Softball 2/10/2016 9:20:00 AM Tyler Madsen, Athletics Communications

2016 Softball Preview: Bulldogs Open in Arkansas This Week

KIRKSVILLE - - The 2016 Truman State University softball season gets underway this weekend, and while six freshmen dot the roster, head coach Erin Brown believes the strength of "Team 44" resides in what opponents already know.

"Our returning leadership is going to be a strength for our team this year," Brown said. "We bring back some highly-skilled players at key positions, but what we've added this year is more depth across the board. Our girls have been pushing each other since the fall, and that's always a great sign."

Coming off the program's 16^th postseason appearance a year ago, the Bulldogs will look to make an even deeper run and improve even more on last season's 33-16 overall record. Truman finished with a 21-7 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, giving the team its second top-four finish in as many seasons since joining the GLVC in the 2014 campaign. Last season's team hit .305 with 50 home runs and 67 doubles, while also posting one of the program's top defensive fielding percentages at 97.4 percent.

Fans will notice a handful of returning faces on the middle and left side of the infield, as returning all-region catcher Lex Van Nostrand (Jr., .394 AVG, 11 2B, 16 SB) anchors a solid battery that also includes a pair of senior hurlers in Kelsea Dorsey (17-6, 2.39 ERA) and Kindra Henze (16-10, 3.03 ERA). A new name in the circle is freshman Lauren Dale, who will look to pick up innings this year, while freshman Sydney Scherzinger will also spell Van Nostrand behind the plate throughout a quick, but grueling season.

Senior Cate Simon, who took a redshirt in 2015 after being named all-region in 2014, returns to the hot corner, as she enters the season ranked sixth all-time on the program's career home runs chart with 25. Next to her will be second-year starting shortstop Jamie Fowle, who kicked off her collegiate career in 2015 by starting all 49 games and batting .305 primarily out of the leadoff spot.

Two other returners will get their chances as the team's designated player, as senior Whitney Richardson (.219 AVG, 8 2B) and junior Devin Gudehus (.284 AVG, 3 HR) look to crack Brown's lineup card. Richardson will also get reps at first base, as both she and sophomore Ashley Murphy (15 GP, 3 2B) will have the tough task of replacing all-conference performer Liz Leath, who batted .397 with 12 HR and posted a .994 fielding line a season ago.

The final infield spot also looks to be up for grabs entering the season, as a trio of Bulldogs – sophomore Kadie Orenstein (14 GP, 6 RBI), junior Valerie Schmidt (29 GP, 13 runs), and freshman Brooke VunCannon are vying for a starting spot after all-conference starter Andrea Klipsch (.331, 17 HR) graduated last spring.

The outfield will have a relatively young feel, as six players – five of which are underclassmen – will battle for time in the three spots. Returners Nikki Moss (Sr., .224 AVG, 7 SB), Haley Wells (Jr., .248 AVG, 22 RBI), and Riley Cook (15 GP, .250 AVG) will be joined by a trio of freshmen – Christa Reisinger, Michaela Mooney, and Morgan McMahan, while two super-utility returners in Alyssa Spoerer and Haley Zenner will provide flexibility around the diamond.

The Bulldog schedule opens this weekend with six non-conference games at the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic, with two other pre-conference trips scheduled to Alabama (Feb. 19-21) and Tennessee (Feb. 26-28). Truman will start the University's Spring Break week by visiting former MIAA rivals Central Missouri and Pittsburg State before returning home to kick off league play on Saturday, March 12 against Illinois Springfield. The Bulldogs will play the other 15 league schools in doubleheaders before the GLVC tournament commences once again in East Peoria, Ill., from April 29-May 1.

The NCAA tournament is bumped up on the schedule this year due to the NCAA Spring Sports Festival, with the College World Series slated for May 18-21 in Denver.

Truman was picked third in the preseason GLVC coaches' poll, and fans can follow along all season with game recaps on TrumanBulldogs.com and in-game updates at both @TrumanAthletics and @TrumanSoftball on Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Andrea Klipsch: 2B; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#8 Liz Leath: 1B; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#7 Riley Cook: OF; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#11 Kelsea Dorsey: P; 5' 4"; Senior

#14 Jamie Fowle: SS; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#9 Devin Gudehus: C/1B; 5' 10"; Junior

#19 Kindra Henze: P; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#1 Nikki Moss: OF; 5' 1"; Senior

#8 Ashley Murphy: 1B; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#20 Kadie Orenstein: P/UT; 5' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#3 Andrea Klipsch
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: 2B

#8 Liz Leath
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: 1B

#7 Riley Cook
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: OF

#11 Kelsea Dorsey
: 5' 4"; Senior
: P

#14 Jamie Fowle
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: SS

#9 Devin Gudehus
: 5' 10"; Junior
: C/1B

#19 Kindra Henze
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: P

#1 Nikki Moss
: 5' 1"; Senior
: OF

#8 Ashley Murphy
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: 1B

#20 Kadie Orenstein
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: P/UT