DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team will start their 2026 season at the 2026 The Space Coast Spring Games held at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, Fla. (
5800 Stadium Pkwy Melbourne, Florida 32940). UD will play eight games during the tournament.
The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has released its 2026 softball preseason coaches' poll, and Simpson College has been selected as the favorite to take home the league regular season title. The
University of Dubuque had a 23-15 season in 2025. In her second year, head coach
Kristen Duross returns six starters, including all-conference selection
Kaitlyn Powell. With six seniors on the roster, the Spartans will rely on veteran leadership and depth as they continue to look to build off last season's momentum.
"After building momentum last year we are very excited about going into this spring," said Duross. "We have a talented group that includes six seniors and I'm looking forward to them stepping up and doing what they do best. The American Rivers Conference is a very talented conference, where on any given day, anyone can beat anyone; looking forward to some great competition this year!"
2026 American Rivers Conference
Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Place |
Team (First-place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Simpson (7) |
62 |
| 2. |
Wartburg (1) |
54 |
| 3. |
Central (1) |
47 |
| 4. |
Loras |
44 |
| 5. |
Luther |
36 |
| T-6. |
Coe |
24 |
| T-6. |
Univ. of Dubuque |
24 |
| 8. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
21 |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
12 |
TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
GA 2023 (AGES 12+): $14.00
Area Map HERE
Tentative 2026 Spring Break schedule:
FIELD MAP HERE
Monday, March 2
12:15 p.m. (ET) -
Misericordia University - 6
University of Dubuque - 7
Box Score
Highlights:
Ashlyn Short - first career homerun
team just one strike out and compiled 7 walks
6 RBI's on 5 hits
Winning Pitcher:
Ashlyn Short (5K's)
Save:
Ciaran Rigby (1) (2 K's)
2:30 p.m. (ET)
University of Dubuque - 15
Houghton University - 0
Box Score
Highlights:
14 people played in the win
team season high - 19 hits
team season high - 15 runs scored
2B:
Kaitlyn Powell (1),
Adalynn Ridgeway (1)
3B:
Megan Leick (1),
Amber Wisely (1)
SB:
Skylar Zoeteman (1),
Amber Wisely (1),
Kayla Ponting (1)
Winning Pitcher:
Miranda Saylor (1-0), 3K's, 3 hits, 0 Walks, 0 Earned Runs
Tuesday, March 3
10:00 a..m. (ET) -
University of Dubuque - 2 (in 8 innings)
Rose-Hulman - 1
Box Score
Highlights:
Kaitlyn Powell 2-3 at bats
Lauren Jacobs 1-3 at bats
Anna Luczak 1-2 at bats, a stolen base, and a hit by pitch
Zoe Connell 1-3 at bats and an RBI
Winning pitcher:
Ciaran Rigby (1-0) no earned runs, 1K, no walks
12:15 p.m. (ET)
New England College - 0
University of Dubuque - 1
Box Score
Highlights:
Megan Leick 3-3 at bats
Peyton Santore 2-3 at bats, 1 walk, scored the lone run
Adalynn Ridgeway 1-2 at bats, 1 walk
Winning pitcher:
Skylar Zoeteman (1-0), complete game, 4 hits, 3K's, 3 walks
Thursday, March 5
10:00 a.m. (ET) -
University of Dubuque - 4 (8 innings)
Concordia University of Chicago - 3
Box Score
Winning pitcher:
Ashlyn Short (2-0) 4K's, 2 WLKS, 3 earned runs
3B -
Lauren Jacobs
2B -
Ashlyn Short - RBI
SB -
Megan Leick - RBI
Amber Wisely - RBI
12:15 p.m. (ET)
John Carroll University - 1
University of Dubuque - 0
Box Score
Losing Pitcher:
Ciaran Rigby (1-1) 3K's, 2 walks, 1 earned run.
Zoe Connell - 1-3
Anna Luczak - 1-3
Kadence Ondrey - 1-3
LOB - 8
Friday, March 6
4:45 p.m. (ET) -
University of Dubuque - 0
Anna Maria College - 1
Box Score
Losing Pitcher':
Skylar Zoeteman, 10K's, 3 walks, 3 hits, 1 earned run
Peyton Santore - 1-4 at bats, 1 LOB
Amber Wisely - 1-3 at bats, double, SB
Jamie Motley - 1-3 at bats, 1 LOB
Lauren Jacobs - 1-3 at bats, 1 LOB, SB
Kayla Ponting - 1-3 at bats, SB
Kaitlyn Powell - 1-1 at bats, SB
Spartans turned a double play
7:00 p.m. (ET)
Concordia College (Minn.) - 9 (in 8 innings)
University of Dubuque - 6
Box Score
Losing pitcher:
Ciaran Rigby, 2 K's, 2 walks, 6 hits, 4 earned runs
Kaitlyn Powell - 2-5 at bats, 2 LOB
Amber Wisely - 1-5 at bats 2 RBI's, 4 LOB
Peyton Santore - 1-5 at bats, 1 RBI, 2 LOB, 1 SB
Lauren Jacobs - 1-5 at bats, 2 LOB
Zoe Connell - 1-4 at bats, 1 RBI
Adalynn Ridgeway - 1-4 at bats, 1 RBI, 4 LOB
Megan Leick - 1-3 at bats, 1BB
Anna Luczak - 1-2 at bats, 1 BB, 2 LOB
