Softball to Celebrate its 50th Season

NEWARK, Del.. – University of Delaware Softball will celebrate its 50th season as a program during the 2025 season, as presented by Delaware State Parks. Since the program's inception in 1976, the Blue Hens are 1,032-937-9 (.524) all-time, and claimed CAA Regular Season Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Delaware has produced 96 All-Conference selections, 36 NFCA All-Region selections, and a Conference Player of the Year in 2004, Pitcher of the Year in 2023, Rookie of the Year in 1999, 2005, and 2016, Coach of the Year in 2002, 2022, and 2023, and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2025 season also coincides with Delaware's final season as a member of the CAA before joining CUSA.

Program History

1975 - 1989

J. Kay Ice became Delaware's first head coach in program history for the 1976 season, leading the team to a 14-1 record in the inaugural season and 2-1 at EAIW Regionals.
Audie Kujala hit .560 in 1976 and .530 during a two-year career.
The program's all-time winningest coach, B.J. Ferguson, was hired in 1981. She was inducted into the Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Delaware went 19-11 in 1983 and 17-13 in 1984 to finish first in the ECC. Delaware was the ECC Champions in 1984.
In 1985, Patty Freeman threw the first three no-hitters in program history, including the first in the season opener.

1990 - 1999

In 1992, Delaware joined the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), later named the America East.
Outfielder Kim Griffin became the first Blue Hen to be named to the All-Region team in 1992.
On March 22, 1994 against Delaware State, Jen Ballier threw the first and only perfect game in program history.
In 1997, Ferguson became the first coach to earn Conference Coach of the Year after leading UD to a 22-19 record and 9-4 record in conference play - second in the America East.
Kristi O'Connell threw consecutive no-hitters in 1998 against Mount St. Mary's and Lafayette, the last Delaware pitcher to throw consecutive no hitters.
The Blue Hens secured their first 30-win season in 1999 (33-17) and finished second in America East. Mandy Welch became the first Delaware player to earn Conference Rookie of the Year.

2000 - 2009

In 2000, the Blue Hens set a then-program record with 36 wins, and went 18-6 in conference play. The record stood for 24 years. Delaware also set program records for lowest ERA in a season (0.87) shutouts (19), longest win streak (13), and longest home win streak at (14).
During the 2000 America East Tournament, O'Connell threw the first no-hitter in conference tournament history.
Lauren Mark set a program record for best batting average in a season at .397 in 2000.
In 2002, Delaware joined the CAA. Ferguson earned her second Conference Coach of the Year award of her career.
Laura Streets had an on base percentage of .513 in 2004, a program record, and became the first and only Delaware player to earn a Conference Player of the Year honor.
In 2005, Allison Borchers becomes the second Delaware player to be named Conference Rookie of the Year

2010 - Present

The Blue Hens began CAA play with a program record nine-game win streak in 2013.
During the 2015 season, Delaware set program records for runs scored (264) and home runs (39). Mariah Kondravy hit a program record 15 home runs in 2015. Kondravy's 55 RBIs, 117 total bases, .741 slugging percentage, and 1.168 OPS in 2015 remain as a program record.
On March 22, 2015 against Drexel, Jessica Grisler became the all-time program hits leader. She graduated with a UD record 239 hits.
Anna Steinmetz then matched Kondravy's home run record the following year, and became Delaware's third ever Conference Rookie of the Year in 2016.
Leanna Gearhart became the first and only player to steal at least 40 bases in a season in 2016.
Jen Steele was appointed head coach in July 2018. Steele became the first head coach in Delaware history to earn Coach of the Year in two-straight seasons in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, Delaware won the program's first ever conference regular season championship with an 11-4 CAA record and 29-16 overall.
In 2023, the Blue Hens won back-to-back CAA Regular Season titles by going 18-5 in conference play and 29-20 overall. Emily Winburn became the first player in Delaware history to be named Conference Pitcher of the Year.
In 2024, Delaware set program records for wins with 39 and conference wins with 21. UD also tied the program record for consecutive wins at 13 and consecutive wins in conference games at 10.
During the 2024 season, Winburn set a single-season program record for wins (22). She also became the all-time winningest pitcher in program history, ending her career with 71. Winburn holds the UD record for most career saves as well with 12. She ended her career as the only player in program history to have earned four All-Region honors.
Delaware became the first school in CAA history to have a player win Defensive Player of the Year outright (Hanna Garber - 2022, Kiara Mills - 2023, Julz Garber - 2024) in three consecutive seasons. Julz Garber became the first outfielder in CAA history to win the award.
On June 28, 2024, in conjunction with the State of Delaware, renovations began on the Delaware Softball Diamond.

TICKETS
Season and single game tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now. The upcoming season will feature cutting-edge renovations, including a state-of-the-art Daktronics videoboard, turf playing surface, LED lighting, and more. Season tickets are now 50% off the single-game rate—just $94 for access to the entire season with general admission seating.

Inaugural season ticket holders will also receive a custom Delaware Softball mini bat. One bat per account will be available to fans who purchase their season tickets prior to the start of the home season on February 27th.

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