Coppin excited to meet 10th-ranked Georgia in opener

By: by Rob Knox

Laurence Johnson

Softball | 2/4/2015 3:47:00 PM

BALTIMORE – The Coppin State softball team is looking forward to starting its 2015 season Thursday afternoon against 10th-ranked Georgia, the reigning Southeastern Conference champion, at Jack Turner Stadium.

The Eagles will spend the next four days in Athens. In addition to meeting Georgia in a nationally-televised contest on ESPN3/WatchESPN Thursday at 4:00 p.m., they will compete in the Bulldogs' Red-and-Black weekend showcase. Joining Coppin State in that tournament will be Winthrop, Murray State and Illinois.

Weather is expected to be nice and warm as the Lady Eagles begin their 41-game slate. Coppin State will play Murray State Friday at 10 a.m. The Eagles will meet Winthrop and Georgia Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. Coppin State closes the tournament against Illinois Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

"I'm really excited to start the season out at Georgia," Coppin State senior shortstop Candice Van Horn said. "It's definitely one of the higher ranked teams that I've ever played personally. I'm really looking forward to the experience."

The Eagles will be led by first year head coach Ty Robinson. His goal is to lead Coppin State back to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament for a sixth straight season. If preseason predictions hold true then it will happen as CSU was picked fourth.

Van Horn was selected to the MEAC preseason second-team.

"It feels really good to be noticed by the MEAC," Van Horn said. "I'm not going to lie, I wish it was first-team honors but that's what I'm shooting for this season."

Other key returnees for Coppin State include senior Samantha Denlinger and junior Kimberlynn Brown. Denlinger enjoyed a .302 batting average was third on the team. Brown hit .270 (10-for-37) with runners in scoring position.

Juniors Danielle Smith, Michele Saunders, Alanna Williams, Lauren Rogers and Shelby Mendoza along with sophomore Ellie Vogel return to provide depth. In the 26 games she started, Smith had a .297 batting average.

Here's a quick glance at Coppin State's weekend opponents:

A LOOK AT GEORGIA: The Bulldogs enter the 2015 season looking to build off of the momentum from a 2014 campaign that saw them post a 49-15 record that included a 15-9 mark in the SEC, win the program's first-ever Southeastern Conference Tournament, earn the No. 4 National Seed and advance to a NCAA Super Regional for the seventh time in program history. Georgia returns an impressive core that is highlighted by All-Americans Alex Hugo and Chelsea Wilkinson and All-SEC and NFCA All-Region selection Paige Wilson. The Bulldogs also return Tina Iosefa, Anna Swafford and Samantha LaZear, each of who was named to the NFCA All-Region Team last year.

A LOOK AT ILLINOIS: Illinois will be led by junior Kylie Johnson, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team by CollegeSportsMadness.com, after picking up All-Big Ten Second Team honors and earning an NFCA All-Region selection in 2014. The Fighting Illini won 24 games last season.

A LOOK AT MURRAY STATE: The Racers are coming off a historic 32-23 season in which they made the program's first appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game. MSU turned in a 16-9 record in OVC play and finished the regular season in fourth place. The Racers will return all but three players from last year's team including All-OVC selections Mo Ramsey and Shelbey Miller and All-Newcomer honorees Mason Robinson and Jessica Twaddle.

A LOOK AT WINTHROP: Winthrop was picked to finish fifth in the Big South Conference. The Eagles won 27 games last season. Winthrop returns seven starters and 16 lettermen from a team that produced one of the school's most powerful seasons at the plate with 48 home runs (4th most in school history). Winthrop's strength is its pitching staff, which will be anchored by the quartet of Sara Allen, Sutton Watson, Dallas King and Bradlee Holeman. Highlighting the returning starters are sophomores Maddie Antone (2014 Big South Freshman of the Year) and Megan Winningham as both combined for 39 runs, 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 49 RBI.

The Eagles are excited to take their hacks against some quality competition, which will give them a feel for what they may need to enhance as the season progresses. Coppin State competes next weekend in the Aggie Invitational, where it will meet the host North Carolina A&T and St.Francis (Pa.).

"The team is looking good," Van Horn said. "The girls have been working hard lately and we're trying to step up and make sure that we're at their level. I think the team is definitely confident and relaxed."

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Players Mentioned

#6 Kimberlynn Brown: 3B; 5' 5"; Junior

#25 Samantha Denlinger: 1B; 5' 3"; Senior; Springford Sting Gold

#16 Shelby Mendoza: IF; 5' 4"; Junior; Arizona Pure Lightning

#53 Lauren Rogers: 3B; 5' 6"; Junior; Northeast Nightmare

#21 Michele Saunders: OF; 5' 1"; Junior; Manassas Blaze Gold

#4 Danielle Smith: 2B; 5' 2"; Junior; Maryland Legends

#17 Candice Van Horn: SS; 5' 10"; Senior; Black Widows

#2 Ellie Vogel: P; 5' 5"; Sophomore; Maryland Black Ice

#3 Alanna Williams: OF; 5' 1"; Junior; Ohio Lasers Scarlet

Players Mentioned

#6 Kimberlynn Brown
: 5' 5"; Junior
: 3B

#25 Samantha Denlinger
: 5' 3"; Senior; Springford Sting Gold
: 1B

#16 Shelby Mendoza
: 5' 4"; Junior; Arizona Pure Lightning
: IF

#53 Lauren Rogers
: 5' 6"; Junior; Northeast Nightmare
: 3B

#21 Michele Saunders
: 5' 1"; Junior; Manassas Blaze Gold
: OF

#4 Danielle Smith
: 5' 2"; Junior; Maryland Legends
: 2B

#17 Candice Van Horn
: 5' 10"; Senior; Black Widows
: SS

#2 Ellie Vogel
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; Maryland Black Ice
: P

#3 Alanna Williams
: 5' 1"; Junior; Ohio Lasers Scarlet
: OF