2008 - Urbana University Athletics

State Champion Signs with Blue Knights
Lakewood's Chelsea Riley signs with Urbana Softball
URBANA, Ohio (June 13, 2008) - Lakewood High School graduate Chelsea Riley has signed a letter of intent to play softball at Urbana
University. Riley helped lead Lakewood to the 2008 D-III Softball State Championship.
Masur and Tuttle Named NAIA Scholar Athletes
URBANA, Ohio (May 23, 2008) - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) has announced 277 softball players have been named 2008 Daktronics-NAIA
Softball Scholar-Athletes. Nominated by each institution's head coach, a student-athlete
must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved
junior academic status to qualify.
Urbana University's Jackie Masur (Cincinnati/McAuley HS) and Jessica Tuttle (South
Vienna, Ohio/Kenton Ridge HS) earned the academic distinction for the Blue Knight
softball team. Masur, a senior third baseman, is a criminal justice major. Tuttle, a junior
centerfielder, is an early childhood education major.
Six Blue Knights Named All-Conference
Danielle Finley named First Team and AMC Freshman of the Year
URBANA, Ohio (May 12, 2008) - Urbana University freshman Danielle Finley (Milford, Ohio/Milford) highlighted the
American Mideast Conference South Division for the Blue Knights. Not only was the Blue Knights' designated player named
first-team all-conference, Finley was also named the AMC South Division Freshman of the Year.
Finley led Urbana in homeruns with six and slugging percentage with .667, plus had a .377 batting average. In addition,
she had success on the mound. She led Urbana with a 2.18 ERA. [more]
Masur Named to Academic All-America® Team
URBANA, Ohio (May 12, 2008) - Senior Jackie Masur, who plays third base for the Blue Knight softball team, was named to the ESPN The
Magazine Academic All-America® Team. She was a second team all-District 4 selection as selected by the College Sports Information
Directors of America (CoSIDA). Masur, a four-time all-American Mideast Conference selection for Urbana University, also did extremely well in
the classroom. The Cincinnati native and McCauley High School graduate had a 3.89 GPA and graduated from Urbana with a degree in
criminal justice this May. Complete Academic All-America® List
Urbana Knocked Out by Cougars
Blue Knights miss NAIA Region IX Tournament cut
URBANA, Ohio (May 1, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team was one run from advancing to the NAIA Region IX tournament. Urbana
University needed to win one-of-two in its American Mideast Conference doubleheader against Mount Vernon Nazarene University Thursday.
The Cougars, which needed to win both games to earn a playoff berth, squeaked out a 2-1 win in game one and ran away in the nightcap
with an 8-1 victory. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Blue Knights Swept by Panthers
URBANA, Ohio (April 29, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team dropped a pair of American Mideast Conference games, 6-5 and 7-0, to
visiting Ohio Dominican (20-25, 13-5 AMC) Tuesday. The setbacks hurt Urbana's (18-17, 9-9 AMC) chances of making the NAIA Region IX
playoffs, but with one win against Mount Vernon in an AMC doubleheader Thursday, the Blue Knights will secure a berth. [more]
[Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Splits with Bears Again
Erin Dowdell and Kayla Nenninger both go 4-for-6 in series
URBANA, Ohio (April 26, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team dropped a game, 5-4, and rallied back to win the second game, 6-3, in an
American Mideast Conference doubleheader against Shawnee State (18-15, 7-11 AMC) Saturday. Urbana (18-15, 9-7 AMC) and SSU ended
up splitting the season series 2-2. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]

Blue Knights Go 1-1 at SSU
Urbana falls in 12-inning marathon; bounce back with 7-0 shutout
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (April 24, 2008) - The Blue Knights took one of two American Mideast Conference games from Shawnee State at Doc
Singleton Field Thursday. The Bears scraped out a 9-8 win in a 12-inning marathon game, and Urbana took care of business in game two,
shutting out SSU, 7-0. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Masur Named AMC Player of the Week
Masur hit .583 for the week and safely in every game
Urbana third baseman Jackie Masur has been selected the AMC Player of the Week in softball for games played on
April 14-20.
Masur, a 5-foot-7 senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, batted .583 as the AMC Player of the Week. She hit safely in all
eight games by going 14-for-24 at the plate with two doubles, 12 RBI's, and six runs scored. Masur recorded four
multi-hit games including a pair of three-hit performances. She guided the Blue Knights to a 6-2 week which
improved their record to 15-12 overall and 6-4 AMC.
