By Marc Raimondi

Softball is one of four sports programs being dropped by Eastern Michigan University, the school announced Tuesday.

Men’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis, and wrestling are the other sports affected by the cuts. The reduction will save Eastern Michigan University $2.4 million, the school said. 

More than 80 student-athletes will no longer have teams to compete on beginning at the end of the 2018 spring season, including 17 softball players. The school said it will still honor the athletic scholarships of those student-athletes if they “remain eligible in accordance with university and athletic department policies.”

A heartbreaking day for softball, but most of all for the dreams of our amazing young women who decided to be part of this journey with us. My time at Eastern has been short but I’m proud to call this group my family. @EMUSoftball #family

— Magali Frezzotti (@maguifrezzotti) March 20, 2018

Eastern Michigan will remain in the Mid-American Conference despite the changes.

"We are very saddened by having to make this move, which is necessary as we continue to align the university budget with enrollment and state funding trends," EMU President James Smith said. "This aligns us with our Mid-American Conference peers in total number of sports and is part of our ongoing effort to realign resources to ensure that we continue to invest in high-demand, high-quality academic programs and world-class facilities.

"The student-athletes affected by this are our priority. We will honor all athletics scholarships for the students should they decide to remain at Eastern to complete their degrees, which we hope they will."

In addition to the athletes, eight full-time coaches, one graduate assistant, and one part-time assistant will lose their jobs. Melissa Gentile is the current head coach of the softball team, guiding the squad with assistant coaches Kim Burke and Magali Frezzotti and volunteer assistant coach Sara Driesenga.

The school said the cuts were announced in March to give the affected student-athletes time to plan for the future, adding the university will assist with transfers for the student-athletes who choose to leave EMU.

"This was an extremely tough decision and it is a very sad day," said Scott Wetherbee, Eastern Michigan's vice president and director of athletics. “As a former college student-athlete who went through this process when my sport was eliminated, I empathize with how difficult this is for our impacted student-athletes.”

The Eastern Michigan softball team is currently in the middle of its 2018 season and holds a 4-18 record.

Sad day! There must be a better way! Many young people affected and all alumni of these programs are devastated! https://t.co/PP33mopTvE

— Carol Hutchins (@UMCoachHutch) March 20, 2018