AMES, Iowa – The IUPUI softball team kicks off its 2016 season at the Cyclone Invitational at Iowa State University. The Jags will play Eastern Illinois, Iowa State and North Dakota in a five game weekend.
2016 Cyclone Invitational Feb 123:15 p.m. - Eastern Illinois
5:30 p.m. – Iowa State
Feb 1312:15 p.m. - Eastern Illinois
4:45 p.m. – Iowa State
Feb 1410:00 a.m. – North Dakota
Click here for the preview for IUPUI's pitchers and infielders Click here for the preview for IUPUI's outfielders and newcomers Eastern Illinois Last season: 21-27 (14-11, OVC) The Panthers finishes sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference last season. The year, Eastern Illinois is tabbed to finish in the same spot.
Eastern Illinois lost their best bat to graduation, Hannah Cole, who hit .361. The Panthers will also have to replace Bailey O'Dell who led the team with 10 home runs and 41 RBI.
Looking to fill those shoes will be senior outfielder April Markowski. Markowski finished second on the team in average (.349) and third in home runs (6) and RBI (26).
In the circle, the Panthers split time between freshmen Jessica Wireman and Indianapolis native, Michelle Rogers. Wiremen finished with an 11-14 record and a 3.97 ERA, while Rogers finished 9-12 with a 4.09 ERA.
Last season the Jags beat Eastern Illinois 3-1.
Iowa State Last season: 26-28 (3-15, Big 12) Iowa State is going to have to replace 69 RBI's as Lexi Slater (41) and Maddie Reese (28) both graduated. Reese was also tied for the team lead in home runs with 11 and Slater was third with nine.
The Cyclones do return a high average hitter in Brittany Gomez. Last season, Gomez hit .425 with five triples and two home runs. Gomez is also a challenge on the basepath going 31-36 in stolen base attempts.
Alongside Gomez, senior Aly Cappaert, was second in the team in average hitting .351 and finished tied for the team lead in home runs with 11. Her .656 slugging percentage was also tops in the Cyclones lineup.
Of the four Cyclones to see time in the circle last season, only one remains on the team. Sophomore Brianna Weilbacher led the team in starts with 20 but finished with a 5-8 record and a 6.30 ERA.
North Dakota Last season: 12-43 (1-21, Big Sky) The Fighting Hawks return their best bat in their lineup in sophomore Shelby Hard. Hard led the team with a .333 average, 15 home runs, and 37 RBI.
Senior Emily Bell is also back and was second on the team in RBI last season with 36.
The only other players to hit above .300 last season were Jackie Lilek and Maria Dendinger, and both players graduated. Lilek and Dendinger were also third and fourth on the team in RBI.
North Dakota is not a running team, as the Fighting Hawks only attempted 16 steals last season, converting 10.
Sophomore Hanna Bergh is the top returning pitcher for North Dakota. Last year, Bergh finished with an 8-19 record in 28 starts with a 5.99 ERA. Fellow sophomore Michaela Zins appeared in 35 games finishing 1-13 with a 9.97 ERA.
