Seahawk Softball Bash
Live Stats | Tournament Info
RICHMOND, Ky. – The EKU softball team will travel eastward to open the 2016 season on Friday at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Seahawks Softball Bash hosted by the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Below is a season outlook for the Colonels…
It's not every season a team returns it three top hitters from the year before, but that's what Head Coach
Jane Worthington has for this season. With the likes of All-Ohio Valley Newcomers
Paige Murphy and
Sarah Jackson, along with veterans
Sarah Fobbs,
Kayla Joyce and Haley Flynn the Colonels should hit the ground running in 2016, while prohibiting their opponents from doing the same.
Offensively, the returning trio of Murphy, Jackson and Fobbs combined to hit .312, land 138 hits and knocked 21 homers last season. The productivity is certainly a plus – particularly from Murphy and Jackson who were freshmen a year ago – but also with the experience of 441 at bats last season between the three.
The skills of the seven newcomers give Worthington opportunities to tinker with the lineup early and see where people best fit, including moving some veterans around as well. That is a testament to the depth and talent of this year's club.
"All 16 players will contribute this season and I am certain different individuals will step up this year," Worthington said. "This year will be a true team effort."
Infield Jackson returns for her sophomore campaign and will play a pivotal role not only offensively, but behind the plate as well. Also returning are Joyce and
Krislyn Campos, along with
Amber Murray and a talented group of newcomers that will add immediate depth for the Colonels. Campos started all 52 games in 2015 and ranked fifth in the OVC in runs scored (44), while Joyce logged 47 starts. Veterans
Amber Murray and Murphy will split time behind the plate, along with Jackson. Freshman
Hannah Clark will see time at second base, while fellow freshman
Brooke Harrison will split time between third and second base.
Brittany Oldaker will also play at third and
Rachel Minogue will likely contribute at first.
Outfield Junior transfer
Kelly Wood will likely see playing time in the outfield with Fobbs and Murphy. Last season, Fobbs and Murphy proved to be an effective force tallying 143 putouts to a mere six errors.
Johnkyria Alston will transition to right field, along with Joyce. Murray will rotate some in center field from behind the plate.
Pitching Flynn and
Alex Sallberg will provide nearly 100 innings of experience from last year. Flynn made 30 appearances during her sophomore season, logging 11 starts. Flynn tossed one complete game and recorded three saves, while averaging 1.06 strikeouts for every inning on the mound. Sallberg added 26.2 innings of work, recording 16 strikeouts in 12 appearances. Freshmen
Murphy McRoberts and
Peyton Hutchens will complement Flynn and Sallberg on the mound for what should be an unimpeded transition.
Schedule As it is every year, the EKU schedule should be a challenging one. The Colonels will take on the University of Michigan, the 2015 national runner-up and the University of Kentucky who finished the 2015 season ranked 17th in the country.
"We are getting better every day and when we have an opportunity to get outside regularly, I expect the rate of improvement to be even higher," Worthington said. "Everything seems to be falling into place."
The Colonels, picked to finish fifth in the OVC, host the University of Dayton in their home opener at Gertrude Hall Field on March 8 before opening OVC play at Tennessee State on March 19.
