ATLANTA - Georgia State's softball team kicks off the 2017 season Friday in Starkville, Miss. at the Mississippi State Invite. The Panthers are coming off their 10th straight 30-win season.
With the season beginning this weekend, head coach Roger Kincaid's team has been hard at work during the offseason to prepare for a competitive schedule both non-conference and in the Sun Belt. The Panthers return 16 letterwinners from last year's squad and welcome nine newcomers including seven freshmen.
Catchers:
Once again, Georgia State has good depth behind the plate. Junior Ivie Drake was named to every major preseason All-America Watch List and needs just one home run to break Georgia State's career home run record set by Callie Alford in 2015. Drake was also named preseason All-Sun Belt after hitting .387 with 16 HRs and 48 RBI. Mandy Blackwell and Arden Jobe could see time behind the plate as well. Blackwell joined Drake on the preseason All-Sun Belt team while Jobe appeared in 50 games last season, mostly as the DP.
Infield:
For the first time in four years, Taylor Anderson won't be the starting shortstop. That void could mean a move by Kensey Caldwell from third base to short. Last season, Caldwell was named All-Sun Belt after hitting .294 with 19 doubles and 52 RBI. Blackwell will once again hold down first base. Mallory Koepke and Taylor Bradley split time at second base in 2016 and this year freshman Taylor Chadwick joins the right side of the infield. On the left side, Kristin Hawkins is coming off a redshirt season and Ambria Derry returns for her sophomore year. Freshmen Kirsten McMonigle and Baylee Sexton join Caldwell to fill out the group.
Outfield:
Georgia State's outfield was crucial to the offense last season as Morgan Brown and Brenna Skalski each hit over .300. Reagan Morgan and Remington Hasty weren't far behind as they hit .286 and .273, respectively. All four of those players return and GSU gets Megan Litumbe back who redshirted last year after a season-ending injury that occurred in the fourth game of the year. In 2015, Litumbe hit 21 home runs for the Panthers. She was named preseason All-Sun Belt heading into this season. Speedster Cassidy Faulk and transfer Chaycie Goggins round out the outfield.
Pitchers:
Georgia State added three pitchers to the roster this season. The returners, Mandy Chance and Annie Davis, both saw a lot of action in 2016. Chance won seven games and recorded four saves while Davis won five games and tallied a 4.10 ERA. Kinsley Jennings transferred in during the offseason and freshmen Emily Soles and Peyton Worsham will look to strengthen the depth in the circle for GSU this season.
The Panthers open the season against Western Kentucky at the Mississippi State Invite on Feb. 10. The first home game is Wednesday, Feb. 15 as the Panthers host Georgia Tech at the Bob Heck Softball Complex.
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