- Women's Sports
Softball
Blue Knights Set for Rebel Spring Games in Florida
KISSIMMEE, Florida (March 7, 2010) - The Urbana University softball team is set to embark on their annual Spring Break trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The Blue Knights will take on some of the top talent in the country, playing 10 games over a span of 6 days. Last year, the team got off to a terrific start, finishing 7-3 in Florida. As information becomes available, this page will be updated with scores, stats and game recaps. Urbana's game against Southwest Minnesota State University on Thursday morning will have live stats available. A link along with a complete schedule is listed below. You can catch Blue Knight Softball updates all season long via Twitter at www.twitter.com/UU_Blue_Knights. 
Spring Break Schedule (Home Team Listed Last)
Sun. March 7, 11:00 a.m.: Wilmington (DE) vs. Urbana: W, 8-3 [Box Score]
Sun. March 7, 3:00 p.m.: Urbana vs. Edinboro: L, 0-4 [Box Score][Day 1 Recap]
Mon. March 8, 11:00 a.m.: Urbana vs. Wheeling Jesuit: W, 8-1 [Box Score]
Mon. March 8, 3:00 p.m.: Chestnut Hill vs. Urbana: W, 7-2 [Box Score][Day 2 Recap]
Tue. March 9, 3:00 p.m.: Fayetteville State vs. Urbana: W, 4-0 [Box Score]
Tue. March 9, 5:00 p.m.: Urbana vs. Southern Indiana
Thu. March 11, 9:00 a.m.: Urbana vs. Southwest Minnesota State [LIVE STATS]
Thu. March 11, 11:00 a.m.: Clarion vs. Urbana
Fri. March 12, 9:00 a.m.: Lock Haven vs. Urbana
Fri. March 12, 11:00 a.m.: Urbana vs. Quincy
Blue Knights Drop Season Openers in Tennessee
HARROGATE, Tennessee (February 20, 2010) - The Urbana University softball team opened their 2010 season on Saturday afternoon, escaping more than a foot of snow that still sits on their home field back on campus. Unfortunately, the Blue Knights showed their winter rust with a sweep at the hands of a 6-0 squad from Lincoln Memorial University. The Railsplitters won 12-4 and 8-2. The teams split a season opening doubleheader last year.
The home team jumped the Blue Knights early with 6 home runs en route to a 12-4 win in Game 1. Urbana managed two homers of their own, but they couldn't keep pace with the home team. Sophomores Megan Anderson and Tieana Steele each went deep for the Blue Knights, knocking in all 4 Urbana runs.
In Game 2, Anderson again staked the Blue Knights to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first. Sophomore Chelsea Riley doubled the lead in the second inning with another RBI single, but the Railsplitters answered with a run in the third, two more in the fourth, and five more in the final two innings.
The Blue Knights (0-2) are now off until Spring Break. The team will travel to Kissimmee, Florida for the Rebel Spring Games where they will play 10 games in 6 days. They open with Wilmington University out of Delaware on Sunday, March 7. [Game 1 Box][Game 2 Box]
Pluger to be Promoted Following the Season
URBANA, Ohio (February 2, 2010) - Urbana University Athletic Director Doug Young announced this week that Head Softball Coach Nikki Pluger (pictured) will be promoted to the position of Associate Athletic Director/Director of Compliance immediately following the 2010 spring season. Pluger will continue her duties as Senior Women's Administrator, but she will step down as Head Softball Coach.
"Although Nikki's leadership qualities will be missed within our softball program, we have a unique opportunity to utilize her many talents to positively affect our entire athletic department, as well as the entire University," explained Young.
"Nikki has earned her place at the administrative level and I look forward to working with her as we move our athletic department into a very exciting and prosperous future," Young continued.
Young also announced that the search for a new head softball coach is already underway.
On the heels of the announcement, Pluger will continue preparing for her sixth and final season at the helm of the Urbana University softball program. Under her guidance, the program earned its first conference championship in 2007. The Dayton resident was named conference and regional coach of the year following that season, and in 2008, Pluger's team earned its first national ranking.
Last year, Pluger helped usher the program into the NCAA Division II era by notching her second 20-win season. The Blue Knights finished 21-24, playing a schedule of primarily D-II competition for the first time in school history. Under Pluger, the program experienced an improvement in wins in four of five seasons.
Pluger's players have also excelled in the classroom. This past fall, the team posted a 3.12 cumulative GPA, and eight Blue Knights were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
"This is an exciting time, and I look forward to the new challenges that await me in my new position," explains Pluger. "At the same time, it has also been an extremely tough decision for me to give up my coaching responsibilities at the end of the season. Urbana softball has been a part of my life for the last five years, and I will continue to be one of their biggest fans."
"I am confident that we have the talent and leadership to carry us through the year and beyond," adds Pluger.
The Blue Knights begin the 2010 season on the road at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee on Saturday, February 20th.