Owls Softball Gear Up for Regular Season Opener in Florida

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State softball team is eager to begin the 2025 campaign after a record-breaking season where the Owls set a new all-time record for wins in a season. The Owls finished the year with an overall record of 28-13-1 and had tremendous success in the MASCAC, going 12-2 versus conference opponents. The Owls are currently ranked number one in the 2025 MASCAC preseason coaches' poll and are looking to make another deep playoff run.

Last season, Westfield secured the MASCAC regular season title and the top overall seed in the MASCAC Tournament. The Owls defeated Salem State 4-0 in the first round, then advanced into the championship game after taking down Framingham State 8-7 in the semifinals. Unfortunately, the Owls lost consecutive games to the Rams in the title game, ending their season.

Expectations are set high for head coach Joe Hough's team. Hough, entering his third season as head coach of the team, was voted by his peers as the 2024 BSN Sports Coach of the Year last season as the Owls hit a staggering .304 as a team, with a program-record 22 home runs in 42 games.

Leading the way offensively will be junior Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.), who plays third base for the Owls. Wodecki, who was a member of the 2024 MASCAC all conference first team, hit .411 last season with 56 RBI in 42 games, a terrific output which led to her setting the school record in runs batted in. She is also coming off a nine home run season this past year which topped another program single-season record.

Also returning is senior infielder Sarah Bingham (Reno, NV.), who primarily played first base last season. Bingham joined the MASCAC all conference second team in 2024, hitting .282 with four home runs and 21 RBI last season, bringing a strong offensive presence to the infield. Also a member of the all-conference first team in 2024 was Sarah Hough (Southwick, Mass). The middle infielder hit a whopping .330 in 2024 with just three strikeouts all season.

In total, the Owls return a staggering six former All-Conference hitters, five from last season: Wodecki, Bingham, Hough, Christina Ciampa (Rockville, Conn.), and Abby Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) along with 2023 All-Conference first teamer Mia Alfonso (Dalton, Mass.).

Pitching will be a key component and focus of the 2025 season as the team must find a way to fill 120 innings thrown by Stephanie Scoville, who led the team in pitching as a senior last year. Looking to fill that void of leadership and pitching talent will be seniors' Katherine Canty (Natick, MA.) and Gianna Conte (Greenfield, MA.). Canty, the Owls captain entering 2025, threw 94 innings last year with 11 wins and a 3.04 ERA with strikeouts. Conte looks to improve upon a solid season, where she posted a 5-4 record with two complete games.

The Owls begin their 2025 Championship campaign in Fort Myers, Florida on Saturday, March 8 against SUNY Cobleskill at 9:00 A.M, followed by a matchup with RIT at 1:00 P.M.

Written by Declan Murphy – WSU Sports Information Intern