By: Alec Beaudin, Intern Assistant Sports Information Director
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team will look to rebound from the last season as they enter the 2026 season under ninth year head coach
Marissa Rush.
2025 Season Review: W&J softball finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 13-18 and 8-12 in PAC conference play.
The team put together a strong performance to open the year with nonconference wins against Mount Aloysius, Carlow, Hiram, Gordon, and Russell Sage.
W&J took this momentum into PAC conference play when they opened up with a sweep of Waynesburg on the road. The Presidents continued on to split the series against Franciscan, Chatham, Geneva, Saint Vincent, Thiel, and Allegheny.
"We grew last year, and we have adjusted from last year and have come into this year with a different mindset and also practicing the things we struggled with last season so it isn't as much of an issue this season," said Head Coach
Marissa Rush.
| 2026 PAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| School (first-place votes) |
Points |
2025 Records |
| 1. Westminster (9) |
117 |
28-13, 14-6 PAC |
| 2. Geneva (2) |
108 |
31-15, 13-7 PAC |
| 3. Grove City |
102 |
26-13, 15-5 PAC |
| 4. Allegheny (1) |
93 |
23-16, 13-7 PAC |
| 5. Waynesburg |
70 |
23-16, 9-11 PAC |
| 6. Bethany |
69 |
26-13-1, 12-8 PAC |
| 7. Hiram |
58 |
21-17, 9-5 NCAC |
| 8. W&J |
51 |
13-18, 8-12 PAC |
| 9. Saint Vincent |
43 |
21-17, 9-11 PAC |
| 10. Thiel |
41 |
18-18, 10-10 PAC |
| 11. Chatham |
28 |
14-26, 6-14 PAC |
| 12. Franciscan |
12 |
4-26, 1-19 PAC |
Looking Ahead to 2026: The Presidents open their 2026 campaign on Sunday (Mar. 8) down in Kissimmee, Fla. at The Spring Games. W&J will be playing 10 games against teams from all over the country, including Maine and Iowa.
"I think the challenging games in Florida helps us with PAC conference play because this conference has gotten much stronger over the years and we are looking forward to compete at the high level," stated Rush.
W&J closes out nonconference play with two doubles headers on the road against Juniata (Mar. 17) and Pitt-Greensburg (Mar. 20).
The Presidents will host Waynesburg on Saturday (Mar. 21) for their home opener at Brooks Park to begin Presidents Athletic Conference action. From there, W&J will be alternating home and away trips with double headers against Grove City (Mar. 25), Franciscan (Mar. 28), Chatham (Mar. 31), and Saint Vincent (Apr. 4). W&J will host their final two nonconference double headers on Apr. 1 and Apr. 6 against local opposition Carlow and La Roche.
The Presidents conclude PAC play with home doubleheaders against Geneva (Apr. 8) and Westminster (Apr. 11) before heading on a six-game road trip, featuring double headers against Hiram (Apr. 16), Thiel (Apr. 18), and Allegheny (Apr. 21). The Presidents close out the regular season home at Brooks Park on Saturday (Apr. 25) against Bethany.
The Presidents Athletic Conference tournament is scheduled for Thursday (Apr. 30) through Saturday (May 2). The host location is still being determined.
"One of the biggest things we want to focus on is ourselves, not worrying about what other teams are doing," replied Rush. "We also are training hard so we are prepared for a tougher conference slate."
Key Returners: W&J graduated four seniors last year and retains a strong lineup going into 2026.
"We're fortunate to have players who have experience and know what the expectations are and have already set a bar for themselves," said Rush.
Senior
Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) finished the 2025 campaign with a .459 batting average and a 1.212 OPS (On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage). Allen led the team with 50 hits on the season. The infielder assisted 28 RBIs and was 4-4 in stolen base attempts. The All-PAC First-Team member landed on the Division III Top 50 Leaderboard in three categories and topped the PAC in OPS and doubles. In the field, Allen had a .928 fielding percentage, 56 put outs, and assisted on 86 additional plays.
Junior
Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) finished her 2025 campaign with a .350 batting average and a .866 OPS. The utility player also had a .949 fielding percentage, with 62 put outs and 49 assists.
"There's a great team chemistry and respect up the middle," stated Rush. "They communicate well and set a good example of what working together looks like."
Senior
Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) had a .951 fielding percentage from the infield. She had 23 put outs and 75 assists while only making five errors in the field. At the plate, Gratton had 22 hits and led the team by drawing 13 walks.
On the mound, senior
Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) led a three-player pitching rotation with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.63. WHIP. Witner had 25 strikeouts in 48.1 pitched innings.
"Having a more expansive pitching staff takes pressure off of our pitchers and also forces them to learn to be able to depend on/trust their other pitchers," replied Rush.
W&J returns a strong sophomore class that have all made early impacts in their rookie season with the Presidents.
"It's huge having experienced sophomores. They have already dealt with the pressure, first time jitters." said Rush. "We are looking forward to them stepping up as younger leaders and leading the other younger players."
Defensively,
Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) led the team with 207 putouts and only one error in her first season as a President. The infielder had a .995 fielding percentage on the year.
Sister
Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) received an All-PAC honorable mention in her first season at W&J. The catcher had a .991 fielding percentage and only one error as well. At the plate, Luxenberger had a .350 batting average and a .379 slugging percentage.
Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) led last year's newcomers with a .388 batting average and a .886 OPS. The outfielder will be trying to build off her 26 hits, 17 runs, and 10 RBIs from the 2025 season. VanNess received All-PAC Second Team honors last season.
Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) opened up her W&J career hitting a .429 slugging percentage with two home runs and six RBIs to her name. In the field, Bodnar also put together a .857 fielding percentage in 12 games during the 2025 season.
Senior
Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) returns to the W&J lineup after missing some time due to injury. In a shortened junior season, DiPietro-Harvey had a .305 batting average, a .451 slugging percentage, and a .318 on base percentage. DiPietro-Harvey scored 15 runs and drove in 16 last campaign.
"Julia has all the potential in the world," stated Rush. "We just need to keep her healthy and try to get her lots of opportunities at the plate."
Promising Newcomers: The Presidents will welcome eight new players for the 2026 season:
"I'm excited for the large group of freshmen, and I'm looking forward to seeing the energy they bring," said Rush. "These freshmen are pushing our returners out of their comfort zone which is good for them and is helping the returners to get better."
The Presidents are building off the three-pitcher rotation from the previous season by adding three newcomers into the sequence.
Coaching Staff:
Marissa Rush enters her ninth year as the Presidents' head coach in the 2025-26 academic year. Rush was recently recognized with the Jimmy Montecalvo and Luke Blanock Memorial Courage Award at the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2024. Coach Rush's overall record at the helm of the Presidents is 100-137-1.
Hannah Dietz enters her fourth season on the W&J softball coaching staff in 2024-25 after joining the program in August of 2022. Dietz has served as an Assistant Coach for the program since the 2024-25 academic year. Dietz aided in the development of All-PAC First Team shortstop
Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) in 2025.
Kristina Diehl returns for her second full season as the W&J pitching coach. Diehl helps to develop and implement individualized pitching workouts for athletes while focusing on technique enhancement and mental toughness since 2017.
"Having Hannah and Kristina back again is so great for the team as well as myself. Having consistency on the coaching staff is a huge part of the game for the players and very helpful for me," said Rush. "They both bring so much to the table and the team enjoys having them around."
Final Thoughts from Coach Rush: "We are excited for leaders to emerge, players to take on any role they are given and to push one another to be better everyday."
