Boiling Springs, N.C. - The 2010 season appears to be one of both excitement and high expectations, as Coach Cole’s squad returns all but two players from last year’s team that went 19-27 overall and 6-12 in its first season as Big South Conference members.  Heading into this season, the excitement rests on high expectations as the 2010 squad is perhaps the best mix of both experience and youth, veterans and newcomers, and offense and pitching Coach Cole has had since coming to Gardner-Webb nine years ago.

 
“We have the best of both worlds, we are blessed with a veteran team, yet we are still a young team with 12 underclassmen,” commented Coach Cole.  “While we have more seniors this season, our sophomores played a lot of innings last year and saw a lot of time for us as true freshmen.  All have improved tremendously since last year and we are optimistic that the experience gained from last season will help us tremendously this season.”

PITCHING
With no pitchers leaving the staff from last season and the addition of two newcomers, the GWU coaching staff is extremely optimistic about its pitching staff in 2010.

 
“From top to bottom our pitchers are very diverse, which in turn provides us with a variety of weapons this year,” continued Coach Cole.  “We have tremendous depth in the circle this season and strongly believe that this is one of the most talented pitching staffs we have ever had here at GWU.”

Headlining the pitching staff is senior Christine Murray.  Murray, who was named to the Big South Conference All-Tournament Team last season, made 28 starts for GWU a year ago.  The right-hander from Ontario, Canada picked up a team-high 11 wins on the season, posting a 3.13 ERA on the year and fanning 193 batters, the most in the Big South Conference, along the way.

“Christine was our number one last year and is our number one this year,” commented Cole.  “We are expecting big things from her in her senior season.”

Junior Cindy Boomhower is coming off a season in which she appeared in, and started, only six games before suffering a season-ending injury.  Boomhower, whose absence in the circle last season clearly affected the Lady Bulldogs, threw only 38.0 innings, yet picked up 32 strikeouts and issued only seven walks along the way.  The right-hander held opponents to a team low .224 batting average on the year while recording four wins, two of which were shutouts, and five complete games.

“Cindy is pitching well and had a very good fall,” stated Coach Cole.  “With her being healthy we not only expect big things out of her, but we also anticipate a breakout year for her this season.”

Senior left-hander Alison Coffey saw limited action last season posting a 2-3 record in 11 appearances.  Coffey will again be asked to not only provide depth this season, but will also compete right away for a starting spot come the season opener.

“Alison had a very strong fall season and we are optimistic that she will have a strong senior year,” said Cole  “We believe Alison will pitch like she did her freshman year when she had 10 wins and threw over 120 innings for us.”

The deep pitching staff also includes sophomore Kara Buchanan, who was thrust into action last season as a true freshman, and newcomers Presley Wesson and Jessica Milligan.  Buchanan appeared in 11 games last season and threw 20 innings, including, two innings in the Big South Conference Tournament.

“Kara pitched well for us last year and filled a role for us throughout the season,” stated Cole.  “As a sophomore we expect her to contribute even more this season.”

“Jessica and Presley both had very solid fall seasons,” commented Cole.  “We feel really good about having both of them out there for us this spring.  They have tremendous potential and should provide us with quality innings even as true freshmen.”

CATCHER
For the fourth straight season, it will be senior Mandy Ward suiting up behind the plate for the Lady Bulldogs. Ward played in 32 games last season, and was named to the Big South Second-Team All-Conference Team. Offensively, Ward was second on the team with seven doubles, and was tied for third on the team with two home runs. Defensively, the four-year starter was stellar behind the plate as she posted a fielding percentage of .989, allowing only one passed ball all season long.

“We expect a great year from Mandy in her senior season,” said Cole. “Mandy has worked well with all our pitchers and we expect her big bat to help us offensively in a tremendous way this year.”

Sophomore McKenzie Morenus will also see time behind the plate for Coach Cole, providing some relief to Ward throughout the long season.  Last year as a true freshman, Morenus started 41 games for the Lady Bulldogs, splitting time at third base, catcher, designated player and shortstop.  Morenus was second on the team with 24 RBI’s, tallying 28 hits on the season, including four doubles and two home runs.  Defensively, she led the Lady Bulldogs with three pick offs from the catcher position and also threw out 10 potential base stealers on the year.

