2016 Schedule2016 RosterBELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team opens the 2016 season this Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader against No. 13 Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.
UMHB returns 13 letter winners, six starters and two pitchers from a team that finished 21-8 overall last season. Outfielders
Kourtney Bevers and
Hannah Parker return for their senior seasons. Bevers, a center fielder from Liberty Hill, Texas (Liberty Hill H.S.), was a Third Team All-American Southwest Conference honoree last season, playing in 29 contests for the Cru with a .326 batting average. Parker, a native of Bryan, Texas (Bryan H.S.), played in 17 contests as a utility player for UMHB last season and made seven starts in her junior campaign.
Juniors
Leah Brown and
Cori Drake and sophomore
Karley Free return after 2015 seasons that earned them all-conference awards. Brown, a junior third baseman from Waco, Texas (Crawford H.S.), was a First Team NFCA All-West Region honoree and First Team All-ASC selection. She led the Cru in 10 offensive categories and finished the season ranked third in the ASC with 10 home runs. Drake, a junior catcher from North Zulch, Texas (North Zulch H.S.) was an Honorable Mention All-ASC selection a season ago, playing in 38 games for the Cru with 19 runs and 21 RBI. Free, a sophomore first baseman from Henderson, Texas (Henderson H.S.), earned ASC Freshman of the Year honors in 2015 and added Third Team NFCA All-West Region and First Team All-ASC to her list of accolades. Other returning field players include junior shortstop
Myranda Hinojosa (Edinburg, Edinburg H.S.), junior first baseman
Emily Marrs (McKinney, McKinney H.S.), sophomore utility player
Bailey Bohlken (Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon H.S.), sophomore outfielder
Christy Garrett (Portland, Ore., Westview H.S.) and sophomore catcher
Jordan Hughes (Shreveport, La., Captain Shreve H.S.).
UMHB also returns three pitchers from last year's bullpen, including junior
Haley Parker. Parker, a Bryan, Texas (Rudder H.S.), native, started in 18 games last season with an 8-6 record. She pitched 82.1 innings and recorded a no-hitter against Sul Ross State University (April 27
th).
Olivia Curtis and
Karen Tennis also return for their sophomore seasons. Curtis, a Mount Calm, Texas (Hubbard H.S.), native, missed the majority of the season with an injury, pitching just 13.1 innings with a 1-1 record. Tennis, a League City, Texas (Bay Area Christian School), native, pitched 45.2 innings in her freshman campaign with a 3-2 season record. She struck out 20 batters for a 4.45 era, making appearances in 20 contests.
Transfers
Haley Rhine and
Devon Walter will make their collegiate with UMHB in 2016. Rhine, a sophomore outfielder from Haslet, Texas (Northwest H.S.), played one year of college softball at LeTourneau University and Walter, a sophomore outfielder from Southlake, Texas (Carroll H.S.), opened her collegiate campaign at U.T.-Tyler. The 2016 freshman class includes three utility players, three infielders and one pitcher.
Elizabeth Bowne (Manchaca, Hays H.S.),
Kourtney Cummings (Grandview, Grandview H.S.) and
Jade Lassetter (Round Rock, Stony Point) will all see action as utility players.
Kasi Cummings (Grandview, Grandview H.S.) is a second baseman,
Dusti Douglas (Killeen, Ellison H.S.) plays at third base and
Ainsley Skopik (McGregor, Midway H.S.) is expected to play at first base.
Kelsey Knox, a native of West, Texas (West H.S.) is the lone freshman pitcher for the Cru.
UMHB opens play at Texas Lutheran at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 6
th. The Cru then returns home for a four-game series against ASC opponent LeTourneau University. The series will begin on Friday, February 12
th with a 5 p.m. doubleheader and conclude on Saturday, February 13
th with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
