2004 OVC Softball Outlook


Austin Peay
Austin Peay finished the 2003 season fourth in the league with a 9-10 conference record (19-30-1 overall). The Lady Govs welcome back six starters for the upcoming year, but face the task of replacing former standouts Jenney Kelly and 2003 OVC Freshman of the Year Lori McCoy.

Sophomore infielders Brianna Venable and Jennifer Simpkins are among the top returnees. Venable posted a batting average of .272 and a .420 slugging percentage last season, while rapping out a team-high 13 doubles. Simpkins started in all 50 games a year ago and had a batting average of .221. Defensively, she posted a .971 fielding percentage, committng just three errors.

Austin Peay’s 2004 season gets underway on February 13 as the Lady Govs participate in the Auburn Tiger Invitational.


Eastern Illinois
The Panthers, who went 7-13 (6th) in the OVC and 14-34 overall in 2003, return six starters and will welcome 11 newcomers in the upcoming season.

Among the top returnees is senior second baseman Kristin Lovering, who was a 2003 First Team All-OVC selection. Lovering posted a team-best .287 batting average and led the squad with 21 RBI last season. Shortstop Kari Hagerty will also be coming back to the team. The senior led the Panthers in the hits category with 36 and started every game in the 2003 season.

EIU will have a big hole to fill on the mound as Kristen Becker was lost to graduation. Sophomore Ashley Condon (9-1) will try to fill the void after finishing the 2003 season with a 6.91 ERA while striking out 11 batters in 50.2 innings of work.

Eastern Illinois starts the 2004 campaign on February 27 at the Charleston Southern Invitational.

Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky finished second in the league last year with a record of 13-7 (29-18 overall). The Lady Colonels return 12 letterwinners for the 2004 campaign and will have seven newcomers on the squad.

EKU will be looking for a pitcher to fill the shoes of two-time OVC Pitcher of the Year Jonelle Csora, who was lost to graduation. Juniors Ashley Schenck and Beth Connor appear to have the insided track, Schenck struck out six batters with an 1.80 ERA in five apperances in 2003, while Conner posted a 3.64 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 apperances.

Senior Jennifer Christiansen is one of 12 letterwinners returning for the Lady Colonels. Christiansen, who was a 2003 All-OVC first team selection, hit .323 with 21 RBI last year. Diana Barreras will also be coming back to the shortstop postion for the Lady Colonels. The senior, a 2003 All-Conference second team honoree, was perfect in the stolen base department, swiping all 17 of her attempts. The senior also posted a .307 batting average with two home runs and eight runs batted in.

The Lady Colonels starts the season on February 13 at the Alabama Tournament.

Jacksonville State
Picked to place second in their first year in the OVC, Jacksonville State must overcome the loss of ace pitcher Tera Ross, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident over the holiday break.

Jax State, which finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference (40-15 overall/12-10 A-Sun) a year ago, will have five starters coming back and adds seven newcomers to the roster. Senior second baseman Janae Bonin is among the top Gamecock returnees having led the squad in slugging percentage (.708), runs batted in (54), home runs (13) and total bases (121) a year ago.

Junior Breanne Oleman, who spilt her time between the pitcher and outfield position last season, is also returning for the 2004 year. On the mound, Oleman (5-4) posted a 1.48 ERA and struck out 50 batters in 61.1 innings of work. At the plate, she had 44 hits, 38 RBI and a .267 batting average.

The Gamecocks kick off the 2004 campaign on February 21 at the Hornets Classic.

Morehead State
Morehead State, which went 10-33-1 overall and 6-14 (7th) in the OVC, will be under the new direction of Jill Karwoski. The Eagles have 10 players returning and add eight newcomers to the team.

Senior second baseman Summer McGill is among the top returnees. McGill started all 44 games for Morehead State a year ago, scoring 15 runs with 21 hits. Michelle McCrady will be coming back to a new postion. The junior, who started all but one game at shortstop last season, is moving to first base this year. McCardy posted a .179 batting average and drove in six runs in 2003.

