Softball Opens 2016 Season at UCF Knights Invitational
Feb 11 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (February 11, 2016) - The Rutgers softball team is set to open its 2016 campaign with a trip to the UCF Knights Invitational from Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 14 in Orlando, Fla. The tournament features four NCAA qualifiers and three squads ranked in the preseason top-20 softball rankings, including No. 5 Alabama, host No. 17 UCF, No. 19 James Madison and Fordham.
Rutgers returns 14 letterwinners, steered by eight starters, while adding five newcomers. The squad enters its second year in the Big Ten Conference under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Jay Nelson.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | 2016 QUICK FACTS | GAME NOTES
| Rutgers at UCF Knights Invitational | Orlando, Fla. | Feb. 12-14 | ||
| DAY 1: Friday, Feb. 12 | vs. No. 19 James Madison - 12 p.m. ET | |
| at No. 17 UCF - 4:30 p.m. ET | | Live Video ($) | |
| Day 2: Saturday, Feb. 13 | vs. Fordham - 9:30 a.m. ET | |
| vs. No. 5 Alabama - 12 p.m. ET | ||
| Day 3: Sunday, Feb. 14 | vs. No. 19 James Madison - 12 p.m. ET | |
2015 SEASON AT A GLANCE
Poised for a historic season during its inaugural year in the Big Ten, Rutgers went above and beyond in 2015, concluding the season with an overall record of 29-20, the second-most wins in program history. Additionally, the 11-12 mark in Big Ten action marked the most victories in conference play since the 1990 campaign. The 2015 squad also set highs in home runs (51) and RBIs (255), while the team's 433 hits and .310 batting average ranked third on the charts.
The Scarlet Knights earned their first trip to the Big Ten Softball Tournament as the No. 7 seed. At the conclusion of the season seniors Alyssa Landrith, RU's all-time career wins and strikeouts leader, and Jackie Bates, RU's all-time career home runs and single-season RBIs leader, earned Second Team All-Big Ten for their efforts. Bates also picked up NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team honors, while current senior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) earned Third Team recognition.
For a full 2015 season recap, click here.
RETURNING TO THE LINEUP
Rutgers returns a veteran infield, as a starter returns at every position. Leading the crew is Jordan Whitley who registered team-highs in hits (62) and doubles (13), while leading the team with a .342 batting average in conference play. Classmate Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) returns to second base after hitting a .340 clip and registering a .422 on base percentage as the leadoff hitter. Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) rounds out the trio that started all 49 games last season, resuming her role at shortstop. Sophomore Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) enters as a second-year starter at first base.
In the circle, senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) will lead the staff after picking up eight wins in 2015, including two victories in conference action. Classmate and catcher Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) enters as a third-year starter.
The outfield boasts the most depth on the Scarlet Knight roster. RU returned three with experience, as junior Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) and sophomore Meaghan Wells (Piscataway, N.J.) lead the way, along with three newcomers.
For a full 2016 season outlook, click here.
SCOUTING JAMES MADISON
No. 19 James Madison enters the year after concluding 2015 with an overall record of 48-10, setting the single-season wins record by a Colonial Athletic Association program. The Dukes went undefeated in conference action with a 19-0 mark. JMU's season ended after the team suffered a 2-1 loss to Fordham in an elimination game in the NCAA Softball Championship Harrisonburg Regional.
Leading the Dukes returners are two 2016 USA Player of the Year Top 50 "Watch List" selections in Megan Good and Jailyn Ford. Good returns after posting a team-leading 1.05 ERA with a record of 29-3, including an opposing batting average of .164 and four shutouts. Ford, a two-time NFCA All-American posted a 2.30 ERA with a record of 16-5 in 2015.
Erica Field, the 2015 CAA Defensive Player of the year and a 2015 All-CAA and NFCA All-Northeast First Team selection, leads the hitters after registering a .427 batting average and .998 fielding percentage.
JMU is led by fourth-year head coach Mickey Dean.
James Madison leads the series with Rutgers, 1-0, with a 5-2 victory in the lone meeting on February 21, 2014.
SCOUTING UCF
No. 17 UCF enters the year as the back-to-back American Athletic Conference champions. The Knights posted a record of 50-9 in 2015 and led the nation with a team ERA of 0.93. UCF's season concluded with a 5-0 loss to No. 9 Florida State in the championship game of the Tallahassee Regional.
Shelby Turnier, a member of the 2016 USA Softball Top 50 Watch List, paces the crew in the circle after leading the nation with a 0.87 ERA in 2015 and becoming the first NFCA All-American in UCF program history. Jessica Ujvari, the reigning 2015 AAC Player of the Year and NFCA Second Team All-Region selection, returns to the lineup after posting a .314 batting average.
Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie is in her 15th season with the team.
UCF holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series versus Rutgers. The teams last met as conference foes in the American Athletic Conference Championship Semifinals, where the Golden Knights topped the Scarlet Knights, 8-5, after stumping a six-run RU comeback with the tying run on base in the eighth inning.
SCOUTING FORDHAM
Fordham, the three-time reigning Atlantic 10 champion, concluded 2015 with an overall record of 38-20 and conference mark of 17-5. The Rams 2015 campaign concluded in the championship for the Harrisonburg Regional, falling to North Carolina State, 2-1.
Five starters and three all-conference selections return to the squad led by Amy Van Hoven, a 2015 First Team All-Atlantic 10 member, who finished the year with a .384 batting average. Sydney Canessa earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, registering a .323 hitting clip and a .451 slugging percentage. Rachel Gillen, named First Team All-Atlantic 10 as a pitcher and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 as a designated player, highlights the pitching staff following a 24 win season with a 2.33 ERA. The Rams are led by head coach Bridget Orchard in her 15th season.
Rutgers leads the series with Fordham, 3-1. After being shutout in consecutive contests, the Rams claimed their first ever victory over the Scarlet Knights with a 6-1 win on March 10, 2013.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
No. 5 Alabama advanced to the 2015 NCAA Women's College World Series, suffering a 5-3 loss to LSU to end its run toward the title. The Crimson Tide ended the year with an overall record of 48-15 and an SEC mark of 17-7.
The Tide return all four All-Americans from last year's roster, highlighted by three-time All-American Haylie McCleney and 2015 SEC Freshman of the Year Alexis Osorio. Both of which are among the top 50 "Watch List" for the 2016 USA Player of the Year.
McCleney finished 2015 with a .436 batting average and enters the year as Alabama's career leader in batting average (.449) and on-base percentage (.561). Osorio leads the pitching staff after registering a 22-9 record and 1.75 ERA, along with 227 strikeouts.
Head coach Patrick Murphy enters his 18th year at the helm of the program.
Rutgers and Alabama will be meeting for the first time in program history.
Follow Rutgers Softball on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter (@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics ).
- RU-
