For the first time since accomplishing the feat in 2018 and 2019, the Shawnee State softball program posted back-to-back winning records as a program as Kristen Bradshaw's group continued to progress during the 2025 season.
As part of this progression, the softball program has now gone 63-29 over the last two seasons under Bradshaw's leadership -- and could very well be in store for a huge 2026.
Shawnee State wins 21 of 27
From March 11 to April 17, the Shawnee State softball program proved to be tremendous as Bradshaw's group proceeded to win 21 games over a 27-game stretch over a five-week period over the middle third of the season.
During that stretch, Shawnee State scored seven or more runs in 12 games and allowed three runs or less in 14 contests. The Bears went 7-3 in games decided by three runs or less over that course of time and won eight contests by mercy rule in 2025.
Five players honored for surpassing 100-hit mark over last two seasons
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Bears have shined in a big way at the plate -- hitting .341 and .330 over the last two years. As a result, five players -- including
Cassie Berry,
Jenna Christopher,
Sierra Dunnagan,
Mackenzie Hale, and
Brittani Wolfenbarker -- have all exceeded the mark since Bradshaw became a head coach.
Each of the five players mentioned above, alone, have combined for 739 hits in a Shawnee State uniform with Christopher still having a season of eligibility left and Dunnagan two seasons remaining.
Christopher rises up stolen base ladder; breaks single-season steals record
Along with her hitting exploits, Christopher -- who has batted in the No. 1 or No. 2 slot in the Shawnee State softball lineup throughout her career -- broke a 32-year stolen base record this past spring, exceeding the single-season stolen base record by Tiffany Shanks-Moore (21) by swiping 26 of her own.
Christopher, who stole at least one base in 20 of Shawnee State's 45 games, stole two bases in six contests.
For her career, Christopher sits just four stolen bases away from tying the all-time school record -- in just two seasons of play at SSU.
SSU softball holding down leadership statuses in classroom, community
In addition to its work on the softball diamond, Shawnee State has continued to grow off of it as well.
Academically, the Shawnee State softball program enjoyed without question the best academic year in its history -- as 92 percent of its roster (22 out of 24 players) finished with cumulative GPAs above 3.0. Additionally, the softball program took home the 2025 River States Conference's Team of Character Award, the first such award that the program has won in its history.
This follows up a 2024 season that saw Shawnee State alum and current graduate student
Lauren Spears win the 2024 River States Conference's Female Champion of Character for her work on campus and in the community, as well -- cementing Shawnee State softball's status as an entrenched member of the Portsmouth community and the surrounding Scioto County area.
Additional
For more information on the Shawnee State softball program, visit
https://ssubears.com/sports/softball or
https://www.instagram.com/shawnee_statesb/.
