A HOMERUN FOR UND SOFTBALL

Donors with strong connection to Fighting Hawks make on-campus stadium possible.

UND Softball will soon play its games – for the first time ever – in an on-campus stadium. The lead donors for the project, Alexa and Dave Albrecht of Barrington, Ill., are not UND alumni, but they have a strong connection to UND Softball: a pitcher, Jackie Albrecht, is their daughter.

“Jackie shared her love of softball with Alexa and me,” said Dave. “(We) are so grateful for this special opportunity to give back to the sport of softball. We love this UND Softball family, and we want to see it continue to grow.”

Named to The Summit League’s All-Tournament team last spring, Jackie chose UND for its fit: commercial aviation and softball. “When I told (the coaches) I had an interest in (aeronautics), that really helped me make that connection (to UND),” Jackie said.

With an expected grand opening in fall 2024, the pet-friendly Albrecht Field will feature 500 seats, a party deck in left field, an LED videoboard, large dugouts, batting cages, bullpens, and a modern turf playing surface. Located across the street from the Frederick D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center and the soon-to-be constructed Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center, it will house all essential softball team facilities in a oneblock radius.

The stadium will be “a state-of-the-art home for Fighting Hawks Softball” and “a beacon for youth softball in Grand Forks and across this great state,” Dave said.

Since its founding in 1977, UND Softball has only played four home games outside in the month of March. While the cold and snow will always be a factor, the full sun shining on the artificial turf at Albrecht Field will expedite snow melt. Thanks to the Albrechts, the new diamond will be a shiny destination for softball players from UND and beyond – a homerun for the University of North Dakota when it opens next fall.