Yerdon (l.), shown here with Megan Winn (c.) and Carly Hoffend (r.) helped Rochester pitchers excel.

Yerdon takes over for Michelle Burrell, who accepted the head coaching position at Binghamton University. Yerdon’s appointment was announced by George VanderZwaag, the University’s Director of Athletics.

“After a thorough search, Margaret emerged as the right person to take over this important position,” said VanderZwaag. “She has been central to our success the past five years and is committed to continuing to build the program consistent with our educational values and goals. I am very excited about the future of our team under her leadership.”

Yerdon was an assistant coach in 2004 under Jeanine Gunther. Rochester set a single-season victory record (27-18) and reached the ECAC playoffs, its first-ever playoff appearance.

Rochester built on that success when Burrell arrived for the 2006 season. Yerdon spent four years as the pitching coach for Burrell. In that time, Rochester posted an overall record of 117-50, made three consecutive NCAA playoff appearances, won four conference titles, and set single-season victory record for three straight seasons (28 in 2007, 32 in 2008, 33 in 2009).

Yerdon and Burrell were named the Coaching Staff of the Year by the University Athletic Association in 2007 and by the Liberty League in 2007 and 2009. Yerdon’s work with the pitching staff was rewarded handsomely in the last two years. Rochester had the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and an All-American in 2009.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to take on this new challenge at the University of Rochester,” Yerdon said. “I am also looking forward to building on the recent success of the program.”

Yerdon was a graduate assistant coach at Binghamton in 2003 while pursuing her master’s degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Public Administration. She earned a BA in English and Sociology in 2001 from Binghamton.

She participated in BU’s transition from Division III (1997) to Division I status (in 2000) receiving accolades for her playing skills at every level. She was a Division II NFCA All-Region selection in 1999 plus the NECC All-Conference Pitcher of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

In 2002, she was named the America East All-Conference Designated Player. Yerdon was selected as the team MVP in 1999 and 2002. She is Binghamton’s career record holder in strikeouts (431) and earned run average (1.40).

She received a Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies in May, 2009 from the Susan B. Anthony Institute of the University of Rochester. She is pursuing her PhD in Education with a Concentration in Educational Policy and Theory.

Yerdon is an alumnus of Sandy Creek (N.Y.) High School. She was selected as one of the Top 100 North Country athletes by the Watertown Times in 2007.

University of Rochester sophomore Lindsay Macaluso and freshman Kim Grimes have earned two top individual player honors from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference for their softball skills.[read more]

University of Rochester senior pitcher Beth Ameno capped off a brilliant career by being named a Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. [read more]

Rochester dominated the post-season softball accolades for the Liberty League. The Yellowjackets won the three major individual honors (Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year) and took the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year award. [read more]

Donnalyn Cross hit a bases-loaded triple in the top of the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie and carry SUNY Cortland to a 7-1 victory over the University of Rochester in a winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Division III playoffs.[read more]

Nicole Sabuda grounded a single through a drawn-in infield to score Carly Lopez in the bottom of the seventh inning as Buffalo State College defeated the University of Rochester, 3-2, in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Softball Playoffs.[read more]

The University of Rochester broke the game open with seven runs in the third inning and defeated Keuka College, 10-2, in a second round NCAA softball playoff game at Ithaca College.[read more]

Beth Ameno pitched a one-hitter and struck out six as the University of Rochester defeated King's College of Pennsylvania, 4-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Softball Playoffs at Ithaca College.[read more]

Four University of Rochester student-athletes have earned All-Region honors in softball from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.[read more]

The University of Rochester is seeded second in its bracket for the NCAA Division III Softball Championships being hosted at Ithaca College.[read more]

Three softball players at the University of Rochester have been saluted for their playing acumen this week by a variety of leagues.[read more]

Rochester swept RPI, 7-0, and 6-3, to win its third consecutive Liberty League softball championship. The Yellowjackets are 31-11 overall.[read more]

After battling through nine scoreless innings in the nitecap, Rochester scored three unearned runs in the top of the tenth, then hung on for a 3-2 victory and a softball sweep of St. Lawrence University.[read more]

The University of Rochester ran its softball record to 27-10 by sweeping a doubleheader at Keuka College, 10-3, and 15-8, on Thursday.[read more]

The University of Rochester rallied to score four runs – three unearned – in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn a 4-3 victory over Utica College and a doubleheader sweep of the Pioneers.[read more]

Beth Ameno pitched complete game victories as the University of Rochester swept a softball doubleheader from visiting Union College at GLC Field. [read more]

Beth Ameno and Sara Hutchinson threw complete game shutout victories as Rochester swept a Liberty League softball doubleheader from Skidmore College.[read more]

Kim grimes hit a grand slam home run in the third inning of the nitecap to lead the University of Rochester to a split of its softball doubleheader with Brockport.[read more]

Rochester won the opener on Beth Ameno's one-hitter and gamewinning single in the 8th, then scored 10 runs in the 5th to win the nitecap.[read more]

The University of Rochester and SUNY Cortland split a pair of one-run decisions in a doubleheader involving two nationally-ranked small college softball teams at Rochester’s GLC Field.[read more]

Rochester split a softball doubleheader at St. John Fisher on Thursday, winning the opener, 4-1, before the Cardinals bounced back in the nitecap, 3-2.[read more]

Five members of the University of Rochester softball team have received 2009 Spring Sport All Academic Recognition from the UAA.[read more]

Juliana Nicholson knocked in six runs as the Yellowjackets swept Ithaca College in a softball doubleheader between two nationally-ranked teams.[read more]

The Yellowjackets lost a tough 1-0 pitcher's duel in game one but bounced back for a 3-0 win in game two against RIT.[read more]

Rochester's home softball opener against RIT has been postponed until Friday, March 27 at 3 pm.[read more]

Five softball players from the University of Rochester have been named to the UAA All-Tournament Team for the recently concluded softball championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla.[read more]

Rochester won a pitcher's duel with Washington, 3-0, then over-ran Brandeis, 17-2, to close out the UAA Championships in softball.[read more]

The Yellowjacket softball team got back on track at the UAA Championships by sweeping Emory and Case on Friday.[read more]

Brandeis rallied for three in the fifth and shut down a Rochester rally in the seventh to win, 3-2, at the UAA Softball Championships.[read more]

The Yellowjacket softball team split its games in the UAA Championship Tournament in Florida. Rochester defeated Case, 9-0, then lost, 5-0, to Washington.[read more]

Emory University pushed across the tying run with two outs in the seventh, then erupted for eight runs in the ninth to post a 9-1 win over Rochester.[read more]

Rochester defeated both Moravian and SUNY Plattsburgh in its final at-bat on Saturday to improve to 5-1 overall.[read more]

Lindsay Macaluso hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Rochester rallied for a 2-1 victory over Alma College of Michigan.[read more]

Senior righthander Beth Ameno pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10 as Rochester opened its 2009 season with a 3-0 win over Capital University.[read more]

Rochester’s softball fortunes in 2009 will be bolstered by an NCAA-tested lineup and strengthened by the influx of a talented and large freshman class.[read more]

Rochester’s softball success over the past two seasons has been recognized in 2009 as the Yellowjackets are ranked in two pre-season polls.[read more]