BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--Just two days remain until the start of the WKU softball season, and the excitement around the program continues to build. With seven returners from last season plus the addition of 10 newcomers, there is no doubt question marks on what will happen, but the possibilities of what this team can do is limitless.
"I think the future is very bright," head coach Amy Tudor said. "Obviously we haven't played a game yet and we haven't seen what is going to happen, but we have a lot of great returners and a lot of great newcomers. It's our first year in Conference USA, and we are looking forward to it. We have been in some big games before, so we are just excited about it."
Two of those new faces—seniors Miranda Kramer and Dani Pugh—were selected to the Preseason Conference USA Team coming off strong seasons in 2014 at IPFW. Kramer enters this season as the NCAA active career strikeout leader with 765 as well as strikeouts per seven innings with 10.14 after being third in the nation last season with 332 strikeouts. The Iowa native also comes in third for active career shutouts with 25. Pugh brings in a strong bat, as she was 24th in the nation with a total of 60 RBI. Both were All-Conference selections in the Summit League.
"It was a big adjustment coming from last year and everything, but I think we all meshed very well," said Kramer on the team's chemistry of returners and newcomers. "They were very welcoming to me as well as everyone else who came in, including the freshmen. I think there is a lot of leadership on our team, and I think we all get along very well."
The senior class will now consist of eight strong players, including four seniors who helped WKU make history in 2013 after winning the team's first conference championship and appearing in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. Preslie Cruce, Shawna Sadler, Janna Scheff and Jacqueline McGill along with the four senior transfers will give WKU invaluable experience as a championship-caliber team.
"We have eight seniors who have played in postseason, and that experience alone is huge," said Tudor of the team's strength. "Two different teams that they have played for, but they have been there and done that. They can be good leaders for our younger kids who are hungry and want to go, but don't really know how to get here."
Along with the preseason selections, WKU was selected by the C-USA coaches to finish fifth in the league, but were the only league school to receive votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll. The Lady Toppers hope to make a statement right out of the gates.
"We want to show that we belong in C-USA," said Pugh. "We want to get out there and put our name out there as soon as possible. We are all getting geared up and getting excited."
The team's journey begins on Friday against Buffalo in Troy, Ala., as the squad will play five games over the three-day tournament.
For information on season tickets at $25 through the flexible season ticket plan, visit WKUSports.com or call the ticket office at 1-800-5-BIGRED.
The 2015 WKU softball season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For more information on WKU softball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
