IRVINE, Calif. – The defending PacWest Conference champions from Concordia University Irvine were voted as the 2025 softball favorites to repeat in the expanded league.
CUI received all but one of the 11 first-place votes coming off an impressive 39-14 season that extended in to the NCAA DII West Regional for the sixth consecutive full season.
The Golden Eagles return PacWest Freshman of the Year
Jessica Im in the outfield as well as former PacWest Tournament MVP
Shelby Pfeiler at catcher. Key contributors back for more include seniors
Shelli Faulk and
Kendall Flatt and fellow infielder
Audrey Robles. Sophomores
Jayden Nishi and
Kira Morris join senior
Bella Calvo as returners on the pitching staff.
After graduating All-American pitchers
Katlin Entrup and
Cortney Koelmans, who have joined the coaching staff as graduate assistants, PacWest Coach of the Year Crystal Rosenthal and her team have reloaded with a ton of new faces including graduate transfers
Kayla Rodgers (GCU) and
Caitlynn Campbell (San Joaquin Delta College).
Eight new freshmen join the fold this spring as well.
Riley Bigley and
Alyssa Struthers will help roam the outfield while
Mya Diaz and
Kaliya Yco are listed as infielders.
Maddie Cortez and
Kayla Rick can play multiple positions, plus
Kailey Estes and
Kacie Gossett will give associate head coach Rose Imbriano and the entire coaching staff lots of options in the circle.
The Golden Eagles will host the annual Concordia Kickoff Classic at nearby Orange County Great Park starting on Friday, Jan 31 with a record 23 teams participating this time.
Since its inception five years ago in 2020, the tournament has evolved into the premier NCAA DII softball tournament to start the season the first week of February.
CLICK HERE for Tournament Central for the 2025 CUI Kickoff Classic
CUI plays Cal State Monterey Bay in its regular season opener on Friday, Jan. 31 at 1:30 p.m. and then hosts Central Washington later that evening at 6:30 p.m.
The Golden Eagles will also face San Francisco State, Colorado State Pueblo and Fort Lewis over the course of the weekend that will feature over 50 NCAA DII softball games in three days.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
