KIRKSVILLE - - The Truman softball team kicks off its 2011 season this weekend at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout, held in Decatur, Alabama, this Friday through Sunday. The Bulldogs will play six games in the three-day tournament, highlighted with a Saturday afternoon showdown with No. 5 Wayne (Mich.) State.

The Bulldogs, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Erin Brown, open on Friday with Augusta (Ga.) State (3-2) and Ohio Dominican (0-0), continue on Saturday against Arkansas Tech (1-1) and fifth-ranked Wayne State (0-0), and close on Sunday by facing Southern Indiana (0-0) and Lambuth (Tenn.) (0-2).

This is the fifth straight season that Truman has opened at the UAH Classic, with the Bulldogs posting a 9-11 throughout the first four years. Against this year's opponents, the Bulldogs have the most extensive history with USI, having defeated the Screaming Eagles each of the last two years at the Chillout and posting a 6-3 all-time series record. Other notable series records include a 1-1 mark against WSU (having last met in 2007 at the Chillout; a 1-0 WSU victory) and a 1-2 all-time record against ODU. Truman has never met ASU, ATU or LU on the diamond.

Truman is coming off a 22-33 season in 2010 which resulted in a 9-11 MIAA mark and a trip to the conference tournament. The Bulldogs return 13 letterwinners from last season's squad, including all-MIAA honorable mention outfielder Laura Miller (Columbia, Mo., Hickman), who hit .314, blasted three home runs and stole 20 bases as a freshman.

2011 Prospectus

2011 Schedule
Radio for Wayne State Game