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Charleston Southern Tournament Central
WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW embarks on its 2017 softball schedule this weekend by participating in the Charleston Southern Buccaneer Invitational. The Seahawks will join the host Buccaneers along with Virginia and East Tennessee State for the three-day event.
After facing Virginia and Charleston Southern on Saturday to begin the campaign, the Seahawks complete the weekend by playing against ETSU and Charleston Southern in a doubleheader on Sunday.Â
The Seahawks, who are coming off a 29-21 season a year ago, welcome back 17 letter winners from last year's team, including nine starters. UNCW also welcomes back its entire pitching staff from last year, which combined to rank second in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 2.38 earned run average.
Senior
Peyton Jordan, a two-time Second-Team All-CAA selection, returns to anchor the Seahawks' pitching staff. The Waxhaw, N.C., product fashioned a 14-6 record last year while recording a 2.09 earned run average in 133.2 innings.
Senior outfielder
Merritt Wilkinson also earned Second-Team All-CAA distinction last year after hitting .299 with 43 hits and 21 runs scored.
Five Things to Know
- UNCW swept a pair of games against Virginia last year at Boseman Field, including an 8-7 victory in 12 innings.
- Coach Kristy Norton enters her fifth season as the Seahawks' bench boss. In each of her first four years, the Seahawks have increased their win total, including last year when they posted the first winning record since 2006.
- The Seahawks are opening the season on the road for the first time since 2014 when they played in the Charleston Southern Tournament. UNCW has started its season at Boseman Field in four of the last six years.
- UNCW and East Tennessee State will meet for the first time since the 2008 campaign when the teams play on Saturday. ETSU holds a slim 7-6 lead in the all-time series.
- The Seahawks will play in five tournaments during the regular season, including three tournaments at home. UNCW opens its home schedule next weekend with the Hampton Inn University Area Seahawk Softball Classic.
Players to Watch
Virginia – Senior infielder
McKall Miller hit a team-high .500 in the Cavaliers' season-opening weekend at the Kajikawa Classic. Miller, a native of Ashburn, Va., also recorded two of Virginia's four home runs with five runs batted in.
East Tennessee State – Sophomore
Tiffany Laughren and junior
Madison Ogle swept the Southern Conference weekly awards on Monday after leading the Bucs to a 4-1 record last week. Laughren, the SoCon's Player-of-the-Week, hit safely in all five games during the AmericInn Classic, going 12-for-16 at the plate with four doubles, five runs scored and three RBI. Honored as the league's Pitcher-of the-Week, Ogle posted a win and two saves in her three appearances while not allowing an earned run in 10.2 innings.
Charleston Southern – Freshman first baseman
Mallory Kasinger had an impressive debut to her college career, belting three home runs while driving in 10 runs in the Buccaneers' first seven games. The Riverside, Calif., product also ranks third on the team with a .304 batting average.