Stephanie Hernandez is the the top pitcher returning to the squad this year. Hernandez (4-10) led the team with a 2.97 ERA, while striking out 73 batters in 115.2 innings of work

The Eagles open the 2004 campaign on February 17 when they host Georgetown (Ky.) College.

Samford
Samford is one of two newcomers to the OVC this season. The Bulldogs finished 12-10 (7th) in the Atlantic Sun Conference (27-17-1 overall) last year. Samford returns six starters and two pitchers for the upcoming season while also weloming six newcomers to the team.

Erin Landsburg (senior) and Emilee Lewis (sophomore) will lead the Bulldog pitching staff this year. Landsburg had a record of 15-10 with an ERA of 2.01 in 185.0 innings of work last season, while Lewis (9-5) struck out 62 batters and walked 28, finishing with a 3.38 ERA.

Junior second baseman Kelly Smith is also among the top returnees for Samford. Smith hit .341 with six home runs and 31 RBI last year. Trisha Holman will once again be at the shortstop position for the Bulldogs after finishing last season with a .304 batting average 41 hits and eight RBI.

The Bulldogs’ season gets underway on February 13 as they host a doubleheader against Southeast Louisiana.

Southeast Missouri
Southeast Missouri, which finished fourth in the conference last year (18-29 overall/11-9 OVC), brings back seven of its starters and adds six newcomers to its roster in 2004.

Senior infielder Alana Bagby-Leonard is among the top returning players. Bagby-Leonard led the team with 24 RBI and six home runs last year while hitting .281. Senior Jessica Hunter will be on the mound again this season for Southeast Missouri after posting a 7-10 record in 2003 with a 2.44 ERA while striking out 41 batters in 106.1 innings of work.

The Otahkians start things off on March 5 at the Western Kentucky Tournament.

Tennessee-Martin
Tennessee-Martin posted a third-place OVC finish going 12-8 in conference play (21-28 overall) in 2003. The 2004 Skyhawks will see the return of seven of their starters and the addition of seven newcomers.

Junior Nicole Davis is one of three pitchers coming back for the 2004 season. Davis (6-7) had a 1.60 ERA, struck out 65 batters and walked 35. She also will be spending some time at the first base postion for the Skyhawks. Catching for Davis will be senior Sarah Daws, who posted a .266 batting average with four home runs and 15 runs batted in last year. Outfielder Angela Baize is another top returnee for UTM after hitting .354 wtih one home run and 13 RBI in 2003.

The Skyhawks kick off the 2004 campaign on Februrary 14 as they take part in the Ole Miss Tournament.

Tennessee State
Five starters return for Tennessee State, which finished the 2003 season 5-16 in the conference (8th) and 9-33 overall.

Senior Shannon Hicks is among the top returnees for TSU this season. Hicks, who split her time between pitching and infield positions last year, started all 42 games for the Lady Tigers and hit .265 with 31 hits and 13 RBI.

Pitcher Alana Thomas (3-8) is also coming back for the 2004 campaign. The senior posted an 2.70 ERA and struck out 51 batters in 83.0 innings of work last season, while also recording a.255 batting average.

Tennessee State begins the 2004 season with a doubleheader on February 15 against Mississippi Valley State.


Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech, the defending 2003 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament champions, is picked to repeat in 2004. The Golden Eaglettes will return six starters from their championship roster.

Leading the way is junior catcher Kacy Bennett, who finished last season hitting .364 with seven home runs and 35 runs batted in. Also among the top returnees is second baseman Samantha Lovelady. The junior posted a .344 batting average with a 65 hits and 32 RBI in 2003.

Seniors Lori Bayless and Tia Benning will lead the pitching squad this season. Bayless (16-8) had a 1.30 ERA and struck out 148 batters in 156 innings of work last year, while Brenning went 15-6 with a 1.67 ERA. She also struck out 103 batters and walked 29.

TTU kicks off the 2004 campaign on February 14 at the Georgia State Tournament.