All-American, All-Crossroads League 1st Team and Gold Glove status last season.
• She led the team with 60 runs scored and 60 stolen bases.
• The Castalia, Ohio native tallied 80 assists with a .934 fielding percentage in the infield last year.

NEW FACES

Ashton Whitman

• A graduate student transfer from Taylor University, Whitman was an All-Crossroads League 1st Team catcher last season.
• The Kalamazoo, Mich. native had 66 hits, 43 RBI's, and a .379 batting average last year.
• She recorded a hit in 33 of her first 38 games of the season, including two hit-streaks of ten-or-more games apiece.

In addition to Whitman, IWU brings in freshmen, Morgan Yeater (Avon, Ind.), Arie Hackett (Bridgman, Mich.), Courtney Thomas (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Ella Gearhart (Winamac, Ind.), and Emma Wiberg (Chicago, Ill.).



SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
 

• February 24 // at IU Southeast // Season Opener
• March 3 // vs. Missouri Baptist // Home Opener
• March 15 // vs. Saint Francis // Crossroads League Opener
• March 21 // vs. Taylor // Rivalry Game
• March 24 // vs. Marian // #17 in NAIA Preseason Poll
• May 3-5 // Crossroads League Tournament
• May 15-17 // NAIA Opening Round
• May 25-31 // NAIA World Series

The Wildcats open the season on February 24th on the road against IU Southeast.

IWU will be at Sue Bowman Field for the first time on March 3rd against Missouri Baptist.




#