TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo softball team will be back on the field this weekend for another five-game series, at Grand Canyon's Purple Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The Rockets (5-3) will play Pacific, Montana, New Mexico, and 2023 WAC Tournament Champion GCU on Friday-Sunday, March 1-3 at the GCU Softball Stadium.

Purple Classic (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Friday, March 1
vs. Pacific | 11:30 a.m./ 1:30 p.m. EST | Stats
at Grand Canyon | 4:30 p.m./ 6:30 p.m. EST | Stats & ESPN+

Saturday, March 2
vs. Montana | 9:00/ 11:00 a.m. EST | Stats
vs. New Mexico | 2:00/ 4:00 p.m. EST | Stats

Sunday, March 3
at Grand Canyon | 11:30 a.m./ 1:30 p.m. EST | Stats & ESPN+

Last Time on the Field
Toledo is coming off a 3-2 showing at Murray State's Velvet Milkman Classic last weekend. The Rockets connected on a school-record eight doubles and junior Sophia Knight recorded six strikeouts, including the 200^th of her career, in a 10-6 win over Western Illinois. The following afternoon, Knight pitched five scoreless innings in relief, putting WIU down in order in the seventh to sweep the two games with the Leathernecks. Junior Eli Enriquez connected on a team-high 10 hits, including two triples and three stolen bases in the five games.  

Rockets on Record

• Knight received her first Mid-American Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week recognition on Tuesday for her performance in Murray, Ky.
• Senior Jenna Kroll is one home run away from breaking into Toledo's career home run top-5 list and is currently tied with Rhonda King (1987-90) with 20 career homers. She enters the weekend with 88 career RBIs and is also one away from adding her name to the career RBI top 10 list.

About Pacific (2-12)

• Pacific picked up its second win of the season vs. Creighton at last weekend's Libby Maston Tournament in Stockton, CA. The Tigers bookended the victory with a pair of losses.  
• Outfielder Olivia Silvestre is hitting .368 and leads the team with four doubles (WCC, T-2). Right-handed pitcher Avery Croxall leads the pitching staff and the WCC with a 1.25 ERA and has struck out 28 batters in 23.0 innings in the circle.

About Montana (5-10)

• Montana ended the CSUB Kathy Welter Classic last weekend with back-to-back wins over CSU Bakersfield after losing its first three games of the tournament.
• Outfielder Presley Jantzi leads the Griz with a .353 average and is tied for second in the Big Sky Conference with 18 hits. Right-handed pitcher Rylee Rehbein has struck out 30 batters and maintains a 2.69 ERA in 33.1 33.0 innings in her first collegiate season.

About New Mexico (4-14)

• New Mexico won its opening game vs. Stephan F. Austin at the UNT Invite last weekend and has since lost five straight, including its single game vs. Texas Tech on Wednesday.
• Infielder Rachel Hathoot leads the Lobos with a .309 batting average and nine runs scored, while RHP McKenna Guest has struck out 33 batters in 46.2 innings in her freshman campaign.

About Grand Canyon (11-4)

• Grand Canyon is the two-time defending Western Atlantic Conference Tournament Champion and went 47-13 last season before falling to San Diego State and Liberty for the NCAA Los Angeles Regional title.  
• GCU went 3-2 at its GCU/ ASU Classic last weekend, knocking off Idaho State, Seton Hall, and Ohio State (8 inn.). The Lopes rank second in the Western Atlantic Conference with a combined .302 batting average, 70 runs, and 60 RBIs this season. The Lopes lead the WAC with a 1.80 ERA and have held opponents to a .186 average with eight 84 K's.
• Utility player Kristin Fifield has a .370 average and leads the conference with 16 RBIs, while outfielder Ashley Trierweiler is 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts. RHP Ariel Thompson leads the WAC with a 0.53 ERA and has only allowed three runs to score in her 26.1 innings in the circle.

On Deck
Toledo will stay on the West Coast, and head to California next week for a single game at Long Beach State on Wednesday, Mar. 6, before playing five games at the CSF/ LBSU Tournament in Fullerton, Calif. on Mar. 7-9 in its final tournament of the season.

Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' softball team on social media for schedule updates and any information:

• X (Formerly Twitter) @ToledoSoftball
• Instagram & Threads: toledosoftball
• Facebook: Toledo Softball