The UW-River Falls softball team is set to open the 2026 season this weekend with a trip to Mankato, Minn., competing inside the MSU All-Sports Dome. The Falcons will face Gustavus Adolphus Sunday morning at 9 a.m., followed by Saint Mary's at 11:30 a.m., kicking off a new chapter for the program.

Head Coach Ethan Giese returns for his second season at the helm after a promising 2025. In his first year leading the Falcons, Giese guided River Falls to a 19-21 overall record, nearly doubling the team's win total from the previous season (10-22). 

River Falls brings momentum and key returning athletes into the new campaign, including the WIAC newcomer of the year from a season ago.
 

 
UW-RIVER FALLS (0-0, 0-0 WIAC) VS GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS (0-0, 0-0 MIAC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Time: 9 a.m.
Site: Mankato, Minn. // MSU All-Sports Dome
Coverage: Watch // Live Stats
 
UW-RIVER FALLS (0-0, 0-0 WIAC) VS SAINT MARY'S (0-0, 0-0 MIAC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Site: Mankato, Minn. // MSU All-Sports Dome
Coverage: Watch // Live Stats

FALCON NOTES

• Ethan Giese enters his second season leading the Falcons after a 19-21 finish in 2025, a nine-game improvement from the 2024 campaign.
• The Falcons return WIAC Newcomer of the Year Caitlyn Kressel. Kressel earned First Team All-WIAC honors and became just the second Falcon in program history to be named WIAC Newcomer of the Year.
  • Kressel started and played in 39 games at catcher/designated player in 2025, tallying 46 hits in 130 at-bats. She set a UWRF single-season record with 20 doubles, which ranked tied for second in the WIAC. She added one triple, three home runs, and 22 RBIs while posting a .592 slugging percentage.
  • Kressel recorded a .992 fielding percentage, fifth-best in the WIAC, and threw out seven baserunners, tied for fourth in the conference.
• UWRF also returns senior pitcher Brooklyn VansGruensven - who led the team last year with 89.2 innings pitched with six complete games. 
• The Falcons bring back over 60% of their runs batted in from last season, including a combined 71 from Kressel, Hannah Effertz, Kayla Dolan, and Abby Pitts.