Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team opens the 2015 season this Saturday with its only home games of the month of February. The Cru will host Southwestern University for a 1:00 PM, non-conference doubleheader at Dee Dillon Field in the season opener for UMHB. Southwestern will bring an 0-4 record into Saturday's play after dropping doubleheaders to Our Lady of the Lake University and Hardin-Simmons University to open the campaign for the Pirates.
UMHB returns 12 letter winners, six starters and one pitcher from a team that finished 30-14 overall last season. The Cru advanced to the semifinals of the ASC Championship Tournament last year. UMHB will have four ASC All-Conference selections returning to form the nucleus of the team this season. Infielder
Leah Brown (So., Crawford), outfielder
Kourtney Bevers (Jr., Liberty Hill) and pitcher
Haley Parker (So., College Station) were all Second Team All-ASC selections last year. Shortstop
Myranda Hinojosa (So., Edinburg) was an Honorable Mention All-ASC pick last year.
Parker is the lone returner on the pitching staff and she should be the team's ace after posting an 8-6 record and 2.07 ERA last year. Help and depth in the rotation will come from
Tiffany Birdwell (So., Leander),
Karen Tennis (Fr., League City) and
Olivia Curtis (Fr., Mount Calm). At least one of those players will join Parker in the rotation with the others filling spot starter and relief pitching roles.
Brown, Bevers and Hinojosa are expected to lead the Cru offense again this season. Brown will make the move to third base after starting in the outfield last season. Brown batted .436 with three homers and 38 RBI last season. Hinojosa will join Brown on the left side of the infield after hitting .301 with four home runs and 17 RBI as a freshman.
Kelsey Vann (Sr., Moody) batted .261 as the team's starting second baseman last season and will once again challenge for that job. The first base job is open and there will be a new starter at catcher following the graduation of four-year starter
Chandler Henson.
Cori Drake (So., North Zulch) is the early favorite to win the catchers job after missing most of last season with an injury.
Emily Marrs (So., McKinney) and
Faith Escobar (So., Elsa) are returners competing for the starting job at first base. Bevers is currently starting at guard for the UMHB basketball team, but will challenge for a starting outfielder job when that season ends. Bevers hit .330 last year. Outfield competition will come from returners
Janie Neyland (Sr., Franklin),
Hannah Parker (Jr., Bryan),
Leanne Hinojosa (Sr., Edinburg) and
Amelia Cluke (So., China Spring). A talented group of newcomers will also battle for playing time in the outfield among:
Bailey Bohlken (Fr., Mount Vernon),
Christy Garrett (Fr., Portland, OR) and
Alyson Sulak (Fr., Liberty Hill).
Karley Free (Fr., Henderson) is fighting with Vann for the starting job at second base and
CiCi Ramos (So., Pflugerville) and Abby Cowan (Fr., Weatherford) will also provide depth in the infield.
Hannah Parker and Bohlken could also see time in the infield.
Jordan Hughes (Fr., Shreveport, LA) and
Morgan Fore (Fr., Tyler) are also in the mix for playing time behind the plate.
UMHB will provide live video and live statistics for Saturday's doubleheader. You can find links to that coverage on the UMHB Athletic Department web site at
www.cruathletics.com. The Cru will return to action with the start of American Southwest Conference play next weekend. UMHB will play a three-game series at Howard Payne University next Friday and Saturday in Brownwood.
