University of Delaware Athletics
Softball Adds Transfer Gianna Poletti
1/16/2026 1:13:00 PM | Softball
"We're thrilled to add Gianna to our roster," Steele said. "She was someone we identified early in the recruiting process, so being able to bring her back through the portal was especially exciting. She brings high-level game experience from the Power 4 and will immediately raise the level of competition in our infield. We expect her to compete hard for a starting role next year."
Poletti played in 67 games with the Nittany Lions as a freshman and sophomore with 43 starts. She emerged as the team's starting first baseman midway through non-conference competition in her first year and hit .232 in her debut season. She made just one error in the field in 243 chances for a .996 fielding percentage. Poletti also helped the team to a 35-win season, its most since 2006, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. Against Texas State during the NCAA Tournament, she went 2-for-2 against the Bobcats in an elimination game. As a sophomore, she appeared in 23 games and posted a .448 slugging percentage with a pair of home runs. Her first career home run came against Villanova on March 2, 2025.Â
From Hegins, Pa., Poletti played high school softball at Tri-Valley Junior/Senior High School and hit .546 with 42 doubles, 10 triples, and eight home runs with 124 runs scored, 78 RBIs, and 57 stolen bases as a four-year starter. She won a pair of PIAA Class 1A State Championships in 2021 and 2023, in addition to three District XI Championships. Poletti was a three-time Republican-Herald First Team All-Area honoree, a three-time PIAA All-State shortstop, and two-time Schuylkill Softball Coaches All-Area First Team honors. During her senior season, she was named the 2023 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.Â
Delaware had a historic season in 2025 that led to its third CAA Regular Season Championship in four years. The Blue Hens broke numerous program records during the year including home runs, doubles, strikeouts, conference wins, consecutive conference wins, run-rule victories, consecutive run-rule victories, and postseason honors in a season. The 23 conference wins were the most ever by a CAA team. Delaware is one of eight Division I teams with at least 20 conference wins in each of the last two seasons.Â
TICKETS
Softball season ticket deposits are available now. Season ticket packages and individual game tickets will go on sale later this winter.Â
Individual ticket prices will be $10 per game and $5 for youth (ages 3-12). Season ticket packages will be available at 50 percent off the single game rate. There will also be group rate, incentives, and additional gameday experience opportunities. All seating will be general admission at Delaware Softball Diamond.
UD students will continue to receive free tickets to all home softball games.
Fans can also join the Coop Crew for grades K-12. This group features one-on-one communication with a Blue Hen player, on-field experience and a pizza party during a select home game, autograph and photo opportunities, and an end-of-the-year youth clinic.Â
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