SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist softball team kicks off their 2022 campaign at the Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Invitational, hosted by Henderson State, tomorrow in Arkadelphia.
OBU will open play at 11 a.m. against Cameron University and will turn around for a contest with Emporia State at 1 p.m. On Sunday, the Bison will return to action for games against Southwest Baptist and Northeastern State University, starting a 1 and 3 p.m.
The Bison enter this season optimistically, coming off their most successful season yet where they reached the conference tournament for the first time in program history. As a result, OBU was tabbed to finish sixth in the Preseason GAC Coaches Poll, with 14 returning to the lineup.
Notable returners include 2021 All-GAC Second Team pitcher Kayleigh Jones. She racked up 134 strikeouts, while earning a 2.58 ERA, to rank fourth in the GAC for total K's. Senior Aspen Younce, the Bison's next top pitching returner, charted 113 strikeouts and eight wins for OBU last season. The tandem will look to be one of the top-performing bullpens in the conference.
Oklahoma Baptist's top returner sluggers are Asia Henry and Emily Richardson. Henry tied for a team-best five home runs while Richardson recorded the highest batting average of all returners in 2022.
Cameron University
The Aggies of Cameron University enter the weekend after a 25-18 overall record, including a 16-14 Lone Star Conference mark, in 2021. CU was picked ninth in the LSC preseason poll back after finishing ninth last season. In the third season under head coach Kayla Adams, Cameron faces one of their biggest reloads of a roster in recent history, having to replace a quartet of four-year starters.
Despite the losses from the 2021 roster, CU still features one of the top players in the LSC in second baseman Khmari Edwards. The 2019 All-American led the team with a .365 average in 2021 with 34 runs, 36 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. Adams also has the benefit of returning two-way player Breley Webb as well as Mikayla Richmond and Haley Castle, who were all three All-LSC selections as a year ago.
Emporia State
Emporia State opens their season coming off a 21-23 (11-15 MIAA) finish in 2021 and were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Coach Poll. The Hornets return six players that started at least ten games last season and three pitchers with starting experience.
Emma Furnish was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer last season. She hit .255 with two home runs, three triples, 20 RBI and 21 runs scored. The sophomore from Goddard, Kan. had a league-high eight outfield assists and was sixth in triples on the season. Abbey Ward was second in the MIAA in stolen bases with 26 in 27 attempts and was tied for seventh in the league with three triples. The junior shortstop from Olathe, Kan. led Emporia State with 32 runs scored.
Southwest Baptist
The Bearcats make their way down to Arkadelphia after a 2-40 (1-27 GLVC) overall record in 2021. Head coach Carly Adkins begins her first-year stint with SBU, serving as a softball assistant at Bowling Green State before her stop with Southwestern.
Northeastern State
The Riverhawks were selected finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, following a 22-21-1 (10-15-1 MIAA) overall mark in 2021. Northeastern State returns its top-six bats from the 2021 season and a pitching staff that held a 3.38 ERA. They made some key additions with Raegan Edwards, a transfer from UT-Arlington, who is slated to play in the NSU infield, and Oklahoma State pitching transfer Savannah Evans.
