The headline player for BGSU softball in 2025, redshirt freshman Addie Martin is a story of success coming off her devastating injury in the early goings of 2024. The left-side infielder played only eight games in 2024 before a hand injury, missing the rest of the season before a powerful 2025.
“I got injured at practice one day, then ended up getting some x-rays, and MRI said it was broken,” said Martin. “It was like right around like that 10-game mark that I found out I needed surgery…I’ll just get surgery now, get an extra year, and I can come back like healthy for this upcoming year.”
Martin’s recovery process is something she describes as a difficult journey; however, she took great comfort in the aid of her coaches and teammates.
“The recovery is definitely a little hard just because I was up here like without my parents,” said Martin about the time after her injury. “But I had my teammates and all my support staff around me, so that did help, having my friends come and help me.”
First-year head coach Michelle Gardner inherited Martin on the back end of injury recovery. She soon learned the incredible talent the Dover, Ohio native brings to the field.
“[Martin] is obviously a special player and does some really good things for this program,” said Gardner. “But I can tell you that being back, I think she has a new appreciation for being healthy and playing the game as hard as she can. She’s a great all-around player on the field and at the plate.”
Martin had only three hits, three walks, four runs, two RBIs and four stolen bases in eight games started in 2024. She has started every game in 2025 at either shortstop or third base, hitting .365 with 12 home runs, six doubles and three triples, the team leader in homers, triples, stolen bases, runs, RBIs, hits and total bases.
She has also been honored as both MAC Softball’s Player of the Week and D1 Softball’s National Freshman of the Week after leading BG’s series sweep against Kent State.
“I kind of came in this year going like, you know, no one’s seen me yet,” said Martin. “I’m kind of a hidden person; no one knows what I got. I’m just going to go out there and give it my best shot, have as much fun as I can, and I’m really happy with the results that I’ve been receiving.”
With such a great athlete, the ability to perform at a high level comes with the failure to execute some of her lofty ideas. Gardner has found a rhythm that allows Martin to excel even with the odd miss.
“I think there are times where she has to be reeled back in a little bit, but I’m not going to put a harness on that kid,” said Gardner. “Because if I do that, then she will not be as good as she can be.”
Her power is exemplary, but her speed is an extremely valuable asset, as shown by her 39 runs, three triples and 14 stolen bases. Gardner says her speed is a great example of positive risk-reward in Martin’s play.
“She leads off early, and she’s been called out for it a couple of times,” said Gardner. “But she takes extra bases when nobody is paying attention. And I will never take that away from her. So, one time, she gets thrown out because she does it. Oh, well, she reads the field and plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
All combined, Martin is a top five offensive player in the MAC, a stellar defender and a star for Bowling Green softball. All in what should be her first full season played with the Falcons, coming off a highly impressive road to recovery.
In Gardner’s words, Martin is “a spark plug” for the Falcons as they trend toward the end of their conference season and seek their first MAC Tournament appearance since the 2022 season.
