Eastern Connecticut State University

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FieldTurf Installation underway for Eastern's baseball and softball facilities

Willimantic, CT (10/21/2025) — Two of Eastern Connecticut State University's most decorated athletics programs are receiving major facility upgrades. The Warriors' national championship softball and baseball teams will soon compete on new state-of-the-art playing surfaces with the installation of FieldTurf DoublePlay at the Mansfield Athletic Outdoor Complex.

The $2.7 million project, launched in early October, includes 42,000 square feet of turf at Clyde Washburne Field for softball and 130,500 square feet at Holowaty Family Field for baseball. Installation is expected to be completed by late December, with new black chain-link fencing and upgraded bullpens to follow. Both fields are expected to be fully functional by the start of the spring 2026 season.

"The new turf fields at the athletic complex represent an exciting step forward for Eastern and our student athletes," said Eastern President Karim Ismaili. "This investment will enhance the experience of our baseball and softball teams, providing modern, reliable, and safe playing surfaces.

"Coming shortly after the naming of Holowaty Family Field, this project continues our commitment to celebrating Eastern's proud athletics tradition while strengthening our campus infrastructure to ensure that our students have access to facilities that match their talent, dedication, and competitive spirit."

Eastern's softball and baseball programs are among the most successful in New England and the nation, combining for 10 national championships since 1981 and regularly capturing Little East Conference and regional titles.

"The investments Eastern is making in our athletic programs are extraordinary," said Director of Athletics Lori Runksmeier. "Both our softball and baseball programs have a history of success, and the turf fields we are building will provide our athletes a wonderful foundation to grow that success even further."

As she enters her 25th season, softball Head Coach Diana Pepin said the new surface will "significantly boost the appeal of an athletic program - for both athletes and facility management - by offering high-quality, reliable training and competition facilities." Pepin added that the turf's aesthetics "will provide our team with a true sense of home-field pride."

Pepin noted that many of her team's recent games have already been played on turf, ensuring a smooth transition, and cited research suggesting potential reductions in sprains and concussions compared to natural grass.

On the baseball side, Head Coach Mike Odenwaelder, entering his fourth season, expects the new facility to "put Eastern at the forefront of college baseball facilities in the Northeast," offering more opportunities to host games and clinics.

"This top-notch synthetic turf will allow us to train and play at a faster pace," said Odenwaelder. "The field will provide true hops in both the infield and outfield, rewarding teams with strong technique and giving us a consistent advantage at home and on the road."

Odenwaelder added that the new surface will improve scheduling flexibility, practice logistics, and player development, helping his team reach "midseason form" earlier in the year.

The FieldTurf installation is being coordinated by Eastern's Office of Facilities Management and Planning, with excavation handled by Earth Dynamics, LLC of Coventry.

FieldTurf Tarkett is among the world's leading turf manufacturers. Its products are installed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, UConn, CCSU, SCSU, Yale, University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University, among others.

FieldTurf previously replaced the surface of Eastern's multi-use field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse facility at the Mansfield Athletic Outdoor Complex in 2018.

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

Media Attachments

President Karim Ismaili (center), softball Head Coach Diana Pepin (middle right), baseball Head Coach Mike Odenwaelder (middle left), and members of the softball and baseball teams stand in the soon-to-be turfed Holowaty Family Field.

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