“Like all of our sophomores, McKenzie has improved tremendously from last season,” commented Coach Cole.  “She has a strong arm, a big bat, and a great attitude.  Plus, she runs the bases very well, and she does a good job of handling our pitchers.”

Freshman Brittney Morrow could also see some time at the catcher position this season, while also providing depth at third base.

“Brittney has nice hands behind the plate and hit the ball well this fall,” commented Coach Cole.  “Her ability provides us depth not only at the catcher position, but also in the infield, particularly third base.”

INFIELD
With the loss of only one infielder from last year’s team in senior second baseman Angie Walls, the core of the Lady Bulldogs infield returns with the addition of a number of highly touted freshmen.

A staple at first base last season, senior Christa Fullwood will start there this season for Coach Cole’s squad.  Fullwood, who started all 46 games for the Bulldogs last season, was named to the Big South First-Team All-Conference Team and also earned a spot on the Big South Conference All-Tournament Team.  The lefty, who was named to the NCCSIA All-State University Team, was seventh in the nation with a .460 batting average for the year.  She was ranked 23rd in the nation with a .519 on-base percentage and 48th overall with a 0.719 slugging percentage.  Last year, as a junior she posted a GWU single-season record with a .460 batting average and led the team in batting average (.460), hits (64), doubles (12), home runs (6), RBI’s (36), total bases (100), slugging percentage (.719), walks (15), on-base percentage (.519) and putouts (257).

“Christa had an exceptional year last season and we expect the same thing from her this season,” commented Coach Cole.  “With some help behind her in the middle of the lineup, we hope teams will be forced to pitch more to her this year.”

Behind Fullwood at first will be Morenus who will be splitting time at first base, catcher and designated player this season.

Next to Fullwood at second base will be a new face in freshman Morgan Baker.  Despite being a true freshman, Baker is slated to start the season as the Lady Bulldogs starting second baseman, filling the void left by graduating senior Angie Walls.

“Morgan is an exceptional all-around player with great hands and a great bat,” stated Coach Cole.  “Morgan is sound offensively, defensively and on the base paths and we expect her to make an immediate impact right away for us this season.  With her bat, Morgan changes the entire dynamic of our line up offensively.”

Joining Baker up the middle at shortstop will be senior Melody Harrell.  Harrell, who is a four-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs, has spent the last two years as the Lady Bulldogs shortstop. Harrell, who started and played in 45 games last year for Coach Cole, was named to the Big South Second-Team All-Conference Team.  Harrell, led the team with 32 runs scored and seven stolen bases and was tops on the team with 148 at bats.  The speedy leadoff hitter tied for first on the team with three triples and was second on the team with four home runs, 50 total hits and 74 total bases.  She was also second on the team with a .338 average, a .500 slugging percentage and a .361 on-base percentage for the season.

“Melody has a very strong arm and has improved her game each year,” commented Coach Cole.  “With her once again at the top of our lineup, we expect her to have a stellar senior season.”

Freshman Jordyn Arrowood will start immediately at third base, as the newcomer made an immediate impact both offensively and defensively during the fall season. 

“Jordyn has a cannon for an arm and very good hands at third base,” remarked Coach Cole. “She is a left-handed slapper that has excellent speed, good foot work, and can cause problems at the plate and on the base paths for the opposing teams.”

With first base nailed down between Fullwood and Morenus, depth at the other infield spots fall on Baker, who will back up Harrell at shortstop, Arrowood, who could also see some time at second base, and redshirt-junior Ashley Whitlock.  Whitlock, who came on late last season both offensively and defensively, played in 33 games, starting 31 of them in the GWU infield.  Whitlock recorded 19 hits and six RBI’s on the year and posted a .946 fielding percentage at third base.

“Ashley will provide depth for us at both second and third, but predominantly at third” commented Cole.  “She hit very well in the fall and we expect her to continue to contribute to our success.”

OUTFIELD
While the outfield will be young this season with a junior and five sophomores, the Lady Bulldogs are not lacking experience as all six outfielders have playing experience.  However, with the amount of depth and the talent that each Lady Bulldog brings to the table, all six student-athletes will be battling for playing time all season long.

“We have a lot of depth in the outfield positions this season,” commented Coach Cole.  “All of them will be competing for playing time and we expect all of them to be contributors this year.”

