2026 Softball Roster
Roster
Ernstes, Paige
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
Jersey Number 12
Paige Ernstes
- Position:
- Catcher/Infield
- Bats/Throws:
- R/R
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Height:
- 5-6
- Hometown:
- New Palestine, Ind.
- High School:
- New Palestine HS
Bio
Awards / Honors
2025 SEC First-Year Honor Roll2025 | Freshman
Played in 40 games, making four starts … batted .293 (12-for-41) … boasted a .957 OPS … all eight RBIs came as a pinch hitter … made her debut and collected her first career hit vs. Penn State (2/8) … hit her first career home run on the first pitch she saw as a pinch hitter against North Texas (2/14) to drive in a career-high three runs … made her first start against Bradley (2/15) and went 2-for-3 with a double … singled and walked as a pinch hitter in the games against Georgia Tech (2/16) and Samford (2/18) … started at third base vs. Jacksonville State (2/23) … walked and scored against Alabama State (2/28) … homered as a pinch hitter for the second time against New Mexico (3/1) … picked up her fifth pinch-hit RBI of the season against No. 18 Auburn (3/8) … doubled off the bench at No. 25 Alabama (3/14) … started at designated player in the series finale with the Crimson Tide (3/16) … started her fourth game at designated player at Northwestern (3/22) and collected a single and a walk … delivered the pinch-hit, walk-off RBI double in the win over No. 1 Texas (3/28) … walked as a pinch hitter against No. 1 Texas (3/30) and Central Arkansas (4/1) ... drew two pinch-hit walks in the series against Missouri (4/11-13)... walked as a pinch hitter at Kentucky (4/27) … delivered a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run double in the NCAA Tournament win vs. Washington (5/17).High School
Considered the No. 41 prospect in the class by Extra Inning Softball and the No. 21 catcher … played at New Palestine High School where her team was the 2024 Indiana 4A State Runner-Up and 2023 conference champion … missed her freshman season due to injury … named all-county in each of her three seasons and All-Hoosier Heritage conference twice … hit for a .433 average with a .672 slugging percentage as a sophomore … posted a 1.191 OPS that season … batted .432 as a junior with a .727 slugging percentage and 1.212 OPS … turned in a .385 average and 1.274 OPS as a senior with a career-high 51 RBIs, including 11 home runs … named all-state and selected to the NFCA High School All-Region First Team following her senior year … played travel ball for Indiana Magic Gold and Indy Edge … Magic Gold finished 17th at Alliance Nationals in 2023 … team placed in the top five at the 2022 IDT and won the Midwest PGF Firecracker Championship in 2020 … won the USSSA National Championship in 2019 with Indy Edge and finished as runners-up the previous year … batted .458 batting with an .833 slugging percentage and 1.313 OPS in the summer preceding her sophomore year … posted a .989 fielding percentage that year … leading into her junior year hit .500 with a .593 slugging percentage and a .991 fielding percentage … hit .381 in her final travel summer … selected to play in The Alliance All-Star Game where she collected a go-ahead RBI double.Community Service/ Academics
Member of the National Honor Society … served as a DARE student ambassador and was part of the New Palestine Academic A Team in high school.Personal
Born Paige Ernstes on June 20 in Carmel, Indiana… daughter of Nick and April Ernstes… has a brother, Jared … grandfather, Jan Ernstes, played football at the University of Indianapolis … major is undeclared.Career Highs (Through 2025)
At-Bats: 4, at Alabama (3/16/25)Hits: 2, Bradley (2/15/25)
Runs Scored: 1, 5x, last, Washington (5/16/25)
Runs Batted In: 3, North Texas (2/14/25)
Doubles: 1, 4x, last, Washington (5/17/25)
Homeruns: 1, 2x, last, New Mexico (3/1/25)
Walks: 1, 9x, last, at Kentucky (4/27/25)
Hitting Streak: 2 games, 3x, last at Alabama (3/14/25) to at Alabama (3/14/25)
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16
