University of Toledo Athletics

2025 (Freshman)
Earned MAC Freshman of the Year accolades, becoming just the second Rocket to earn the award…Also named to the Second Team All-MAC…Appeared in 46 games with 44 starts, primarily in left field…Recorded a batting average of .322 and lead the team with a 1.040 OPS, which ranked seventh in the MAC… Blasted 13 home runs during the season which ranked fourth in the MAC and was one shy of tying the single season program record for round trippers…Ranked fourth in the MAC and 82^nd in the country in home runs per game (0.28)…Tallied 46 hits, including eight doubles…Scored 31 runs and recorded 38 RBIs…Went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored vs. UNC Greensboro (Feb. 16), Had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scores vs. Bowling Green (April 25)…Blasted a solo shot to left field for the walk-off win over Bowling Green (April 26).

High School
Lettered in both softball and basketball...Owns the single-season home run (17) and career home run records (46) and is the EHHS leader in RBIs (130), runs scored (148), steals, batting average (.556), and on-base percentage (.643)...Is six home runs away from breaking the Indiana state record...Earned three all-state, all-conference, and all-county honors and was named an Underclassman All-American in 2022.

Personal
Full name is Samantha Grace Bolding...Parents are Dawn and Jerry Bolding...Has one sister, Emma, and one brother, Ethan...Sister plays softball at Saginaw Valley State University (2024-present)...Anticipated major is exercise science.

Why Toledo?
"I chose the University of Toledo because of the great exercise science program that will prepare me to become a physician assistant in orthopedics. UT also provides a smaller and safer campus where I can easily walk to and from my classes. The location is also great being just three hours from home. The softball program has great facilities and flexibility to allow me to pursue my academic goals, while also playing in the Mid-American Conference."