Bowling Green State University Athletics
2026 Softball Roster
Mathews, Kendall
Jersey Number 19
Kendall Mathews
- Position:
- Outfield
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Paris
- Hometown:
- Paris, Ill.
Bio
 |
Bowling Green |
- Named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete
- Played in 47 games, starting all 47
- Started 32 games in center field and 15 in left
- Hit .212 on the year, with 10 of her 24 hits going for extra bases
- Had a .348 on-base pct. and a .389 slugging pct.
- Led the team with four triples, and also had three doubles, three homers, 17 runs scored and 19 RBI
- Also led the Falcons with 22 walks
- Was one of four Falcons to start all 26 MAC games, and was second on the team with 11 RBI in conference contests
- Tied for the team lead with 13 walks in MAC play
- Started two games at the season-opening Spartan Classic
- Made three starts at the Norman Tournament, scoring a run vs. Abilene Christian on day one
- Her first hit and her first RBI as a Falcon came against the #2 team in the country, Oklahoma
- Went 1-for-3 with that RBI as the Falcons took the four-time defending national champions to extra innings
- Later that day, had an RBI triple, a walk and a run scored in BG's win over Tulsa
- Went 2-for-4 with a walk, a homer and four RBI against UConn in the Chanticleer Showdown
- Was 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI against host Coastal Carolina in the final game of that trip
- Started all four games at the Hoosier Classic, with three walks and two runs scored
- Went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in BGSU's win at Buffalo
- Walked twice and scored a run in the second game of the series, and walked, singled and drove in a run in game three
- Walked, was hit by a pitch and scored a run in the win over Green Bay
- Walked and scored in the opening game of the KSU series, and also had a walk in the final game of that BGSU sweep
- Was 2-for-3 with a run scored in each end of the Youngstown State DH
- Had a triple in the opening game, and also walked and had an RBI in game two
- Went 1-for-2 in the opener vs. Ball State, with a walk, an RBI double and a run
- Also drew a walk in game two
- Walked in the opener at Akron, then had a hit and scored a run in the nightcap
- Had an on-base pct. of .429 in the NIU series
- Walked, homered and drove in three runs in the middle game of the Western Michigan series
- Threw out a runner at the plate from her left-field position in the opening game of that series
- Had a double vs. Ohio
- Was 2-for-3 with a two-run triple in the final game of the Central Michigan series
- Hit .333 with a .500 OBP and a .556 slugging pct. in the Toledo series
- For the second-straight game, had two hits including a triple in the opener
- Then had a walk, a single, the first two stolen bases of her BGSU career and an RBI in game two vs. the Rockets
- Finished the series with two walks, a run and an RBI
- Scored a run in all three games of the series in the Glass City
- Had a sac bunt and made several impressive catches in BG's 3-0 win over Robert Morris on the season's final day
 |
Lake Land College |
Mattoon, Ill. |
- Played two seasons at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill.
- Was an All-Region XXIV First-Team selection as a sophomore in 2024
- Named an NJCAA First-Team Academic All-American in both years
- Hit .310 in 2024, with an on-base percentage of .420 and a slugging pct. of .681
- Had nine homers and 33 RBI, scoring 38 runs for the Lakers
- The team went a combined 98-26 overall and 67-9 in conference play during her two years
Paris High School |
Paris, Ill. |
- Earned four letters in softball at Paris Cooperative H.S. ('22), playing for coaches Jeremy Clodfelder and Randy Winkler
- A two-time All-Little Illini Conference First-Team selection
- Hit .391 as a freshman in 2019, as the Tigers went 28-3 overall and were a perfect 8-0 in conference play
- That year, the team won the first regional championship in school history
- As a junior (sophomore season was canceled due to Covid), hit a team-best .444
- Also led the team in hits (32), homers (five), slugging pct. (.791), runs and triples in that junior season
- Tigers went 17-5 overall and 7-1 in league play that year, again winning a regional title and making the first Sweet Sixteen appearance in school history
- Hit .389 as a senior, leading the Tigers in hits (35), runs (30), doubles (eight), stolen bases (11) and on-base pct.
- Earned a total of 11 letters, including three in tennis and four in cheerleading
- Was a two-time state qualifier in tennis
- National Honor Society
- Class President every year
- Graduated summa cum laude and was her class Valedictorian
- Made the honor roll all four years
Personal |
- Born in Mattoon, Ill.
- Plans to major in inclusive early childhood education at BGSU
- Daughter of Kile and Darcie Mathews
- The youngest of two children
- Sister, Kaitlyn, played softball at Ball State Univ. from 2020-24
- Played travel ball for Illiana Dream Seams
- Lists her sister as her biggest influence
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BGSU?
"It felt right from the moment I stepped on campus, as Bowling Green's charm and the tight-knit community I found here reminded me of home! I also admired Coach Gardner's philosophy, her plans for the softball program, and the education program at BGSU."
SB: First Pitch Dinner Recap (Jan. 11, 2024)
Wednesday, January 24
BGSU-CMU Softball Highlights (May 13, 2022)
Saturday, May 14
BGSU In The Nest : Nikki and Alex Sorgi (Softball)
Wednesday, May 08
BG Softball Beats Akron in Game 1 on Senior Day 4.27
Saturday, April 27
