CLINTON, S.C. – As preseason preparations wind to a close, the Presbyterian College softball team and fifth-year head coach David Williams await the dawn of a brand-new campaign this weekend, welcoming a pair of visiting schools to the Pinnacle Blue Hose Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Weather permitting, the six-game tournament (with neutral meetings sprinkled throughout) starts off a 12-day period where PC will remain on their home field, officially anointing new facility upgrades at the season's first pitch tomorrow.

Barring any interference from Mother Nature, Presbyterian is set to launch the 2023 campaign into orbit on Friday for back-to-back contests against Toledo (11:15) and Bellarmine (1:30). The following afternoon, coach Williams' squad will take on the Knights for a second time at 1:30, but not before adding another outing with the Rockets to the mix at 11:15.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
As PC sets their sights on two different opponents within a two-day period, their first obstacle will be Toledo, a club that staggered to a 12-37 record last spring without a postseason invitation thanks to a mere 5-21 Mid-American Conference trek. Interestingly, coach Jessica Bracamonte's Rockets were more successful last season when competing away from home – grabbing 10 of their 12 wins in road or neutral environments – while serving as the visiting side for their first 20 games in 2023.

Bellarmine – the other foe that will lock horns with PC more than once this weekend – had a similarly-rough journey one year back, winning 10 of their 51 matchups in only their second season as an NCAA Division I member. Able to muster a lone win in ASUN competition (a 3-1 decision over Stetson), the Knights lost their final 15 bouts of 2022 while scoring two or less in 10 of those meetings, prompting a head coaching change during the offseason that landed on Caitlyn de la Haba who spent the previous five years at Lafayette in Pennsylvania.
 
RECORD-BREAKING 2022 RECAP
One could nearly write a book on all that the Blue Hose accomplished one year ago, incinerating numerous D-I program records including most overall wins (36) and most Big South victories (19). Finishing just behind a three-way tie for the top spot in a very competitive league, Presbyterian possessed six all-conference performances in 2022, running through a school record 14-game winning streak at one point while making it to the league tourney's semifinal stage.

Coach Williams' '22 group achieved a new single-season high in collective batting average (.297), on-base percentage (.363), slugging percentage (.466), total bases (603), homers (47), runs (235), RBI (227), hits (384), and doubles (70). Additionally, the defensive side of the field was just as imposing, setting new program highs in strikeouts (401) and shutouts (15) on their way to the most successful spring of the century.

Four different PC players landed a spot inside the top five over a single year in virtually every major offensive category, bringing back 11 members of that expectation-shattering unit. Due to Presbyterian's remarkable depth and high amount of significant returners, a preseason projection of 2^nd place by Big South coaches brings the Blue Hose a never-before-seen tower of hype approaching the home-heavy nonconference lineup.

Alongside their all-time best preseason ranking, PC was given another accolade from the league with the announcement of senior Jenna Greene as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. One of the biggest representatives to Presbyterian's rapid rise, Greene recorded a 2.05 ERA as a junior next to a .186 opposing batting average, striking out over 200 opponents and holding nine separate teams to zero on the scoreboard.

Clinton will be the location for 17 nonconference games altogether, the first 10 of which will occur from Friday until the 22^nd. Six different schools will witness PC's facility upgrades firsthand before the Blue Hose hit the road for the first time, firstly focusing on the duo that stands in their way over the next 48 hours.

A link to live statistics for all four of Presbyterian's bouts this weekend can be found below, or at the top of this page.

PC vs. Toledo (Friday) - Live Stats = http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=441126
PC vs. Bellarmine (Friday) - Live Stats = http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=441127
PC vs. Toledo (Saturday) - Live Stats = http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=441128
PC vs. Bellarmine (Saturday) - Live Stats = http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=441129