MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery softball team will open its historic season with four games in Gulf Shores, Ala., at the Gulf Shores Invitational on Friday and Saturday. AUM will face Midwestern State, Rollins, Tuskegee and North Georgia.

Game Information: Midwestern State (22-19, 13-17 LSC)
Date:  Friday, Jan. 31, 2020
Time:  3:00 p.m.
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala.   
Media Coverage | Live Stats
 
Game Information: Rollins (38-11, 20-10 SSC)
Date:  Friday, Jan. 31, 2020
Time:  5:30 p.m.
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Media Coverage | Live Stats

Game Information: Tuskegee (19-26, 13-6 SIAC)
Date:  Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020
Time:  2:00 p.m.
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Media Coverage | Live Stats

Game Information: #16 North Georgia (45-13, 16-4 PBC)
Date:  Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020
Time:  7:00 p.m.
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Media Coverage | Live Stats
 
About the Warhawks
AUM softball was tabbed to finish third in the Gulf South Conference preseason polls which were voted on by the coaches. The Warhawks were one of three teams to receive first-place votes. Four teams in the GSC are at least receiving votes in the national polls, including Mississippi College and Valdosta State, who were picked to finish below the Orange & Black in the conference polls.  

The Warhawks finished last season with a dominating 2019 campaign, AUM concluded the season with 43 wins, including 20 GSC victories that would have netted them the third seed in the GSC Championships at the end of the year.    

The Orange & Black will return with a near-identical offensive threat as they did a year ago. Olivia Aycock highlights the returning players for the Warhawks. The sophomore was named to the GSC all-preseason team after hitting .399 and striking out just four times in 2019.  

Senior center fielder Parker Pinholster is primed to lead AUM into greatness in 2020 and is chasing some milestones heading into opening weekend. With 98 career stolen bases, Pinholster can become the first Warhawk in program history to eclipse the century mark. Additionally, the senior is three hits shy of 100 for her career.     

AUM also has six new players that join the roster in 2020, led by all-GSC newcomers Allie Miller and Bailie Barnes. Both players join the Warhawks from DI schools. Miller played her freshman season with the Troy Trojans, while Barnes comes to AUM from UAB.

The Orange & Black will welcome freshmen Maddie Parks, Alanna Goble, Lauren Haskins and Molly Cobb to the team for the upcoming year. The new players figure to make an immediate impact on the team both in the lineup and in the circle.

AUM excelled in the pitching department last season led by senior Chanel Newcomer. The Georgia native will bring her 8-4 2019 record with a 2.33 ERA into 2020 as the leader of the pitching staff. Meanwhile Cydney Sizemore is another to keep an eye on in the new year after recording a 4-0 record with a 0.49 ERA in 14 appearances.

Beware opposing catchers, the Warhawks are primed to be a handful on the bases once again this season. The Orange & Black led all of NCAA DII in steals last season with 179 steals in 207 tries. AUM had seven players steal 10 or more bags last season, led by Aycock's single-season record 47.
 
Scouting the competition
The Warhawks will be tested right off the hop in Gulf Shores, as they will play the preseason favorites in the Peach Belt and Sunshine State Conference over the weekend. AUM opponents won 124 games combined last season.

Midwestern State will make the journey from Wichita Falls, TX., to face off against the Orange & Black on Friday afternoon. The Mustangs finished last season with a 22-19 record and tallied a 13-17 mark within the Lone Star Conference.

Rollins College was selected as the favorites in an ultra-competitive Sunshine State Conference. The Tars compiled a 38-11 record last season and totaled a 20-10 record against SSC schools. Rollins will be seeking its fifth conference title since joining the league in 1985.

The meeting with Tuskegee will be the first of five contests between the regional foes this season. The game against the Golden Tigers will be the first time since 2012 the Warhawks and Tuskegee will face each other.

North Georgia has won six-consecutive PBC championships and was voted to make it seven straight by the conference's coaches. The Nighthawks are coming off a 45-13 season in 2019, which led them to an NCAA regional appearance. The Warhawks, however, defeated North Georgia 9-0 in last season's meeting at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
 
 
 
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