GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Auburn Montgomery softball team will begin its 2018 campaign this weekend at the Gulf Shores Invitational, opening the season with the University of Mobile and the University of North Georgia on Friday before taking on Barry University and Eckerd College on Saturday.
 
About the Warhawks
The Warhawks went 25-18 last season in its first year transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II play. AUM returns nine players from last year's team, including two of its top pitchers and two of its best hitters. Sophomore Chanel Newcomer went 8-5 as a freshman last season with an earned run average of 2.37 while fellow sophomore Taylor Tiffany was 7-6 with a 2.50 ERA.
 
Senior outfielder Kalee Sparks started 42 of 43 games last season, recording a team-best 50 hits while also hitting for a team-best .397 batting average. Jaycie Walker also returns to the outfield this season after tallying 43 hits and hitting for a .316 average. Walker is also one of two Warhawks to start every game for the Orange & Black.
 
AUM began last season with the same two opponents, falling to Mobile 3-2 before dropping a 10-4 decision to then No. 8 North Georgia.
 
About the Rams
Mobile went 38-17 last season with a 17-5 record at home. Former Spring Hill College skipper Alison Seller-Cook takes over the helm of the program, after leading the Badgers to a 329-263 record during her tenure. The Rams return 13 players from last year's squad, as well as five transfers from SHC. Junior Emily Fleetwood led the team in batting average last season posting a mark of .382 while notching 20 stolen bases.
 
The Rams also return three pitchers from last year's squad, including top hurlers Sydney O'Connor (1.14 ERA), Hope Cain (1.50 ERA) and Karley Sanders (1.92 ERA). Those pitchers combined for a 36-15 record for the Rams.
 
About the Nighthawks
Perennial Peach Belt Conference power North Georgia enters this season ranked No. 7 in the country. The Nighthawks are looking to capture a fifth straight Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championship in 2018, a streak that, for both, would be the longest in PBC history.
 
North Georgia returns seven starters from last season's NCAA Super Regional team, including preseason All-Conference players Kylee Smith, Sydney Sprague, Alishia Frierson and Lexi Duncan.
 
About the Buccaneers
The Buccaneers went 23-28, 11-16 in the Sunshine State Conference last season. Barry has 11 returners and five newcomers this season with a new coaching staff in head coach Sean Cotter and assistant coach Kelley Montalvo.
 
Barry returns its leader in batting average in the form of senior Geneva Santos, who posted a mark of .392 over the course of the season. Meanwhile, fellow senior Jasmine Harris returns to the team after leading the Bucs in hits (61) and slugging percentage (.712). BU also brings back its top hurler, Christie Falcon, who went 8-14 last season while striking out 76 and walking 34.
 
About the Tritons
Despite a 19-33 record last season, Eckerd boasted five wins over nationally-ranked opponents and twice forced extra innings against 10th-ranked Saint Leo. Three of the team's starting infielders return to the field for their senior seasons.  First baseman Rachael Luckettand third baseman Chelsea Armstrong have manned the corners for the majority of their time at Eckerd.  Luckett led the team in batting average (.292) and on-base percentage (.390) last season while Armstrong topped the team in RBIs with 22.  
 
Eckerd returns three pitchers from last year's squad.  Leading the way is junior Nikole Van Gennep, who won 14 games last season with a 2.59 ERA.  Van Gennep was also one of the team's top hitters and led Eckerd in doubles with 10.  Seniors Janna Gaburo and Grace Willeck also bring game experience.  The left-handed Willeck is a power pitcher who led the Tritons in strikeouts-per-inning (5.5) last year
 
Up Next
The Warhawks return to home to host the 2018 AUM Classic at the AUM Softball Complex next weekend. Clark Atlanta, Spring Hill College, and Columbus State will play eight contests in Montgomery, with AUM opening the tournament against Clark Atlanta on Feb. 10 at 11 a.m.
 
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