Urbana Splits with Cedarville
Blue Knights maintain 3rd place in AMC South standings
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (April 22, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team split its American Mideast Conference doubleheader against Cedarville
University Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on errors in the first game to win, 5-3, and Urbana (16-13, 7-5 AMC) came on strong in
the seventh inning to win game two, 4-3. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Second in NAIA Region IX Poll
URBANA, Ohio (April 22, 2008) - After its four-game sweep of the top two teams in the American Mideast Conference and going 6-2 on the
week, Urbana University has jumped from sixth to second in the NAIA Softball Region IX Top 10 for April 21. [more] Click for Week 7 NAIA
Region Top 10s
Urbana Tops ODU, 9-2 and 11-1
Blue Knights take two from Panthers on the road
COLUMBUS (April 20, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team closed out a very successful week by sweeping Ohio Dominican University (14-
21, 8-4 AMC) Sunday in an American Mideast Conference doubleheader, taking game one, 9-1, and closing out the weekend with an 11-1
victory. With four AMC wins this weekend - two against first-place ODU and two against second place Rio Grande Saturday - Urbana (15-12,
6-4 AMC) vaulted to third in the conference South Division standings. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Captures Key AMC Victories Over Rio
Blue Knights win season series, 3-1
By Jessica Fallen, Sports Information Intern
RIO GRANDE, Ohio (April 19, 2008)-The Blue Knight softball team won two against American Mideast Conference opponent Rio Grande (23-
13, 12-4 AMC) on Saturday. In the first game the Blue Knights were tied 2-2 going into the seventh when they scored seven runs making the
final score 9-2. The second game was similar as the Blue Knights held the lead but used a monster seventh inning, scorings six runs to take a
big lead and a 9-3 win over the Redwomen. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Blue Knights Split with Wilmington
WILMINGTON, Ohio (April 17, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Wilmington College at the
WC Softball Complex. The Quakers took game one in six innings, 9-1, and Urbana bounced back with a 6-2 victory.
Urbana (11-12) struggled with hitting in game one, only registering four base hits, while Wilmington couldn't miss, belting out 17. In game
two, sophomore pitcher Jessie Swinderman pitched a gem of a game for Urbana, striking out six and giving up just three hits. Swinderman
had plenty of run support as the Blue Knights collected 13 hits. Senior Erin Dowdell led the way, going 3-for-3 with a double. Freshman Tami
Lasley was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Juniors Erica Schroeder and Jessica Tuttle each had two hits.
The Blue Knights play at Rio Grande April 19 in an American Mideast Conference at 1 p.m. [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Bats Bury Cedarville in Game Two
Blue Knights split AMC doubleheader with Yellow Jackets
URBANA, Ohio (April 15, 2008) - The Urbana University softball team saved all of its hits for the second game of an American Mideast
Conference double header against Cedarville University Tuesday at Blue Knight Field. The Yellow Jackets won the first game, 4-1, holding
Urbana to just four hits. The Blue Knight bats came alive in game two, as Urbana rallied for a 10-1 win, using 13 hits. [more]
[Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats] Photo Gallery
Blue Knights Split with Rio in Close Calls
Urbana deals Redwomen second AMC loss
URBANA, Ohio (April 8, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team split an American Mideast Conference doubleheader against Rio Grande (14-8,
8-2 AMC) Tuesday. The Redwomen stole game one, 3-2, but Urbana rallied for a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.[more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2
Stats]
Blue Knights Go 1-1 Against Cavaliers
NORTH CANTON , Ohio (April 5, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team split a non-conference doubleheader Saturday at Walsh (16-6). The
Cavaliers dominated game one and dealt Urbana a 9-1 loss in five innings. The Blue Knights responded with a one-run victory, 4-3, in the
nightcap. Walsh had two homeruns, including a three-run dinger from starting pitcher Dana Harting (10-2) and jumped up 9-0 after three

innings. Junior Jessica Tuttle had a double for the Blue Knights (8-9).
