Softball Set to Open 2024 Season in Gulf Shores - UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site (2024)

CARROLLTON, Ga. – The wait is nearly over for the UWG softball team as their 2024 season kicks off this weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama, playing four games in two days, including a pair of preseason top-25 teams.

It's the opening weekend of year two for head coach Kristy Burton.

"We are excited to kick off the 2024 season this Friday," said Burton. "We are a young team with great leadership in our captains R.J. Janke, Blaire Bizette, Zekylah Boyd, and Madison Vandergriff and they are motivated to make their mark in the Gulf South Conference.

Year two for Burton is also the final season in the GSC and in Division II for a West Georgia program that is elevating to Division I in 2024-25.

"This team has worked so hard this fall, setting PRs in the weight room, competing on and off the field, and being intentional with preparation," Burton added. "Our strength of schedule these first few weeks will truly test us as we start with two ranked opponents."

THE SCHEDULE
Game 1 – Friday, February 2: West Georgia vs. #18 Saint Leo – 10 a.m.
Game 2 – Friday, February 2: West Georgia vs. West Florida – 3 p.m.
Game 3 – Saturday, February 3: West Georgia vs. Spring Hill – 12:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Saturday, February 3: West Georgia vs. #5 Nova Southeastern – 3 p.m.

SCOUTING FRIDAY'S OPPONENTS
West Georgia wastes no time starting the season with a test against the nation's 18^th-ranked team in the NFCA Preseason Poll. Saint Leo is coming off of a 43-12 campaign that saw the Lions reach the NCAA South Regional where they went 1-2 with both losses coming against Auburn Montgomery.

Briana Neal is the Lions' leading returner hitter with a .338 average and three home runs to go with 31 RBIs. Saint Leo also returns their top pitcher from last year's NCAA Postseason team in Kayla Betts. The graduate student from Leesburg, Florida went 24-6 last season in the circle with a 0.68 ERA.

Friday evening, the Wolves take on conference foe West Florida, but in a non-conference contest. The Argos went 22-23 in 2023 and bring back Hannah Harper who led the Argos in hitting and pitching last season. The rising sophom*ore hit .418 in 2023 and had a team-best 3.83 ERA.

SCOUTING SATURDAY'S OPPONENTS
Saturday's action begins with a contest against Spring Hill. The Badgers went 23-23 last season, and went 17-2 in their league schedule. Macy Holt is the biggest offensive threat for SHC as she returns after hitting .325 last season to lead the team.

West Georgia then takes on fifth-ranked Nova Southeastern in the final game of the weekend. The Sharks are coming off of a South Super Regional Championship and an appearance in the NCAA National Championship. NSU finished 43-16 and returns their leading hitter, Alexis Smith who hit .408 on last year's team. The Sharks also have Alyssa Drogemuller back after she went 24-9 in the circle with a 1.75 ERA as a junior.

SCOUTING THE WOLVES
Burton's Wolves will look to improve on a rebuilding campaign in 2023 that saw the Wolves go 13-40 in 2023.

The top hitter from last year's team, Madison Vandergriff, is back after hitting .345 with six home runs in her sophom*ore season. West Georgia's lineup also feature former All-Gulf South Conference and All-Region performer R.J.Janke, who hit .281 last season, but led the team with eight home runs.

Defensively, Zekylah Boyd anchors an outfield that will be able to cover a lot of ground. Bouyd showed incredible range as a freshman last season, and had a team-high 11 stolen bases a season ago.

It's a bit of a question mark early in the circle as the Wolves only return two pitchers from last year's team, and those two combined to pitch just 42.2 innings. Burton does have a handful of new options in the circle including captain pitcher and catcher, Blaire Bizette. West Georgia also has four freshmen options in the circle.

CHASING 20
Senior first basem*n R.J. Janke enters the 2024 campaign just three home runs shy of becoming just the 10^th player in school history to hit 20 career home runs and the first since Alley Taylor in 2022. Janke hit nine as sophom*ore in 2022 and added eight in 2023. She is hitting .335 with a .629 slugging percentage for her career.

TOP NEWCOMERS
In the GSC's Preseason Release, three Wolves were named to the league's Newcomers to Watch List. Blaire Bizette, Megan Waites, and Destry Lambert were listed for the Wolves. Bizette is a pitcher and catcher from New Roads, Louisiana who transferred from Southeastern Louisiana. Waites and Lambert are both true freshmen. Waites is an outfielder from Loganville, Georgia while Lambert is a pitcher from Stevenson, Alabama.