Latest News
Ridgeview High School Speedster Brigette Tracy Signs!
COLFAX, IL - Brigette Tracy, senior from Ridgeview High School, has inked her Letter of Intent with Robert Morris University - Springfield to play softball for the Lady Eagles. While attending RMU-Springfield, Brigette will pursue a bachelor degree in Business Management.
The daughter of Joe and Sue Tracy of Colfax, IL., Brigette (outfielder/pitcher) is an integral part of the Ridgeview High School team for the 
past three years. Leading off last year Brigette recorded 24 hits, 5 doubles and 2 triples in 76 at bats. Brigette also recorded 10 stolen bases and scoring 21 times for her team. Brigette batted .319 with an on-base percentage of .395 and slugging percentage .434.
Brigette also was an important member of her summer team with the BNGSA Fusion. Brigette led the team in hits (30) with half being from bunts, 2 doubles and scoring 23 of the 33 times on base. She batted .385, .391 with runners in scoring position, had a slugging percentage and on-base percentage of .410. Brigette also had a strong fielding percentage for them out in left field and did her job when called upon in the circle holding a 1.93ERA.
“Brigette was brought to us by her High School coach Don Handzo. I met him at a tournament this past summer and he was telling me about Brigette. I think it was about a week or two after I was able to go watch her play. Coach Handzo had his description of her play and attitude to a tee. From that first game I saw her play I knew she could help our team, but as I watched more games that weekend I knew we had to get her. I am really looking forward to coaching Brigette. She’ll be able to help us out right away and I can only see her skills advancing even more; causing more grief for our opponents in the field as well as on the base path,.” stated Assistant Coach Boyd Nowicki.
Central A&M Standout Torey Hoffman Signs!
Springfield, IL – Senior Torey Hoffman of Central A&M High School Raiders has signed her Letter of Intent to attend Robert Morris University and play softball for RMU-Springfield Coaching Staff (Head Coach Matt Mead and Assistant Coaches- Boyd Nowicki and Gina Merano).
The daughter of Missy and Frank Hoffman of Moweaqua, IL, Torey was a key performer for the Central A&M High School team in 2010 helping grab the schools Second Regional Title in four years knocking off top-seeded Meridian Hawks and current RMU-Springfield Outfielder Brittany Hood’s team.
Hoffman threw a no-hitter in the semifinal against Arthur-Lovington and then turned in another impressive 7-inning performance against Meridian Hawks only allowing 2 runs with no walks. In both contest, Torey not only held her own in the circle but also at the plate going 4-for-6 with a RBI and scoring three times.
The right-handed pitcher/infielder hit .441 last year as a junior all while setting several season best records for Central A&M. These records include a 41 hit season, 8 doubles, most wins by a pitcher (11), most innings pitched in a season (151), and striking out 108. It was those accomplishments; with her accomplishments with her summer team the Her-A-Canes and her fun loving spirit that got the attention of RMU-Springfield Assistant coach Boyd Nowicki.
"We have been recruiting Torey since June," said Coach Nowicki, "and we are glad our program here at RMU-Springfield appealed to her. Torey has the range of talents to make contributions to her team in the circle, in the infield, and at the plate. We look forward to her being an impact player from day-one and her desire to compete at a high level to RMU."
The newest Lady Eagle will pursue a degree in Business Management at the Springfield, IL Campus.
RMU - Springfield Softball Post-Season Awards! 
USCAA Announces All-American and Academic All-American Teams
NEWPORT NEWS, VA
May 5, 2011
2011 USCAA 1st Team All-American
Brittany Oakes - senior; Tolono, IL (1st time selection to all-american team)
2011 USCAA Honorable Mention All-American
Megan Green - senior; DuQuoin, IL (this is Megan's second selection, she was on the 2010 HM all-american team)
2011 USCAA Academic All-Americans
Brittany Oakes - This is Brittany's third year selected. She was on the 2009, 2010 and now 2011
*pictured from left to right (Brittany Oakes and Megan Green)*
Information can be found at www.theuscaa.com
Congratulations to both Brittany and Megan!
Softball partners with American Cancer Society!
