2019 represented a monumental campaign for Emory softball with the Eagles advancing to the finals of the NCAA D-III Championships for the first time in the 21-year history of the program.

Emory’s “Comeback Kids” moniker was put on display during its exciting postseason run, starting at the Demorest Regional where it topped Emory and Henry, 7-3, in its opening contest before falling to host Piedmont in its second game.  The Eagles then staved off three elimination games, culminated with a 5-4 win over Piedmont in the winner-take-all battle that allowed the squad to move on to the Super Regional.

Emory packed its bags once again, venturing to Lynchburg College for the best-of-three series.  Emory fell short in the opener to the Hornets before posting 9-5 and 10-8 (rallied from 6-1 deficit) wins over the next two contests to make its fifth-ever trip to the Championships.

In their first contest at the Championships, the Eagles fell behind by a 5-2 count before coming through with a three-run sixth inning that gave them a 7-5 decision over Randolph-Macon.

The Eagles were successful in their second outing, using a two-run homer from freshman Mattie Ryan as the catalyst for a 2-1 win over Trine.  Emory continued its flair for the dramatic and in the process moved into the Championship round following a 3-2 win over Eastern Connecticut, wiping out a two-run deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh before a walk-off double by Greta Wilker in the bottom of the eighth provided the winning score.   

Matching up against No. 8-ranked Texas Lutheran for the national title, the Bulldogs won the opening two games, prevailing by 12-4 and 6-1 margins, and closing out Emory's final record at 39-14. 

With first-year Head Coach Adrianna Baggetta at the helm of the program, the Eagles finished year with an overall record of 39-14, tying the fifth-highest win total in school annals.

Emory steamrolled its way to first place in the University Athletic Association with a 16-4 record, outscoring its conference foes by a 139-64 margin.  The Eagles placed five on the All-UAA Team, highlighted by the selection of senior Cassie Baca and junior Sami Feller as Co-Position Players of the Year.  Senior Jenna Wilson garnered a first-team berth while sophomore Natalie Arreguin and classmate Madison Schaefer were second-team honorees.  In addition, Ryan was tabbed as the conference's Rookie of the Year Award winner. 

Baca was the heart and soul of the team at her shortstop position, ending the year starting 51 of the 52 contests she played in and placing second on the squad and 11th in the conference in hitting with a mark of .372 (64-of-172).  Tied for the team lead with 18 multi-hit games, she knocked in two or more runs a team-best 13 times, closing out the season with a league-high 46 ribbies.  Her 64 safeties were second on the team, and she paced the UAA with seven triples.  Cassie hit .375 (18-of-48), second on the team, and totaled a team-high 15 RBIs during Emory's 13-game run in the NCAA Tournament.  In addition, she was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Lynchburg Super Regional after hitting .583 (7-of-12) with seven RBIs.  Career-wise, she saw action in 175 games and her 173 starts ranks fifth all-time in program annals.  She compiled 53 multi-hit outings and ended up with a htting effort of .344.   She is No. 1 on the school's all-time ladder with 395 assists, fourth on the Eagles' career chart with 538 at-bats, seventh in triples (9), tied for ninth with 131 runs scored, and 10th with her 120 RBIs.  

Wilson often served as the jump starter for the Emory offense with her speed and heads-up base running constantly putting pressure on the opposition.  She drew 50 starting assignments, all in center field, and stood third on the team and 15th among league players in hitting with a .367 (65-of-177) mark. Her 65 hits topped the UAA and placed fourth on the school's seasonal ladder,  and she managed to hit safely two or more times in 16 contests.  She held down the No. 1 position in the league with a school-record 33 stolen bases, and her 48 runs scored set the pace in the league while ranking as the school's ninth-highest mark.  Named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Demorest Regional after hitting .529 (9-for-17) with five runs scored and four RBIs, Wilson also garnered a berth on the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team.  She finished her four-year run in the program seventh all-time with a hitting effort of .398 (157-of-394) and first with 76 stolen bases.

Feller burst upon the scene in her third season with the program, sharing UAA Position Player of the Year with Baca. A starter in 49 (45 in the outfield) of the 51 games she saw action in, she led the squad and ranked 12th on the UAA ladder in hitting (.373, 59-of-158).  Chosen as the UAA Player of the Week on four occasions, her 59 safeties were No. 3 in the league. She scored 36 runs and tied for the No. 1 post on the team with 18 multi-hit performances.  Feller earned a berth on the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team.

Schaefer was the ace of the pitching staff, notching a 20-4 record with her wins total leading the UAA and tying for fifth on the program's seasonal chart.  She made 18 starts in the circle and tossed 10 complete games. She was named UAA Pitcher of the Week (May 28) after accounting for two of the squad's three wins at the NCAA Championships, one of which was a complete-game gem in a 2-1 win over Trine (May 24) in the NCAA Chamionships, allowing just three hits and fanning one. In addition, she was selected Most Outstanding Pitcher of the NCAA Lynchburg Super Regional and landed a spot on the NCAA Demorest Regional All-Tournament Team.

One of three Emory players to have started all 53 games, Arreguin hit .275 with 44 hits in 160 plate appearances. Her 10 two-baggers ranked third on the club, and she finished fourth with 29 runs scored.  She amassed nine multi-hit games and her nine contests with two or more RBIs was third highest on the squad.

In addition to Baca and Wilson, other seniors included pitchers Toko Miller and Madeline Maday, outfielder Sam Vincent, catcher Max Faass and Lana Herrmann.

 Honors and Awards