KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Friends University senior pitcher Riley Wertz has received 2025 NAIA Softball All-American honors as a third-team selection, the national office announced today (June 3).

This award adds to an already impressive array of accolades during the 2025 campaign for Wertz, who was named the KCAC Pitcher of the Year and was a unanimous first-team All-KCAC performer in addition to receiving NAIA NFCA All-Region III first-team recognition. She finished fourth in the NAIA with a school single-season (modern-era) record 248 strikeouts along with a 22-8 record in pitching the Falcons to their first KCAC regular season championship since 2016.

A Wichita product, Wertz's season highlight reel also includes pitching the first perfect game for the program since 2008 in a victory over Bethany College (Mar. 22) and wrapping up the season with a 1.92 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .201 batting average.

"One of Riley's personal goals going into this season was to be named All-American and I'm just absolutely thrilled for her to have accomplished that!" said Friends softball head coach Suzanne Unruh. "Riley helped take this program to a new level of success this year. She is leaving a legacy of hard work, determination and selflessness that will be remembered for many years to come."

Wertz's ace performance in the circle was a major factor in the Falcons recording their most wins (37) since 2013.