Lincoln, NE - Nebraska Wesleyan softball will open the Courtney Medina era with four games at the Bethany Kwik Trip Invitational.

START TIMES, LOCATION, LIVE STREAM & LIVE STATS
Nebraska Wesleyan will play two games on both Saturday and Sunday. The Black and Gold will open their season against #5 Saint Mary's at 3:30 p.m., before taking on St. Catherine at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, NWU will face Hamline at 11:30 a.m., and Gustavus Adolphus at 2:00 p.m. All games will be played at MSU Dome, in Mankato, Minnesota. Bethany Lutheran will live stream each game. The official tournament page and live stat links can be found here. 

ABOUT NEBRASKA WESLEYAN
Nebraska Wesleyan experienced an offseason of change as the team lost seven players to graduation, while long time head coach Mary Yori retired. However, a solid core of returners, mixed with a talented recruiting class has given Courtney Medina all the confidence she needs as she enters her first season as Nebraska Wesleyan's head coach. The Prairie Wolves will rely on their depth and leadership early in the year, with senior middle infielder Jenna Kimberling providing a reliable bat and glove. In her three seasons at NWU, Kimberling has crushed nine home runs, posted 77 RBIs, and batted .289, while maintaining a .959 fielding percentage. Junior outfielder Taylor Korecky is also poised to make a splash after a solid sophomore campaign where she delivered 28 hits, scored 19 runs and posting 11 stolen bases. Leading the Prairie Wolf defense is junior Eva Fahrnbruch. In 13 appearances last season, Fahrnbruch tossed three complete games, had a 3.67 ERA, and recorded 11 strike outs. Last year, NWU scored 242 runs on 366 hits, while smashing 14 home runs and carrying a team batting average of .319. Defensively, the Black and Gold carried a .964 fielding percentage, while the pitching staff combined for a 2.59 ERA. 

HEAD COACH COURTNEY MEDINA
Courtney Medina is entering her first season as the head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan. Medina comes to Lincoln after serving three seasons at Western Nebraska. 

PLAY BALL!
This weekend will mark the sixth consecutive season that Nebraska Wesleyan has opened in Mankato. In 18 prior games, the Prairie Wolves posted an 11-7 record. Since joining the American Rivers Conference in 2017, The Black and Gold have posted a 5-4 record and outscored opponents 50-46. In those nine games, NWU scored eight or more runs four times, and held its opponent to fewer than two runs four times. 

SCOUTING SAINT MARY'S
Saint Mary's enters Saturday ranked fifth in the country. Last season, the Cardinals went 44-7 while advancing to the College World Series. Saint Mary's had a team batting average of .351 and combined for 354 runs on 490 hits. Defensively, the Cardinals held a .978 fielding percentage. Saint Mary's is led by John Tschida, in his 11 season.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST SAINT MARY'S
Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between Nebraska Wesleyan and Saint Mary's. The prior four games were split 2-2.

SCOUTING ST. CATHERINE
St. Catherine went 18-23 in 2025. The Wildcats batted 2.82 as a team and scored 181 runs on 310 hits. Defensively, St. Catherine held a .958 fielding percentage. The Wildcats are led by Colleen Powers, in her 12th season. 

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST ST. CATHERINE
Saturday will mark the eighth meeting between Nebraska Wesleyan and Catherine. The Wildcats lead the all time series 4-3.

SCOUTING HAMLINE
Hamline went 17-23 in 2025. The Pipers batted .280 as a team and scored 178 runs on 300 hits. Defensively, Hamline held a .963 fielding percentage. The Pipers are led by Jim Rubbelke, in his 19th season.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST HAMLINE
Sunday will mark the first meeting between Nebraska Wesleyan and Hamline.

SCOUTING GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS
Gustavus Adolphus went 19-21 in 2025. The Gusties batted .278 and scored 158 runs on 302 hits. Defensively, Gustavus Adolphus held a .949 fielding percentage. The Gusties are led by Emma Frost, in her first season.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS
Sunday will mark the fifth meeting between Nebraska Wesleyan and Gustavus Adolphus. The Prairie Wolves lead the all time series 4-0.