WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross softball team kick starts their 2022 campaign in South Carolina at the Charleston Invitational this weekend, February 18-20. Live stats will be provided by the College of Charleston.

SCHEDULE:

• vs. Lipscomb (0-4, 0-0 ASUN) – Friday, February 18 – 9:30 a.m.
• vs. Binghamton (3-2, 0-0 AE) – Friday, February 18 – 12:00 p.m.
• at College of Charleston (2-3, 0-0 CAA) – Saturday, February 19 – 2:30 p.m.
• vs. Valparaiso (1-3, 0-0 MVC) – Saturday, February 19 – 7:30 p.m.
• at College of Charleston – Sunday, February 20 – 12:30 p.m.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (0-0, 0-0 PL):

• The Crusaders concluded the 2021 season with an 8-20, 4-16 PL record. 14 players return to the team including seniors Kelly Nelson and Erin Bengston. Three freshmen enter the fold as well for team as well as a new coaching staff consisting of head coach Kimberly Stiles and assistant coach Lindsay Mayer who look to lead the team back to the Patriot League tournament for the first time since 2017.
• Nelson was selected as the Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year after a collection of votes by the conference offices. The 2021 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Northeast second team member has a career 2.74 ERA with a .228 opponents' batting average and 370 strikeouts in 324 innings pitched.
• Five things to watch: Holy Cross Softball.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSING TEAMS:

• All four programs have a combined 6-12 record through the early part of the season.
• Lipscomb is 0-4 through the early portion of the season and is a few seasons removed from their last ASUN championship in 2019. Head coach Kristin Ryman is in her 16th season with the Bison and is four wins away from 500 in her career.
• Binghamton holds a 3-2 mark through their first five games. The Bearcats' keystone pairing of Marissa Braito and Makayla Alvarez were Second Team All-America East last season while two-way player Sophia Pappas was also an honoree on first year head coach Jess Bump's squad.
• Charleston, the host of the invitational is 2-3 across five contests in their 30th season. The Cougars return 10 position players all who started at least 20 games last season and five pitchers. This season marks the first year under the tutelage of head coach Tracey Lynch.
• Valparaiso opened their season last weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament going 1-3. Valpo returns 14 of 19 letterwinners from last season's squad. All four true freshmen made their collegiate debuts last weekend for the Beacons.
• Four of the five head coaches in this weekend's tournament are in the first year with their respective programs (Holy Cross: Stiles, Binghamton: Bump, Charleston: Lynch, Valpo: Amanda Eberhart).