JACKSON, Tenn. – After finishing the 2024 season 28-23 overall (16-14 GSC), the Union University softball team is excited to build on their success in 2025. The team was picked eighth in the 2025 GSC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll and will seek their fourth straight appearance in the GSC Championships this season.
“I am really looking forward to this upcoming season,” said Sydney Sturner, who is in her third season as head coach of the program. “The girls are motivated and ready to compete. It is a really awesome group that has grown a lot together throughout the year so far. Coach Jenna [Ergle] has come in and made an impact. With that, I am excited to see what we bring to the field.”
Jenna Ergle is in her first season as assistant coach for the Lady Bulldogs. She comes to Union after spending the 2023-24 season as the assistant coach for Chipola College.
The 2025 Union squad is comprised of 18 players, including 12 returners. The returning seniors include Morgan Jennings, Kira Finkley, Brooke Puckett, Sarah Kate Thompson, and Hailey Sipes. The returning juniors include Courtney Marler, Emily Claire Felder, Riley Vaughn, and Mallory Hildebrand. The returning sophomores include Camryn Langley, Sophie Mislevy, and Alyssa Harville.
Six newcomers round out the Lady Bulldogs, including transfers Denise Pauletich and Rylee Moore and freshmen Mya Willis, Cassidy Goddard, Lexi Theilacker, and Lexi Vircks. Pauletich, who comes to Union from Midwestern State University, and Moore, who spent her first season at Washburn University, were named to the GSC Newcomer Watchlist.
“We have a great group of newcomers, and they have been working hard getting into the groove of things,” Sturner said. “It has been great to watch them step in and connect. Our transfers Rylee and Denise are hungry and have an excellent work ethic. I’m excited to see them all excel throughout the season.”
Union will open their season Jan. 31 in the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., against Oklahoma Christian University at 10:00 a.m. and the University of Central Oklahoma at 3:00 p.m.
Union’s first GSC series of the season will take place Feb. 15-16 at Fesmire Softball Field against Valdosta State University.
