Live AudioHBU-Liberty Live StatsTournament NotesGULF SHORES, Ala. – HBU softball begins their season Friday, Feb. 6 at the three-day NCAA Sand Dollar Classic, hosted by Train at the Fieldhouse.
The Huskies will play Florida Gulf Coast (33-26-1 last season) Friday at 3 pm, Eastern Kentucky (29-22) Friday at 6 pm, Liberty (11-46) Saturday at 3 pm, Jackson State (28-29) Saturday at 6 pm, and Florida International (34-19) Sunday at 10 am. The only team HBU has previously played is Jackson State, which the Huskies lead the all-time series, 3-2.
HBU looks to pick up where it left off following a successful 2014 campaign which saw the Huskies make the Southland Conference Tournament in only their second year in the league. HBU went 22-28 overall last season and 14-13 in Southland play.
HBU returns nine letterwinners, but lost leading hitter,
Kirsten Schwirtlich, to transfer. Schwirtlich led the Southland Conference with a .411 batting average. The Huskies will look towards their four seniors – infielder
Melissa Herman and outfielders
Michaela Granchelli,
Victoria Granchelli, and transfer
Erica Schmalenberger – and returning leading hitter, junior infielder
Shay Orsak. Orsak had a breakout sophomore year in 2014. She was ninth in the conference with a .377 batting average and not only led the Southland, but also set a new single-season program record, with 22 doubles. HBU also returns First Team All-Conference and First Team Preseason All-Conference, sophomore utility player
Alyssa Burnett, who hit five home runs, posted 28 RBI, and led HBU's freshmen with a .333 batting average.
In the circle, HBU returns junior
Shannon O'Connor and sophomore
Emily Mueller. Mueller led the pitching staff with a 3.14 ERA, as she went 8-10 with nine complete games and one shutout. O'Connor struck out 56 batters last season compared to 36 walks, as she went 8-8 with a 4.57 ERA.
The Huskies have eight newcomers in 2015: Schmalenberger (OF); junior transfers
Laci Belovsky (P),
Caitlin Gunn (C), and
Erica Reyes (UTIL); and freshmen
Erin Alaniz (OF),
Madison Vonhagel (C),
Libby Brown (SS), and
Nicole Shedd (OF).
Following the tournament, HBU plays in its home opener Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 pm against Texas Southern at Husky Field.
