Quinnipiac Bobcats softball explained

Quinnipiac Bobcats
University:Quinnipiac University
Conference:Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Conference Short:MAAC
City:Hamden
Stateabb:CT
State:Connecticut
Coach:Hillary Smith
Tenure:6th
Stadium:Quinnipiac Softball Field
Nickname:Bobcats
Conference Champion:1996*
*at Division II level

The Quinnipiac Bobcats softball team represents Quinnipiac University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), having joined in 2014. From 1988 until 1998, Quinnipiac was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) at the Division II level.[1] The program transitioned to Division I in 1999, joining the Northeast Conference (NEC) where they were a member until 2013. The Bobcats are currently led by head coach Hillary Smith. The team plays its home games at Quinnipiac Softball Field, which is located on the college's campus.[2]

History

The Bobcats had some success as an NCAA Division II program, winning the Northeast-10 Conference regular season title in 1996. The team won two individual awards in the NE-10, with coach Frank Kafka winning NE-10 Coach of the Year in 1994 and Alicia Longobardi winning Freshman of the Year in 1996.[1] After the 1998 season, the athletic program transitioned to NCAA Division I.[3] [4]

Since transitioning to Division I in 1999, Quinnipiac has failed to win either a conference regular season title or a conference tournament championship. In doing so, the Bobcats have also failed to reach the NCAA Division I softball tournament. Quinnipiac has finished as high as second in the Northeast Conference standings twice, doing so under coach Germaine Fairchild in the 2004 and 2012 seasons.[5]

Fairchild was replaced by Jill Karwoski on August 26, 2013.[6] [7] Fairchild's firing became the subject of a lawsuit carried out by the former coach against the university, citing a violation of Title IX.[8] A previous lawsuit had been filed in 2009 against the university after the school had announced the elimination of several sports, notably women's volleyball, and the addition of a Division I cheerleading team.[9] Fairchild's lawsuit claimed that she was fired after testifying at the preliminary injunction hearing related to the 2009 lawsuit, which she was subpoenaed to testify as a witness. The hearing took place three weeks before Fairchild was fired on July 11, 2013.[10] A federal judge ruled against Quinnipiac's motion to dismiss Fairchild's claim on June 13, 2014.[11]

After spending the first 15 years of their time in Division I in the NEC, it was announced in 2012 that the Bobcats would be leaving to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference starting in the 2013–14 academic year.[12] [13]

Coaching history

1988–1998 Frank Kafka 258–197–3
1999–2000 Maribeth Clifford 40–42 [14]
2001–2013Germaine Fairchild 276–322–1
2013–2018 Jill Karwoski 117–188 [15]
2019–present Hillary Smith 56–124

Roster

2024 Quinnipiac Bobcats roster
 Pitchers
  • 54 – Jaclyn Gonzalez – Junior
  • 12 – Lauren Hilliard – Freshman
  • 1 – Sydney Horan – Junior
  • 20 – Tori McGraw – Junior
  • 17 – Taylor Walton – Junior
  • 22 – Julia Woeste – Senior

Catchers

  • 11 – Mac Davis – Sophomore
  • 9 – Hannah Davis – Graduate Student
  • 42 – Kennedy Demott – Sophomore
  • 10 – Amanda Engel – Junior
  • 38 – Abby LaClair – Freshman
  • 20 – Riley Potter – Freshman
  • 26 – Sydney Rosenkranz – Freshman
 Infielders
  • 27 – Natalia Apatiga – Sophomore
  • 14 – Ashley Garcia – Freshman
  • 44 – Brooke Hilliard – Junior
  • 5 – Ella McGalliard –Junior
  • 2 – Sofia Vega – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 4 – Mary Fogg – Sophomore
  • 23 – Ally Hochstadter – Sophomore
  • 16 – Gianna Palmisano – Senior
  • 3 – Noelle Reid – Sophomore
  • 34 – Karolyn Walker – Senior

Utility

  • 12 – Bridget Nasir – Graduate Student
  • 24 – Jaelyn Gonzalez – Freshman
 
Reference:[16]

Season by season results

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic [17] [18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northeast 10 Athletics .
  2. Web site: Facilities. Quinnipiac University Athletics.
  3. News: How Quinnipiac hockey went from Division II to a national title . Ct Insider . Fornabaio . Michael .
  4. News: PLUS: COLLEGES -- QUINNIPIAC COLLEGE; School Enters Division I Ranks . The New York Times . 3 September 1998 .
  5. Web site: 2012 Quinnipiac Softball Schedule - Northeast Conference. northeastconference.org.
  6. Web site: New softball coach announced; Fairchild out. . August 28, 2013.
  7. Web site: Quinnipiac Softball's Jill Karwoski Promoted to Head Coach. gobobcats.com.
  8. Web site: Fairchild v. Quinnipiac University. Connecticut Law Tribune.
  9. Web site: BIEDIGER V. QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY | Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. clearinghouse.net.
  10. Web site: Quinnipiac Comes up Empty Again in Title IX Litigation | Sports Litigation Alert.
  11. Web site: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT. ecf.ctd.uscourts.gov.
  12. Web site: Quinnipiac moves to MAAC. . December 14, 2012.
  13. News: Quinnipiac accepts invitation to join MAAC. Chip Malafronte. December 14, 2012. New Haven Register.
  14. Web site: Quinnipiac Softball's Jill Karwoski Promoted to Head Coach. Quinnipiac University Athletics.
  15. Web site: Jill Karwoski - Softball Coach. Providence College Athletics.
  16. Web site: 2024 Softball Roster. Quinnipiac University Athletics.
  17. Web site: NEC Softball Standings (1998-2022). northeastconference.org.
  18. Web site: Softball Standings 1986-2022. maacsports.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Quinnipiac Bobcats softball".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.