BUFFALO, N.Y. – The D'Youville University Softball team is set to begin their 2026 season after making history in the 2025 season.
The Saints finished 23-20 overall and 9-11 in East Coast Conference (ECC) play in the 2025 season. D'Youville entered the conference tournament as the #4 seed and fought to the top to defeat #1 St. Thomas Aquinas College twice on Championship Saturday and take the ECC Conference title for the first time in program history.
"The mentality this year is team first. We focus on everybody because everybody has a role. Roles can change at any point in time, but we need everybody bought in to every aspect, every play, every game. That's what our focus has been this preseason and since I've gotten to D'Youville." says coach Hoerner.
The Saints return 12 familiar faces including ECC Preseason Player of the Year,
Annie Jorgenson (Victoria, B.C. / Belmont SS) and ECC Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year,
Summer Clark (Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East). The Saints also welcome in three Sophomore transfers including
Mikayla Hussar (West Seneca, N.Y. / West Seneca West),
Frankie Morris (Lancaster, N.Y. / Lancaster), and
Hadley Donnelly (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa).
Second year head coach,
Shelly Hoerner says, "We've had a really good preseason. We have been intentional in everything we've done from reps in the cages to our pitching and catching and our defense."
Hoerner returns for her second year at the helm of the D'Youville Softball program in the hopes of bringing home another East Coast Conference title. The Saints kick off their season tomorrow, Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Glenville State Tournament. The first matchups for the Saints are at 12:30 PM against Seton Hill University and against West Virginia State at 5:00 PM.
For full schedule and roster details, visit www.dyusaints.com
