SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After a historic freshman season for Sophia Kardatzke, the freshman from Jacksonville, Florida has garnered more recognition being named to the second team for D1 Freshman All-American. 

Sophia Kardatzke came into the 2025 season with high hopes of an immediate impact to a program coming off the 2024 Big South Conference Championship and NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Appearance. During Opening Weekend, Sophia Kardatzke's first start in the circle was highlighted with 10 strikeouts in a 6-4 victory over Bowling Green. At the plate, Kardatzke added six hits through five games of the opening weekend, resulting in being named Big South Freshman of the Week. From that week, Kardatzke began to find her way as she earned Big South Freshman of the Week six times total on the year. The Freshman from Jacksonville, Florida led Upstate Softball with a .391 batting average, 72 hits, 15 home runs, and a .728 slugging percentage. Kardatzke added 58 runs scored, two triples, 55 runs batted in, and 22 stolen bases. In the circle, Kardatzke went 4-4 with a 3.02 ERA pitching four complete games while striking out 53 batters The accolades were recognized by the Big South at the end of the regular season as Kardatzke was named Big South Co-Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team, and First team all-conference. The NFCA featured Sophia Kardatzke on the Freshman of the Year Top 25 list, which featured outstanding athletic achievements from the top freshman in the NCAA. Going into the postseason play, Upstate Softball was the No. 3 seed, and Sophia Kardatzke made a memorable debut in the Big South Tournament with her first two at bats, both being two-run bombs in the win against Longwood. Kardatzke continued to be a factor in the following two games adding stolen bases, multiple hits, and scoring runs contributing to the Spartans going back-to-back as the Big South Tournament Champions while also punching their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Softball Regionals. In the opening game against Clemson, Sophia Kardatzke recorded her 23rd multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-3 against the Tigers. The guidance and leadership from Chris Hawkins, Bryan Pack, Tonya Medders has displayed immensely with Kardatzke's improvement on her historic freshman year at Upstate which now adds another accolade being named to D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team.