BGSU softball returns to Meserve Field this season with a clear directive: evolve from establishing a culture to executing a standard. Entering her second season, head coach Michelle Gardner is looking to leverage a solidified veteran core and a hungry class of newcomers to propel the Falcons back into the postseason conversation.
While the 2025 campaign saw the program double its win total from the previous year (2025: 16-36, 7-19 conf.; 2024: 6-38, 3-23 conf.), the squad struggled to maintain momentum during the rigorous conference slate. Now, with the foundational work of Gardner’s inaugural season behind them, the Falcons are focused on physical endurance and the mental resilience required to compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
“Honestly, the culture was my starting point,” Gardner said. “It wasn’t really about winning or losing games. It was about buying in and coming in prepared…We needed that to be our starting point because we can’t go zero to 100 without hitting everything in between.”
Returning Experience in the Infield
Much like the previous season, where key returners were asked to step into larger roles, this year’s squad relies heavily on a veteran infield Gardner describes as the team’s “bread and butter.” The group features a high level of continuity, returning nearly every starter from the previous campaign, including junior shortstop Cameron Kaufman, senior middle infielder Hannah Hunt, junior infielder Taylor Behrendt and redshirt sophomore third baseman Addie Martin.
“I think that’s a pretty solid returning infield. I felt like they grew immensely last season, and now they’re leading more this year,” Gardner said. “They’re holding each other accountable, which has been a great thing.”
Senior catcher Ashley Chevalier echoed this sentiment, noting the team is excited and confident, building off of their successes and lessons learned from the previous season.
“We know what we’re capable of,” Chevalier said. “Last year, we had some really good stretches. We had some struggles, but I think as a whole, we know that we’re capable of doing well and performing so well.”
Key Returning Players
Addie Martin (SS / INF) – Coming off a dominant 2025 campaign, Martin served as the Falcons’ primary power threat. She led the team with 13 home runs, 36 RBIs and a .656 slugging percentage. A dual threat on the base paths, Martin also recorded a team-high 15 stolen bases on 16 attempts while batting .338.
Hannah Hunt (2B / INF) – Hunt was the team’s most consistent hitter last season, pacing the offense with a .366 batting average and 60 hits. She displayed elite plate discipline, leading the team with a .433 on base-percentage while drawing 19 walks against just 21 strikeouts. Hunt also contributed 13 doubles and 30 RBIs.
Taylor Behrendt (1B / INF) – Behrendt provided reliability both at the plate and in the field, finishing the season with a .3030 batting average and 47 hits. She demonstrated strong defensive consistency, leading regular fielders with a .975 fielding percentage and contributing to 15 double plays.
Mackenzie Krafcik (RHP) – Krafcik anchored the pitching staff in 2025, leading the team with eight wins and 113 innings pitched. She posted a team-best 4.09 ERA among starters and held opponents to a .325 batting average over 33 appearances.
Morgan Beckham (RHP) – Beckham served as the staff’s top strikeout pitcher, recording a team-high 44 strikeouts in 81.2 innings. She finished the season with a 4.97 ERA and made 29 appearances, including 15 starts.
The Grind of the Preseason
To achieve their leap forward, the Falcons have intensified their offseason regimen. Gardner emphasized conditioning was the starting point for the new year, ensuring the team can maintain their peak performance.
The players have embraced the challenge, using practice to simulate the pressures of a long season.
“I think we’re pushing more, especially at practice,” Hunt said. “We’re really pushing to be the best team during practice…working hard, even though we’re tired, and we’re sore, but we’re pushing through it to get better.”
This preparation is driven by a collective hunger within the senior class. Chevalier described the team’s mindset as “high energy,” noting the group is eager to perform.
“We have high expectations for ourselves, and I think we’re hungry to win,” Chevalier said. “We know Coach Gardner is hungry to win, and we’re all on the same page.”
Goals and Rivalries
The expectations within the locker room are clear: make the MAC Tournament, something Bowling Green hasn’t done much in recent history, most recently in 2022 and before that in 2013.
“The MAC Tournament is always on our mind,” Chevalier said. “That’s something that we think for us is very achievable.”
Hunt echoed the same sentiment, stating a personal goal to reach double digits in wins and emphasizing the key to reaching the postseason is consistency, regardless of the opponent.
“We always have to play our best, no matter the team,” Hunt said. “Even against lower teams, we have to push to be the best we can at all times.”
Beyond the tournament chase, the squad has circled their rivalry series against Toledo as a critical benchmark for the season. Bowling Green last beat the Rockets on March 19, 2023, escaping with a 9-8 win.
“Toledo is always a good one,” Hunt said. “I really want to win that series this year.”
As the Falcons prepare for the first pitch, the focus also remains on incremental growth and capitalizing on their veteran leadership.
“I want to win, and I want to be better than we were last year,” Gardner said. “Wins and losses aren’t always what tells you whether or not you’re headed in the right direction, but we are headed in the right direction.”
Schedule Overview
The Falcons open their season on the road Feb. 6 in Hampton, Virginia, competing against Queens University and Hampton in the 1868 Classic. They continue early-season tournament play Feb. 13 in Greenville, South Carolina, at the Purple & White Classic.
Next is the ETSU Tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee, beginning Feb. 20. The Falcons conclude their tournament schedule in Madeira Beach, Florida, at the Make It Happen Games, which runs through Mar. 1, before playing road games against Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern.
MAC play will begin at home on Mar. 13, when Bowling Green hosts Central Michigan for a two-day series. The conference slate is interspersed with some key non-conference matchups, such as Ohio State on Mar. 31 and Oakland on Apr. 28. The regular season concludes on the road at Miami (OH) on May 1 and 2, followed by the MAC Tournament in Akron, Ohio, starting May 6.
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