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Truman State University Athletics

Softball Tyler Madsen, AMR Assistant Director

Softball Opens 2014 at UNA Invitational

Games 1-5: TRUMAN (0-0, 0-0 GLVC) at North Alabama Invitational
Dates: Friday, February 14 – Sunday, February 16, 2014
Location: Florence, Ala. || Lion Softball Complex
Live Stats: Available for select games – visit TrumanBulldogs.com for latest updates.
Statistics: Truman || GLVC (not yet available)
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics || @TrumanSoftball

Weekend Schedule:
Date Time Opponent Series Record Last Meeting
Feb. 14 2 p.m. Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) First Meeting N/A
Feb. 15 2 p.m. Christian Brothers (Tenn.) Truman leads, 1-0 Feb. 20, 2004
Truman won, 4-1
Feb. 15 6 p.m. West Florida UWF leads, 7-0 March 11, 1999
UWF won, 3-1
Feb. 16 10 a.m.
12 p.m.		 North Alabama UNA leads, 1-0 Feb. 24, 2008
UNA won, 5-3
For Starters:
The 42nd season of Truman State University softball kicks off this weekend at the University of North Alabama Invitational, as the Bulldogs will play five games against four different opponents to open the 2014 campaign. Truman opens its season on Friday (Feb. 14) at 2 p.m. against GMAC and in-region foe Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.).
 
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Erin Brown
Division II Career Record: 144-191 || .430 || 8th season
At Truman: Same
Assistant Coach: Cathy Monroe (8th season)
 
Returning Position Players (2013 stats):
#1 – OF – Nikki Moss – 5'1" – SO – 37 GP, 13 runs, 8-8 SB
#2 – SS – Corey Niblett – 5'1" – SR – 47 GP/GS, .235 AVG, 24 runs, 10 SB
#3 – 2B – Andrea Klipsch – 5'6" – JR – All-MIAA HM, .292 AVG, 7 2B, 7 HR
#4 – OF – Danielle Lewellen – 5'7" – SR – 39 GP, 22 runs, .260 AVG, 22 SB
#8 – 1B – Liz Leath – 5'8" – JR – All-MIAA HM, 44 GP, .365 AVG, 8 HR, 30 RBI
#12 – OF – Kelsey Bollman – 5'8" – SR – All-MIAA 1T, .377 AVG, 12 2B, 6 HR, 14 SB
#13 – OF – Ally McReynolds – 5'9" – JR –  .330 AVG, 36 GP, 22 runs, 9 SB
#15 – 3B – Cate Simon – 5'9" – JR – 47 GP/GS, .343 AVG, 8 HR, 30 RBI
#21 – IF – Whitney Richardson – 5'6" – SO – 31 GP, .250 AVG, 3 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI
 
Returning Pitchers (2013 stats):
#11 – RHP – Kelsea Dorsey – 5'4" – R-SO – 35 APP, 16-9, 2.72 ERA, 133 K's in 2012
#19 – RHP – Kindra Henze – 6'1" – SO – 24 APP, 9-9, 4.14 ERA, 100 K's
 
New Players:
#5 – C – Alexis VanNostrand – 5'6" – FR
#6 – IF/P – Jessica VanNostrand – 5'6" – SR – Transfer from St. Louis University
#7 – OF – Hannah Wehar – 5'3" – JR – Transfer from John Wood CC
#10 – UT – Haley Wells – 5'5" – FR
#17 – OF – Kelsey Jacques – 5'4" – SO – Transfer from Columbia (Mo.) College
#20 – C/1B – Caroline Gatti – 5'10" – R-FR – Transfer from Univ. of Missouri
 
First Things First:
The Bulldog softball team finally gets its chance to join its peers in the Truman athletic department, as 2014 kicks off a new era for the program as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The 16-team GLVC awaits Truman, with the Bulldogs looking to build on last season's 29-win campaign.
 