Junior Kelsey Witter is perhaps the top returner for the Lady Bulldogs in the outfield, as she finished the season strong last year and had a superb Big South Conference Tournament. Last year as a sophomore, Witter played in 41 games, starting 40 of them as she saw action at catcher, third base, second base and in the outfield.  Witter, who was named to the Big South First-Team All-Conference as a utility player, was third on the team with a .297 batting average, third on the team with 20 runs scored, 35 hits and 49 total bases and tied for third on the team with two home runs, six doubles and one triple.

“Kelsey had an outstanding sophomore season last year,” stated Cole.  “She is a leader both on and off the field and nobody works harder than Kelsey.  With her playing full time in the outfield this season, we expect her to continue to improve from last season.”

Sophomore Melinda Dulkowski returns after starting last season in centerfield as a true freshman.  Dulkowski, who improved as the season went along, played in 43 games, starting 40 of them for Coach Cole’s squad.  Dulkowski tied for fifth on the team with five doubles and was perfect in the stolen base department on the year.

“Melinda improved as the year went along last season and like all of our sophomores, she has improved tremendously from last year,” commented Cole.  “Melinda has speed that helps us both offensively and defensively and has a great glove in the outfield for us.”

Fellow sophomores Kelly Montgomery, Lindsea Hutchinson and Jane Savage all return with a year’s worth of experience under their belts, while newcomer Michelle Primm adds even more depth to the outfield, having transferred to GWU from Belmont Abbey.

Montgomery played in 27 games, starting 20 as a true freshman and was tied for third on the team with two home runs, while Hutchinson will move to the outfield full time after seeing time in 22 games last season in the outfield, at designated player, at first base and in the circle for the Bulldogs.

“Kelly improved tremendously from last season when she was a freshman and will be competing for a starting spot in the outfield,” remarked Coach Cole.  "She gets good jumps on the ball, she’s exceptional at diving for balls, and she has a big stick."

 
“Lindsea Hutchinson has a very strong arm, a good glove,  and a big bat.  With her concentrating on playing just in the outfield this season, we expect her to help us both offensively and defensively and to compete for a starting spot from the start of the season.”

Savage, who played in 36 games, recorded 10 hits, including two doubles and a triple, and scored 14 runs on the season.  Savage, who tied for second on the team with two stolen bases, was solid in the outfield, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage for the season, while Primm brings a very good stick to the line up for Coach Cole’s squad.

“Like all the sophomores, Jane has improved tremendously from last year,” commented Cole.  “She can hit for percentage, she has very good speed, and she’s doing a much better job defensively.  She’s reading the ball better, taking better angles and getting in better positions to make plays.”

“Michelle has a big bat and a strong arm,” continued Cole. “She had a strong fall season and will compete for playing time in the outfield as well as at the designated player spot.  Michelle works hard, is very coachable, and is improving every day.”

SCHEDULE
The Gardner-Webb University softball team will have a challenging slate in 2010, as head coach Tom Cole has stacked the schedule full of big time tournaments, in-state rivals and of course the always tough Big South Conference slate.

The Lady Bulldogs will jump start its season with a month full of road contests which includes games in the Seminole Classic, hosted by Florida State; the Seahawk Classic, hosted by UNC Wilmington; the War Eagle Classic, hosted by Auburn University; and at the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational, hosted by the Winthrop Lady Eagles.

After a month of tournament play, the Lady Bulldogs will host it’s first home contests on back-to-back days, playing a double-header against Charlotte on March 16 and then a double-header against North Carolina A&T on March 17.

The following week the Lady Bulldogs will take on Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. on March 25, before starting conference play at home versus Presbyterian College on March 27.

After stepping out of conference play against USC Upstate at home on March 30 and at Furman on March 31, GWU jumps directly into conference play, hosting Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern and Winthrop at Varsity Field.

Coach Cole’s squad will wrap up its regular season with a home double-header against Winston-Salem State on April 28 and a road double-header at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn. on May 1, before competing in the 2010 Big South Conference Championship Tournament on May 13-15 in Conway, S.C.

“We’re excited about the schedule we are playing, but it’s pretty much a typical GWU schedule,” stated Cole.  “Year in and year out we step out of conference and play big time programs.  This is how we’ve been able to get our most notable victories against NCAA Tournament teams UNC and Notre Dame.  But, the reality is, our biggest games are always against our Big South opponents; and this year is no different.”