Saturday, April 23, 2011 - Lady Eagles' softball partnered recently with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Springfield Chapter with their "Hits for Hope" game.
This was also Senior Day for three RMU softball players; Megan Green, Brittany Oakes and Ashley Matheson.
Megan Green
Brittany Oakes
Ashley Matheson
Congratulations and best wishes to Megan, Brittany and Ashley in all their future endeavors!
Johnson inks Letter of Intent! 
Springfield, IL - When first-year head coach Matt Mead and assistant coach Boyd Nowicki began recruiting for the 2011-2012 season, they were in need of a couple of things. One was to fill the vacant spots left through their three graduating seniors in 2011, and the second was to strengthen their roster with more depth and speed. Coach Nowicki has filled one of those spots with the signing of Tri-City High School's Kenzie Johnson from Buffalo, IL.
Kenzie Johnson is Coach Nowicki's first signing for the 2011-2012 season and is an excellent start to RMU-Springfield's goals. Kenzie is a four-year starter for Coach Brad Sturdy at Tri-City High School. She hit .275 as a junior with 19 RBI's and a .435 on base percentage. Kenzie also holds the highest fielding percentage the last two years for the Tri-City Tornado's. She is a great defensive catcher that has thrown out 70% of her base stealers and is also an excellent first baseman as well.
According to Coach Nowicki, "Kenzie will bring in that much needed depth to our roster that Matt and I were looking for in a multitude of positions. I feel very fortunate to have a player with the heart, desire and dedication Kenzie has not only to softball but to her school work as well."
Matt Mead will do double duty for Springfield Eagles, adds Softball to Women's Basketball duties! 
Springfield, IL - Matt Mead has been chosen to take the helm of the Robert Morris Women's Softball program at the University's Springfield, IL campus. This means additional coaching responsibility for Mead as he is also the Head Coach of the Springfield Eagles Women's Basketball squad.
"Matt inherits the 2010 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Champions, and both Coach Mead and I want to see that tradition of success continue for the softball program," said RMU-Springfield Associate Director of Athletics Chris Ryan. "During Coach Mead's first season with the basketball program, he has proven to be an outstanding leader for our athletes, and that leadership and success will transfer from the basketball court to the softball diamond. One of the keys to his success in basketball has been his proven ability to recruit. I look forward to Matt's growing our women's softball program to even greater heights."
Mead will replace Ron Ferrill, who moved onto St. Ambrose University (IA), a member of NAIA Division II.
"Coach Mead will bring the same type of leadership and coaching experience to the table Coach Ferrill brought to his stewardship of our softball program the past two seasons. His familiarity with Robert Morris University will assist him in his new role," added Ryan.
Coach Mead's past experience includes coaching summer travel ball in softball and baseball. During 2007, Coach Mead's summer travel baseball team, the Petersburg Jays, were one of only eight teams to qualify from a four-state region for the Bronco League North Zone Tourney.
Illini West stand-out Lashay Rodeffer joins national champion Springfield Lady Eagles!
Springfield, IL - When Robert Morris-Springfield Softball Coach Ron Ferrill began recruiting for the 2011 season, he had ten slots open on his roster for next year. He has filled the sixth of those spots with the signing of outfielder Lashay Rodeffer from Illini West High School.
Lashay's signing comes as Ferrill seeks to replace the entire outfield from his 2010 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship team. The Lady Eagles won their second national title in May with a 2-1 win over their arch rivals from Saint Mary of the Woods (IN), their fifth straight victory of the national tournament.
That success was not what attracted the newest Springfield Lady Eagle to Coach Ferrill's program. "I was already looking at Robert Morris because of their business program," she told Hancock Journal Pilot staff writer Doug Endre. "then Coach Ferrill starting recruiting me."
Rodeffer hit .349 during her senior campaign with seven doubles and 17 RBI for Coach Jeri Schuster's Chargers.
