CLINTON, S.C. – The genesis of the 2024 season is right around the corner for the Presbyterian College softball team, kicking off the semester's slate with eight in a row from their own backyard. Head coach David Williams will unscrew the lid off of year six with a Friday/Saturday two-parter in what's being dubbed the "Blue Hose Invitational", welcoming Tennessee Tech and Norfolk State for a pair of contests against both schools.

PC's turn in the tourney will be enacted at approximately 2:30 on both days following a neutral meeting prior, beginning a 16-game path throughout the month of February. Tomorrow's doubleheader in Clinton will be televised on ESPN+.

Presbyterian's '24 roster is comprised of 14 returners from a program that's earned 61 wins over the past two seasons (the third-most of any club in the Big South Conference).

Williams and co. have sprinkled in seven new faces for the incoming campaign as either transfers or true freshmen, looking to keep pace with last spring's 17 home victories which went down as the second-most of any team in Presby's 15-year Division I history.
 

GAMEDAY INFO – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Presbyterian vs. Tennessee Tech | Approx. 2:30 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast
 
Presbyterian vs. Norfolk State | Approx. 5:00 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast

 
GAMEDAY INFO – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Presbyterian vs. Norfolk State | Approx. 2:30 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast
 
Presbyterian vs. Tennessee Tech | Approx. 5:00 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – TENNESSEE TECH
- The Blue Hose's opening opponent will be aiming to erase the memory of a dreadful turn in 2023, as Tennessee Tech limped to a final record of 6-44 (a 26-game decrease from a 32-win trek the previous year).

- Head coach Danielle Penner's inaugural year in charge led to the Golden Eagles only being able to achieve two wins outside of Cookeville – including a winless mark of 0-13 in neutral encounters – slumping to two separate losing streaks of 14 and 18 games across the calendar.

- Last year may have been a disappointing go, however TTU does display a 3-0 tally in past meetings with Presbyterian, most recently defeating the Blue Hose during the aforementioned '22 campaign by a 2-0 margin. The game was decided by a two-run dinger in the top of the 6^th, a matchup between two squads that combined to win 68 contests.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – NORFOLK STATE
- PC's history with Norfolk State goes just one game back, a 3-1 W from coach Williams' crew in 2020 prior to the season's COVID-related cancellation. The Spartans finished the 2023 season at one game better than .500 (24-23), claiming a 14-6 mark in MEAC affairs.

- While head coach Carrie Hoeft's team was able to finish in second place across the league in her debut year, NSU was bitten by a two-and-done exit in the conference tournament. They've been slotted in 4^th-place in the preseason MEAC coaches' poll, although winning only six road/neutral bouts last spring.

 
2024 BLUE HOSE PREVIEW
 
- As mentioned above, Presbyterian showcases an even mix of veteran contributors and new names that figure to play into the rotation smoothly. PC brings back six-time Big South Pitcher of the Week and fifth-year phenom Jenna Greene in the circle, not to mention senior second baseman Kaitlyn Tucker who landed a spot on the preseason All-Big South roster.

- Both Tucker and Greene are littered throughout PC's D-I record book, the latter hitting numerous program-highs that could stay that way for many years down the road. Among them, Greene has already established the highest number of strikeouts of any player to ever come through the university (588 and counting), also topping the Blue Hose records for most wins (49) and shutouts (20).

- One could safely categorize Tucker as an ironwoman going into her final year of Williams' system, not only playing but starting all 132 games that Presbyterian has featured in since her freshman season. Tucker is responsible for PC's all-time highest on-base percentage (.405), going into year four with a .311 career batting average that ranks fourth among all Blue Hose players since 2008.

- Three of PC's top six hitters from a year ago have returned to the squad for the upcoming campaign, including junior Kendall Owens who led the way in that department (.315 BA with 40 hits, eight doubles, three homers, and 20 RBI after transferring into the program from Mercer).

- Defensively, sophomore Peyton Duncan aims to slide into the number two pitching slot following a productive first year that included a 6-2 personal record and 2.66 ERA beside 39 K's.