The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them in the new league, as the GLVC has filled at least half of the region's spots in each of the last five seasons, having sent teams to the super-regional round in both 2012 and 2013. The league's history has built in recent years, behind a conference-best 13 NCAA appearances by Lewis (Ill.), and followed by six from Indianapolis. The UIndy Greyhounds advanced to the super-regional last year, falling in the deciding game of the best-of-3 series to Grand Valley (Mich.) State.
 
With all 16 league programs sponsoring the required core sport of softball, the conference is split into two divisions – the East and the West. Truman will compete in the West division, joining fellow Missouri schools Drury, Maryville, Missouri S&T, Missouri-St. Louis, Rockhurst and William Jewell, along with Quincy (Ill.) to make up the eight-team side. The remaining eight schools – Bellarmine (Ky.), Illinois-Springfield, Indianapolis, Lewis (Ill.), McKendree (Ill.), Saint Joseph's (Ind.), Southern Indiana, and Wisconsin-Parkside – will make up the eight-team East division.
 
The top three teams from each division, along with two wild card teams, will qualify for the eight-team conference tournament following the end of the regular season. The tournament will be seeded 1-8, with the winner of each division earning the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds based on winning percentage. The double-elimination event is held at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Ill., and will commence this season on May 2-4.
 
The Bulldogs will play 18 league doubleheaders during the regular season, matching both home and away against fellow "pod" programs Quincy, Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville. Truman will play each of the other 12 schools one-time each, with the home opener set for March 7th against McKendree (Ill.). Other home dates are scheduled against Illinois-Springfield (March 8), Missouri S&T and Drury (March 29-30), Southern Indiana and Bellarmine (April 12-13), Quincy (April 22) and Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville to end the regular season on April 26-27.
 
After the GLVC-opening pair of doubleheaders, the Bulldogs will hit the road for five league twinbills, starting on March 15 and running through March 26 against Lewis, UW-Parkside, Maryville, Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy. Two sets of April road trips will take the 'Dogs through Rockhurst (April 5) and William Jewell (April 6), along with Indianapolis (April 18) and Saint Joseph's (April 19).
 
History Against the GLVC:
The Bulldogs boast a winning record against all but two GLVC programs (1-1 vs. Lewis; 0-0 vs. McKendree) for a combined all-time record of 133-73 against current conference teams. A high number of contests have come against local rival Quincy (32-25) and former MIAA programs Missouri S&T (27-17) and Missouri-St. Louis (32-18).
 
Last season, the Bulldogs opened the season by going 3-0 against QU, MU and UIndy at the Alabama-Huntsville tournament before splitting a March doubleheader at UMSL.
 
Bulldogs Picked Third in GLVC West Preseason Poll:
The Bulldogs will kick off its inaugural season as a GLVC member having been picked third in the West division in the league's preseason poll. Selected by all 16 conference coaches, the preseason poll landed Truman (89 points) just three points behind second-place William Jewell (Mo.) in the West division, with both squads trailing preseason favorite Missouri-St. Louis. UMSL, who claimed its first-ever GLVC Championship last season en route to a spot in the NCAA Midwest Regional, received 120 points and was the league's unanimous selection to win the West. Drury (Mo.), Quincy (Ill.), Missouri S&T, Rockhurst (Mo.), and Maryville (Mo.) round out the eight-team West division.
 
Bats Set New Highs in 2013:
This year's Bulldog squad will look to build off last season's record-setting pace at the plate, as the 2013 edition of Truman softball tied the school record in runs scored with 272 while setting new highs in home runs (52), batting average (.317), and slugging percentage (.487).
 
Sweet Home Alabama:
For the first time since 2006, the Bulldogs will not be opening the season at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout, despite still kicking off the campaign in the Heart of Dixie. Truman has now spent eight consecutive seasons kicking off the regular season in the state of Alabama.
 
Up Next:
The Bulldogs head to Jackson, Tenn., next weekend (Fri-Sat) for the two-day Union Invitational. Truman will face GLIAC- and in-region rival Walsh (Ohio) for two games, while also facing host UU as well as Hiwasse (Tenn.) College.
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