2010 USCAA Softball National Champions (www.theuscaa.com)
Championship Series: Best 2-out-of-3
Robert Morris University - Springfield vs. Saint Mary of the Woods College
Monday, May 10, 2010
RMU 2 (National Champions)
SMWC 1
Sunday, May 9, 2010
RMU 1
SMWC 0
Robert Morris University - Springfield: 2010 USCAA Softball National Champions
Ashley Matheson's (sophomore; Sullivan, IL) single through a drawn-in infield scored Brittany Oakes (junior; Tolono, IL) with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as Robert Morris-Springfield defeated St. Mary of the Woods College, 2-1 to sweep the best of three championship series 2-0. Oakes was named the tournament's MVP.
2010 All-Tournament Team
Brittany Oakes - MVP (junior; Tolono, IL)
Shannon Settles - All-Tournament Team (senior; Jerseyville, IL)
Sarah Gibson - All-Tournament Team (senior; Argyle, IA)
pictured below left-to-right: Oakes, Gibson & Settles
2010 USCAA 1st Team All-Americans
Allie Neff - 2010, 2009 & 2008 (senior; Decatur, IL)
Shannon Settles - 2010
Sarah Gibson - 2010
2010 USCAA Honorable Mention All-American
Megan Green - 2010 (junior; DuQuoin, IL)
2010 USCAA National Academic All-American
Shannon Settles - 2010 & 2009
Brittany Oakes - 2010 & 2009
Jamie Shoot - 2010 (senior; Lerna, IL)
pictured below left-to-right: Oakes, Gibson, Shoot, Green, Settles & Neff
Season Highlights
2010 season record: 38-12
2010 tournament record: 5-0
Ranked #1 in USCAA Coaches Poll from start-to-finish of 2010 season
Seeded #1 in USCAA National Tournament
ROBERT MORRIS still unbeaten: in USCAA National Tournament!
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
AKRON, OH - Senior pitcher Sara Gibson fired a five-inning no-hitter on Sunday to lead top-seeded Robert Morris University to a 8-0 victory over No. 4 Briarcliffe College of Bethpage, N.Y., in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Softball Tournament.
It was the second of two wins by Robert Morris over Briarcliffe on Sunday. The Eagles also defeated the Seahawks 11-4 earlier in the day. RMU improved to 3-0 for the tournament, which continues today.
Gibson, a senior from Argyle, IA, struck out seven and walked one in the Eagles' win that went just five innings because of the eight-run rule. Allie Neff went 2-for-3 for RMU, which also got doubles from Gibson, Brittany Oakes, Shannon Settles and Jamie Shoot.
Settles went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in the Eagles' 11-4 win on Sunday. RMU's Ashley Matheson went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, Neff and Megan Green had two hits apiece and Oakes hit a home run.
Junior pitcher Sarah Carby went six innings to get the win. She allowed three hits, struck out six and walked five.
The Eagles won their opening-round game Saturday 4-2 over the host school Penn State-Beaver, which took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Green homered in the bottom of the second to put the Eagles on the board.
In the bottom of the fourth, Robert Morris took the lead aided by an Oakes double and two throwing errors. Neff picked up the win, allowing one earned run in six innings and striking out four.
RMU seeded #1 for USCAA National Tournament!
By Staff Report
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
The Robert Morris University Eagles have earned the No. 1 seed for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Softball National Championships scheduled to open Saturday in Akron, Ohio.
Robert Morris brings a 33-12 record and the No. 1 spot in the USCAA coaches' poll into the national tournament. The Eagles, batting .316 as a team, have won 10 games in a row and 19 of their last 23.
"When talking about main players and important stats, I have to start with our pitching," Robert Morris coach Ron Ferrill said. "Allie Neff is a two time All-American and went 14-4 with two of her losses 1-0. She has 98 strikeouts, four saves and a 0.67 era. Allie also hits fifth for us and is hitting .422 with 49 hits and 29 RBIs."
The Eagles also count on Sara Gibson, who went 11-3 with an ERA of 1.16 and 96 strikeouts. Gibson contributed offensively, too, with a .328 average.
The third pitcher, Sarah Carby, she missed part of the season due to injury yet still found a way to get eight wins with 85 strikeouts.
Cleanup hitter Shannon Settles is batting .413 with 55 hits, 17 doubles, four home runs and 39 RBIs. Shortstop Megan Green has made only five errors all season, and she's hitting .347. Second baseman Brittany Oakes brings a .350 average and 26 RBIs into the national tournament.
