Softball Opens Season Friday

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST (0-0) VS. SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE (0-2)

3 PM | Friday | February 17

Lady Bison Park | Shawnee | Oklahoma

OBU Broadcast | Live Stats | Game Notes

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist softball starts its season Friday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader against Southwestern College (Kan.).
 
Lady Bison Head Coach Pam Fink eclipsed the 600-win mark late last season. She is the winningest coach in women's sports at OBU and second only to Bobby Cox in wins and longevity as she enters her 24th season as head coach.
 
OBU returns its 2016 pitching staff as a unit, though all four - McKenzie Jones, Amanda Peterson, Bailee Saye and Haylee Zimmerman - all enter the season recovering from some sort of injury.
 
Madison Vaughan returns for the Lady Bison after an honorable mention All-Conference season in 2016. With depth behind the plate this season, Vaughan will be able to come out of the crouch from time to time with freshmen Kurston Bergene and Cheyenne Demaree ready to go.
 
Slotted starter Miranda Garza is questionable due to a family situation. If she is unable to make the game Rayna Villa or Rachel Birchfield are likely candidates at first base for the opener.
 
Jill Shipman and Bry Flanagan were in a battle for shortstop and second base all spring and Shipman looks like the returning starter at shortstop.
 
Katie Reyes looks to get the start at third base. She missed much of the fall with a broken finger but has emerged as the team spark plug.
 
Sam Barry looks to move from right field to left field this season. She is one of the fastest baserunners on the squad this season.
 
The center field and right field spots will most likely be a gameday decision. The options include Shelby Savage, Morgan Hughes, Kayla Johnson, Shannon Mannon and Lacy Hillis.