Coppin State Opens 2017 Softball Season in Louisiana

Thursday, February 9
1 p.m. - Southern
4 p.m. - Southern

Friday, February 10
5 p.m. - Southern Illinois
 
Saturday, February 11
11 a.m. - Tennessee at Martin
1 p.m. - Mississippi Valley State
Live Video / Live Stats

Sunday, February 12
1 p.m. - Nichols State
3 p.m. - Southeastern Louisiana
Live Video / Live Stats

The Coppin State softball team opens the 2017 season this weekend down in Louisiana playing six games beginning on Thursday, February 9^th at Southern University in Baton Rouge. After their season opener, the Eagles head to Hammond, LA for the Lions Classic hosted by Southeastern Louisiana from Friday through Sunday.
 
Coppin State will play Southern Thursday in a double-header at 1 p.m. and then will prepare for Friday's matchup with Southern Illinois at 5 p.m. The rest of the weekend has two games on each day with the Eagles battling Tennessee at Martin at 11 a.m. and Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Then Sunday has meetings with Nicholls State at 1 p.m. and host Southern Louisiana at 3 p.m.
 
Second year head coach Gino Olivieri returns six sophomores that includes his trio of starting pitchers from last season's team that picked up five victories in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition. The 2016 Eagles were second in the conference in fielding double plays (17), fifth in team batting average (.285), sixth in both slugging percentage (.390) and on base percentage (.354) while ranking seventh in fielding percentage (.936). This year the Eagles were predicted to place seventh in the MEAC northern division after a 5-31 overall record.
 
Olivieri named sophomore infielder Cayla Brown captain of his young team during the fall. Brown started in 24 of 32 games played in 2015 finishing with 19 hits, nine RBIs and four runs scored. She tallied four extra base hits and hit a home run against Delaware State.
 
Sophomore outfielder Alisha Esqueda led the team with six multiple RBI games and had a season-best three RBIs at UMBC on Mar. 29. She was second on the squad in runs scored (19), doubles (6), and (4) home runs. Esqueda ranked third in hits (30), RBIs (17), and walks (9).
 
Sophomore Melanie Benge led the Eagles in majority of the pitching categories after a strong start to her career in the blue and gold. Benge led in earned run average innings pitched (78.1), strike outs (46), and appearances (25).
 
Joining the Eagles for the upcoming season are transfers Madison Didion (So., P, Montesano Wash./Barton CC) and Camille Ochoa (Jr., OF, Covina, Calif./Glendale CC) as well as freshmen Arianna Alderete (Fr., P, Modesto, Calif./James C. Enpochs HS), Haley Bravo (Fr., OF, Rialto, Calif./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), Isabella DiDio (Fr., C, Menands, N.Y./Shaker HS), Kimberly Evans (Fr., C, Upland, Calif./Upland HS), Allie Heeman (Fr., P, Owego, N.Y./Owego Free Academy),  Camille Nowak (Fr., IF, Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS), Cloe' Ochoa (Fr., P, Covina, Calif./Charter Oak HS), Patricia Soria (Fr., IF, Gilroy, Calif./Christopher HS), and Shelby Spaziani (Fr., P/Util., Surfside Beach, SC/St. James HS).
 
After opening weekend, Coppin State will host Marist for their home-opener on Sunday, February 19^th at 12 p.m. at the CSU Softball Field.