Freshman Megan Oros has caught every game. "She has developed into a fantastic defensive catcher," Ferrill said.
The outfield has been solid, anchored by center fielder Jamie Shoot and left fielder Courtney Krekorian.
"Jamie has played a nearly flawless center field this year and has an extremely strong arm," Ferrill said. "Courtney bats eighth but has proven to be a clutch hitter. She has 23 RBIs and nearly all of her hits have come with runners in scoring position."
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is the No. 2 seed, and Southern Virginia is No. 3 in the eight-team field. Penn State-Beaver, seeded eighth, will be the Eagles' opening-round opponent. The tournament runs through May 11.
Robert Morris has back-to-back second-place finishes at the national tournament, and the Eagles took third in 2007.
This marks Robert Morris' sixth straight national tournament appearance.
Springfield, IL - When first-year Head Coach Matt Mead and Assistant Coach Boyd Nowicki began recruiting for the 2011-2012 season they were in need of a couple of things. One was to fill the vacant positions left by the three graduating seniors in 2011 and secondly to strength their roster with more depth and speed. Coach Nowicki has filled one of those spots with the signing of Kenzie Johnson from Tri-City High school in Buffalo, IL.
USCAA Pitcher of the Week! 
Tuesday, April 27th - 2010
NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Allie Neff of Robert Morris University-Springfield is the Softball Pitcher of the Week. In three appearances against NCAA Division III opponents, Allie went 2-0 with a relief appearance, striking out ten, and walking none. She also did not surrender a single earned run in the process. To help her cause, she went 9-21 at the plate with six RBIs and three doubles.
Congratulations Allie!
Carby posts no-hitter! 
CARLINVILLE, IL - Sarah Carby (junior; Austin, TX; pictured at right) threw a five-inning no-hitter to lead the Robert Morris University Eagles past the Blackburn Beavers 19-0 Friday in the first game of a double-header.
Robert Morris won the second game 12-2.
Carby (7-5) came up just short of a perfect game in the opener, walking one and striking out eight.
Sarah Gibson (senior; Argyle, IA) earned the Game 2 win for Robert Morris (29-12), yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Gibson was 6-for-8 on the day with six RBI's while teammate Allie Neff (senior; Decatur, IL) had six hits and five RBI's.
Eagles sweep Lady Blues on Senior Day!
ROCHESTER, IL - Sarah Gibson (senior; Argyle, IA) earned a save in the first game and then picked up the win in the nightcap as Robert Morris University swept a double-header from Illinois College.
The Eagles won the first game 3-2 and the second 4-3.
In the opener, Allie Neff (senior; Decatur, IL) pitched six innings, striking out one and allowed four hits to earn the win. Gibson earned her fourth save.
In the second game, Gibson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.
2010 Senior Class: Jamie Shoot, Sara Gibson, Shannon Settles & Allie Neff
Beardstown standout Kirsten Lindley opts for RMU-Springfield!
Springfield, IL - Robert Morris University-Springfield Softball coach Ron Ferrill has inked his first signee of the 2010 recruiting season: Kirsten Lindley, a catcher/third sacker from Beardstown High School.
The daughter of Dan Lindley and Kim Hance of Beardstown, IL, Kirsten is a four-year starter at Beardstown High School, seeing at catcher, at third base, and in the outfield. In her four years at Beardstown High School, Kirsten has also proven to be an outstanding student-athlete in the classroom.
"I am extremely excited to have Kirsten commit to our program," says Coach Ferrill. "Her athleticism and versatility will be real assets for our program. Kirsten has a strong bat and should be able to hit at this level early in her collegiate career. However, I am probably most excited about the great attitude and work ethic Kirsten will bring to the team."
Being a top notch student-athlete, Kirsten came highly recommended from her High School Coach Ron Steffen. In 2009, Kirsten helped lead the Coach Ron Steffen's Beardstown Tigers to the state sectional semifinals. She batted .393 for the season with a pair of home runs, ten doubles, 25 RBI, and 30 runs scored.
Kirsten will pursue an Associates Degree in Medical Assisting at the Robert Morris University Springfield Campus, eventually seeking certification as Registered Nurse.
