Week Two Softball News

Penn State is currently tied for the best start in program history with a 7-0 overall record, matching the starts set by the 1974 and 2023 teams. PSU returns to action next weekend, Feb. 23-25, at the Liberty Softball Classic, with games scheduled against Saint Francis, host-Liberty, a pair of contests against Morgan State and a single game against Penn.

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball team fell to a record of 5 and 5 after being swept in a doubleheader against Baylor, 6 to 0, and 3 to 2 on Sunday at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

Texas A&M is off to a 9 and 0 season start after defeating Oregon on Sunday afternoon by the score of 2 to 0.

Alabama stayed undefeated,10 and 0, with their win over Southern Indiana Sunday afternoon in the Easton Bama Bash played at Rhoads Stadium.

Missouri softball continued it’s winning ways on Sunday at Lovelace Stadium with an 11 to 2 run-rule win over host team North Texas at the Tracy Beard College Classic. The 10 and 0 start to Missouri’s 2024 season is the best start for them since the Tigers opened the 2009 campaign 12 and 0 en route to a 50 and 12 finish that season.

Ole Miss softball took down Pitt 2 to 1 in a pitchers’ duel to win its ninth straight game and secure its best start through 10 games in program history on Sunday morning at Bailey Park. Ole Miss now has a record of 9 and 1.

Wisconsin fell to 4 and 6 with their loss to Washington 9 to 1 in five innings during the final game of the Clearwater Invitational in Florida. Washington was the fourth ranked team that Wisconsin played during the tournament, with the Badgers losing all five of their matchups.

2024 College Softball Opening Week

2024 Opening Week Softball Season Happenings

Here’s a few opening week highlights.

Florida State’s season got off to a rough start when Charlotte gained its biggest win in program history after defeating Florida State during day one of the JoAnne Graf Classic. The 49ers were able to escape Tallahassee with an come from behind upset win in extra innings (10). It was their first top-5 win in program history.

Oklahoma transfer and Nebraska native Jordy Bahl had a rough debut in her first start playing for Nebraska. Bahl was helped off the field in the third inning as she allegedly lost her footing and could be seen slightly limping off the field in their game against Washington on Thursday night. Bahl struck out the lead-off hitter in the third before suffering the ankle injury -causing her to exit the game early. Bahl finished with 2.1 IP and gave up 3 runs. Washington won the game with a run-rule 8-0 victory.

Alabama won their opening day contest against Villanova behind a no-hitter from starting transfer pitcher Kayla Beaver. The Tide got the 3-0 win with Beaver striking out 14 batters over seven innings. Beaver’s no-hitter marks the 46th no-hitter in program history and only the second on opening day for Alabama.

Kentucky behind pitcher Jaden Vickers were able to upset Stanford 2-1 on Friday action in the San Diego Tournament. Then Kentucky’s Stephanie Schoonover outdueled Stanford’s National Freshman of the Year, NiJaree Canady in an extra-inning game as the Wildcats scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to get a 3-2 walk off win over Stanford.

The Wisconsin softball team finished off the Kajikawa Classic in Arizona with a defeat over the St. Thomas Tommies 8-0. All four of Wisconsin’s wins during the tournament were run-rule victories, and the Badgers outscored their opponents 36-5 during the Classic.

The University of Missouri Softball team swept its pair of games Saturday at the 2024 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic to improve to 4-0 on the season. The Tigers run-ruled Liberty, 10-1, in five innings before coming from behind to beat South Alabama, 6-3, at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. They ended tournament play Sunday with a 4-1 win over Clemson.

Led by back-to-back victories in the circle from freshman pitcher Bridget Nemeth Penn State softball recorded its first nationally ranked win since 2021 in a 3-2 extra-inning victory over No. 16 Arkansas, followed by an 8-0 run-rule win over the Ohio Bobcats Saturday afternoon. Thanks to a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning from junior right fielder Haylie Brunson and a save in the circle by freshman pitcher Bridget Nemeth, Penn State softball completed an unbeaten weekend at the Paradise Classic by defeating the Ohio Bobcats in a 4-1 on Sunday at Joan Joyce Field. The 2024 Nittany Lion softball team is now 5-0.

Texas A&M softball team run-ruled Valpo (11-0) and Lehigh (12-4) to open the 2024 season, Friday night at Davis Diamond. The pair of victories marked the 2,000th win in Aggie softball program history.

Florida Gators freshman left-handed pitcher Olivia Miller turned in a historic performance from the circle in Sundays game against Bethune-Cookman as she became the first Gators freshman to throw a perfect game in UF history. The Orlando, Florida native faced the minimum 15 batters and threw only 50 pitches while striking out five batters. The game was Miller’s first career start.

(For detailed news on these teams, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, LSU, Clemson and Pitt visit my http://www.CollegeSoftballFan.com site.)

2024 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

ACC logo

The 2024 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll and All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Duke will host the 2024 ACC Softball Championship from Wednesday, May 8, to Saturday, May 11, at Duke Softball Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

2024 SEC Preseason

SEC Logo

The SEC has released their 2024 preseason head coaches poll.

SEC conference play gets started on March 8th. The 2024 SEC Softball Tournament is scheduled for May 7-11 at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.

2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

Place School Points

1.Tennessee (6) 137
2. Georgia (6) 136
3. LSU 106
4. Arkansas 103
5. Auburn 100
6. Alabama 88
7. Florida (1) 77
8. Texas A&M 75
9. South Carolina 68
10. Kentucky 53
11. Missouri 28
12. Ole Miss 24
13. Mississippi State19

2024 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team

Name, School Class Hometown

Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas R-Sr. Valdosta, Ga.

Maddie Penta, Auburn Sr. Chesapeake City, Md.

Nelia Peralta, Auburn Jr. Wellington, Fla.

Kendra Falby, Florida Jr. Odessa, Fla.

Skylar Wallace, Florida R-Sr. Woodstock, Ga.

Jayda Kearney, Georgia Sr. Columbus, N.J.

Sydney Kuma, Georgia Gr. Fresno, Calif.

Sara Mosley, Georgia Fifth Year Ellijay, Ga.

Shelby Walters, Georgia Gr. Cohutta, Ga.

Erin Coffel, Kentucky Sr.Bremen, Ind.

Stephanie Schnoover, Kentucky Sr. Dothan, Ala.

Sydney Berzon, LSU So. Buffalo, N.Y.

Ciara Briggs, LSU Gr. Yorba Linda, Calif.

Danieca Coffey, LSU Sr. Richwood, Texas

Taylor Pleasants, LSU Gr. Houston, Texas

Alex Honnold, Missouri Sr. West Des Moines, Iowa

Jenna Laird, Missouri Sr. East Meadow, N.Y.

Alana Vawter, South Carolina Fifth Year Kansas City, Mo.

McKenna Gibson, Tennessee Jr. Santa Clarita, Calif.

Payton Gottshall, Tennessee Gr. Massillon, Ohio

Kiki Milloy, Tennessee Gr. Woodinville, Wash.

Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee So. Weaverville, N.C.

Zaida Puni, Tennessee Sr. Carson, Calif.

Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M Sr. Wichita, Kan.