Urbanan freshman pitcher Danielle Finley (2-1) held the Cavalier bats in check in the second game, striking out six and holding Walsh to just
three runs. The Blue Knights got RBIs from junior Erica Schroeder, who went 2-for-4 with a double, sophomore Linsey Manning, freshman
Maria Hendricks and senior Erin Dowdell. [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
MVNU Sweeps Urbana in AMC Opener
MT. VERNON, Ohio (March 29, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team went 0-2 against Mount Vernon Nazarene (11-3, 2-0 AMC) in a
doubleheader in its American Mideast Conference season opener. The Cougars took game one, 6-1, and followed that with a 4-1 win. [more]
[Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Explodes for Five Runs in Game-Deciding 8th
Blue Knights top Findlay in extra-inning win
FINDLAY, Ohio (March 27, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team was back at it again Thursday, winning a non-conference game over Findlay
in dramatic fashion. Urbana broke open a two-all tie with a five-run extravaganza in the top of the eighth for the 7-2 victory. [more] [Game 1
Stats]
Blue Knights Split with Malone
Urbana wins thriller on Manning walk-off double
URBANA, Ohio (March 25, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team split games with visiting Malone College in a nonconference
double header Tuesday afternoon. Urbana (6-6) stole game one, 4-3, with an improbable comeback, but let
game two slip away, 5-3. [more][Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Zane Trace Standout Signs with Blue Knights
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (March 19, 2008) - Urbana University head softball Coach Nicole Pluger is proud to announce the
signing of Chillicothe native Tieana Steele. Steele is a senior at Zane Trace High School where she has been a varsity
starter on the softball team since her freshman year. [more]
Blue Knights Go .500 on Spring Break
Urbana softball drops final two games to NCAA opponents
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 7, 2008) - The Blue Knights closed out the Rebel Spring Games with a 5-5 record, losing both of their games to
NCAA D-II opponents on the final day of the tournament. In the first game, Urbana lost to Wilmington, Del., 4-1. The Blue Knights closed out
with a 9-1 loss in five innings to perennial powerhouse Le Moyne College, N.Y. The Dolphins outhit Urbana, 12-3. Erica Schroeder, Brittany
Huenen and Jackie Masur notched the Blue Knights' only hits of the game. [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Splits at Rebel Games
Blue Knights down Dowling but fall to Grand Valley State
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 6, 2008) - The Blue Knights won their third consecutive one-run game with a 9-8 decision over Dowling College, N.Y.
but did not have enough in a 7-1 loss to NCAA D-II powerhouse Grand Valley State, Mich. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Blue Knight Bats Come Alive
Urbana picks up two victories in one-run decisions
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 4, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team belted out 18 hits and improved to 4-2 after winning two one-run ballgames
Tuesday at the Rebel Spring Games. Urbana started the morning with a 3-2 victory over St. Francis, Ill. (4-1), handing the Saints their first
loss of the 2008 season. The victory was also redemption for the Blue Knights who suffered a 1-0 setback to USF just a day earlier. In the
next game, Urbana topped Indiana Wesleyan, 4-3, in a thriller, plating the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. [more]
[Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Urbana Offense Stalls in Two Setbacks
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 3, 2008) - The Urbana University softball team dropped two games today at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee,
Fla. The Blue Knights fell in morning games to Brewton-Parker, Ga., 4-1, and then to undefeated St. Francis, Ill., 1-0. [more]
[Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]
Blue Knights Go 2-0 on Opening Day
Freshman Tami Lasley comes up big for Urbana
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 2, 2008) - The Blue Knight softball team started right where it left off. After winning the 2007 American Mideast
Conference regular season championship, NAIA No. 29 Urbana opened the 2008 season with a 2-0 record on opening day. The Blue Knights
are playing in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. where they defeated Bellarmine, Ky., 6-4, and followed that with a 3-1 win over St.
Joseph's, Ind., both of which are NCAA universities. [more] [Game 1 Stats] [Game 2 Stats]

2008 Urbana University Softball Outlook
Coming off of a 2007 campaign that saw the Blue Knight softball team win Urbana University's first-ever regular season American Mideast
Conference championship, Head Coach Nikki Pluger has great expectations for her 2008 squad. The Blue Knights return seven starters from
the championship team that went 23-24 overall and 10-4 in AMC play; plus Pluger brought in 10 talented recruits. [more]
Blue Knights Earn Votes in Preseason Poll
URBANA, Ohio (February 1, 2008) - The Urbana University softball team received votes in the 2008 NAIA
Preseason Top 25 poll which was released today.
The 2007 American Mideast Conference South Division regular season champions, the Blue Knights received five
votes in the first poll of the 2008 season. Urbana is the highest ranking AMC team in the poll. Fellow south
division team, Ohio Dominican received one vote in the preseason poll. [more]
Click Here to Listen to Blue Knight Senior Softball Player Erin Dowdell in her halftime interview with TJ
Jones on Jan. 29.
2008 Softball Season Preview
Listen to Blue Knight Softball Coach Nikki Pluger in her interview with TJ Jones.