Lilly James is her name and saves is her game.

James, Wittenberg class of 2026 from Troy, Ohio, is a junior nursing major and a right-handed relief pitcher on the Tigers’ softball team. As a Wittenberg student, she is racking up saves on the mound while also preparing to save lives with her personal care by helping those in need in the nursing field.

Last season she made 34 appearances on the mound, all but one as a reliever, and she picked up seven wins and nine saves along the way. The nine saves gave her a career total of 12 to break the program record for career saves. She finished the season with a 3.40 earned run average (ERA) and 74 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched, giving her a career milestone of 100 strikeouts.

After helping Wittenberg to a 21-21 overall record and a top-four finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in 2024, James and the softball Tigers are off to a fast start to the 2025 season after going 8-2 on their Spring Break trip to Orlando, Florida. James made six relief appearances, earning one save and posting a 2.14 ERA in 16.1 innings.

“My future plans are to graduate from Wittenberg with my BSN in Nursing. And with that degree, I plan to gain experience in the field for a few years before going on to grad school to earn my master’s degree in hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner,” said James, who earned Academic All-District honors from Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC) last year. “I want to go into either pediatrics, as I love working with the littles, or specializing in wound care. My dad was diabetic, and I have grown an interest in this area of nursing as clinicals go on and my experience furthers.’’

James said that Wittenberg has shaped her future providing her with the necessary materials and experiences needed to succeed in whatever she aspires to do.

“Our nursing labs, clinical experiences, and most importantly the professors and my peers have made it easily one of the greatest experiences in my life,” she said. “With the small class sizes and ratios of professors to students, it has made a world of difference as you can make connections with your professors and learn from them in a totally different way than at a larger school.

James, who says she chose Wittenberg for the athletic facilities and the nursing labs, was told by multiple people that she wouldn't make it through nursing and softball at the same time. But she didn’t heed those cautions.

“Do not let anyone tell you that you can't do something here at Wittenberg,” said James, who is also part of the Nursing Club. “The professors and coaches here are so flexible and understanding that you are a student-athlete, as most of the students are, and they work with you. It IS possible to pursue both of your passions if you have the determination and hard-working nature to do so. And some of the experiences I've had at Wittenberg – you just can't get anywhere else. Witt offers a beautiful facility for athletics, close relationships to professors, and a community where everyone feels comfortable and feels like they belong.”

Being a member of the softball team has also been an important part of her Witt experience.

“Choosing to play softball here has been one of the greatest choices I think I have ever made. This team means the absolute world to me. It has given me relationships that I never imagined I would have and given me a sisterhood I can keep forever,” James said. “The confidence our coaches have put in us to succeed and their willingness to be there for us whenever we need them has made a difference not only to my performance on the field, but also in my day-to-day lifestyle. I know I'm not the only one who thinks that either, our coaches are truly some of the best people and coaches around. It has shaped my mindset and lifestyle to a more productive, healthier version of myself and I could not have done it without these girls and coaches. And as a pitcher, I certainly could not have done any of that without my catchers and all my teammates. They are my rock and the most supportive people when I'm in that circle, making it easy to succeed and win with them behind me.”

While her nursing experience at Witt has been a whirlwind of emotions, James is confident she has conquered many of the most significant obstacles to succeed on the field and in the classroom.

“Nursing is a very tough major with tons of work, studying, and time,” she said. “However, with the help of my professors and peers, it's been an amazing experience. My classmates and I are all very close with each other, making the clinicals and classes enjoyable, whereas other majors on campus don't have that same environment. This makes it so much easier to succeed and to lean on each other throughout the year. I have made a lifetime of friendships through this program, and I really appreciate how helpful each of the professors are in our department as well. Wittenberg is truly my home away from home and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.”