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A NEW SEASON BEGINS
The Southern Connecticut State University softball team begins the 2016 season with a home doubleheader against Franklin Pierce on Saturday. 

AN EARLY LOOK AT THIS YEAR
Southern Connecticut is coming off a season in which it went 19-17 and reached the NE-10 Quarterfinals.  Head coach Jillian Ortega enters her second year and looks to lead an Owl team that lost four of last season's starters to graduation.

SCOUTING DOMINICAN
• The Chargers have played seven games in the Citrus Classic so far this season, winning their first game and losing the following six. They will host St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday before SCSU comes to town on Saturday. 
• Dominican is batting .239 this season with 14 runs scored. They are led by freshman Brianna Espino who is hitting .450  in 20 at-bats thus far. She also leads the team in RBI with four and is tied for first in total bases with 10 with Elontay Collins. Collins is also hitting it at a good clip. She is batting .438 and has three runs scored and two RBI to her name

ALL-TIME vs. DOMINICAN
The Owls are 10-3 all-time against the Chargers, with the last game being played in 2013. Southern Connecticut came away with two wins that year and have not lost to Dominican since 2011.

IN THE PRESEASON NE-10 COACHES POLL
SCSU was picked fifth in the Southwest division in the NE-10 preseason coaches' poll. 
Northeast
1. So. New Hampshire - 102 (11)
2. Stonehill - 89 (4)
3. Saint Anselm - 68
4. Assumption - 67
5. Merrimack - 66
6. Bentley - 41
7. Franklin Pierce - 29
8. Saint Michael's - 14
Southwest
1. Adelphi - 92 (14)
2. Pace - 67
3. New Haven - 61
4. Le Moyne - 59 (1)
5. So. Connecticut - 46
6. Saint Rose - 27
7. American Int'l - 19

PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Owls are led by infielders Giuliana D'Arcangelo and Leanna Feerick. They are the team's returning leaders in batting average, hits, RBI and extra-base hits. Kelsey Cockrill returns as a starting pitcher. She posted 11 wins and a 3.01 ERA last season.

PAIR OF OWLS EARN NE-10 HONORS
Two players from last year's team, second basemen Giuliana D'Arcangelo and shortstop Nicole Buch, were named Third-Team All-Conference last season.
• D'Arcangelo led the team in runs scored, doubles and total bases and finished second in hits, batting average, RBI and slugging percentage.
• Buch led the team in hits, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks and is now an assistant coach.

LAST SEASON IN REVIEW
The Owls finished Jillian Ortega's first season with an overall record of 19-17 and a conference record of 10-8. 
• Southern Connecticut was 9-2 at Pelz Field.
• SCSU grabbed the No. 3 seed in the NE-10 Southwest Division after winning its last four games against Le Moyne. The Owls defeated the Dolphins again in the first round of the NE-10 Tournament.
• Southern fell 1-0 off an unearned run to No. 2 seeded Stonehill in the quarterfinal round.

NICE TO KNOW YOU
The softball team will be tasked with replacing five seniors from last year's team. 
• Nicole Buch finished among the Division II leaders in walks and was the team leader in hits, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. 
• Sarah Koerner led the team in stolen bases and was third on the team in hits in addition to manning center field for the Owls. 
• Kelly Mitchell was the team leader in home runs and was among the leaders in slugging percentage.
• Kristie Vitulli was the starting catcher for the Owls and managed ten hits as a senior.
• Nora Crann was a key utility player who saw most of her time in the outfield. 

A STRONG VETERAN PRESENCE
Southern Connecticut has 17 of 20 returning student-athletes from last year's team that finished with a 19-17 mark.  Among those other than D'Arcangelo, Feerick and Cockrill are Danielle Piazza, Audrey Dolloff and Lauren Yaffa.

CONFERENCE RANKINGS
Buch finished last season among the conference and national leaders.  Her batting average (.387) was ninth best in the conference, her on-base percentage (.525) was second best in the conference and her total walks (28) were first in the conference and 24th in the nation. 

SOUTHERN AMONG NE-10's BEST
Southern Connecticut finished second in the conference in double plays per game (0.36) and first in the conference in on-base percentage (0.364)

WELCOME TO THE CLUB
The Owls welcome three newcomers to the team for the 2016 season - freshman Catherine Ursillo, sophomore Victoria Ceballos and junior transfer Arianna Medeiros.

ON DECK
The Owls will travel to Clermont, Florida for their annual Spring Trip beginning on 3/16. They will play nine games in six days during the trip.