The Hall Kicks Off 2018 Campaign At UTSA Classic

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Paige Smith, the Seton Hall softball team is set to kick off the 2018 campaign this weekend in the Lonestar State. The Pirates will head to the UTSA Softball Classic for five games in three days at Roadrunner Field. The Hall opens the season against Abilene Christian at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on Friday before games with Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Southern Illinois and host UTSA.

The Pirates return six starters and three of their top four pitchers from a 2017 squad that went 22-25-1 overall and finished 7-14 in BIG EAST play. Among the returners is 2017 BIG EAST Player of the Year Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas), who enters her senior season with her eyes set on breaking every major offensive record in Seton Hall history.

UTSA SOFTBALL CLASSIC – SETON HALL SCHEDULE (All times EST)
Friday, Feb. 9 – vs. Abilene Christian – 12:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 9 – vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 – vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 – at UTSA – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11 – vs. Southern Illinois – 10 a.m.

CATCHERS (Two returning, none departed, one newcomer)
Behind the dish, Destini Peck (Riverside, Calif.) is the marquee returner after making 36 starts last season and 44 overall appearances. The junior enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2017, batting .287 with 10 doubles and 28 RBIs to earn Seton Hall's Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year award. Katherine Matthys (Spring Branch, Texas) also returns after making eight appearances as a rookie last season and newcomer Payton Beaver (Stevens, Wash.) will have a chance to make an immediate impact.

INFIELDERS (Four returning, two departed, two newcomers)
The Hall's most experienced unit sees three starters back on the infield along with a pair of promising newcomers. Walkden headlines the diamond after her Player of the Year campaign manning the hot corner, a spot she has held since her 2015 Rookie of the Year season. The senior slugger hit .352 with 13 home runs, 15 doubles and 39 RBIs last season, holding an absurd .352/.497/.746 slash line. She was a First Team All-Conference pick and an NFCA All-Region selection and currently ranks top-five in Seton Hall history in home runs, runs scored, doubles and RBIs.

Also back is senior Sara Foster (Laguna Beach, Calif.), who was a stalwart at the top of the lineup and second base last season while hitting .303 with 11 doubles and 15 driven in. Ragen Reddick (Middlesex, N.J.) was an All-Conference selection as a freshman in 2016 and hit .253 with seven doubles and a home run last season in 40 starts at shortstop. Emily Supercysnki (Aurora, Colo.) also returns after being sidelined after nine games in 2017, slashing .278/.458/.500 and scoring eight runs in limited action. Newcomers Baylee Allender (Rosharon, Texas) is a promising addition to the unit.

OUTFIELDERS (Two returning, two departed, one newcomer)
Hailey Arteaga (Upland, Calif.) had a tremendous freshman campaign a year ago, batting .275 with six home runs, 10 doubles and 31 RBIs in 45 total starts in the outfield. She is joined by speedster Brianna Wallace (Fort Worth, Texas), who enters her junior season with 23 career stolen bases that include a 15-for-18 mark on the basepaths last season. Freshman Janae Barracato (Hempstead, N.Y.) has impressed during the preseason and will have a chance to see immediate time in the outfield.

PITCHERS (Five returning, one departed, no newcomers)
Another experienced group, The Hall will see three of its four ERA leaders from a year ago back in the circle this season. Reganne Camp (Bloomington, Ill.) had a stellar freshman campaign, tossing a team-high 97.0 innings and pitching to a 2.96 ERA with 73 strikeouts against 29 walks. Madison Strunk (Adkins, Texas) and Chrisa Head (Lewisville, Texas) made 45 appearances and 13 starts combined and both bring plenty of experience into their junior seasons. Alannah Basile (Levittown, N.Y.) and Mo Sobel (Newbury Parks, Calif.) bring depth to the unit after seeing limited time in 2017.

UTILITY (Three returning, one departed, one newcomer)
Darby Pandolfo (Massapequa, N.Y.) made 37 total starts last season and was a fixture at the DP spot early, finishing her freshman season with 11 doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs. Alyssa Prukop (Coto de Caza, Calif.) made 18 total appearances and eight starts in 2017, knocking in five runs on the year. Head has shown herself to be a solid two-way threat in her career, slugging eight home runs and knocking in 49 runs at the plate over the last two seasons in addition to her duties in the circle. Joining The Hall at the utility spot is freshman Jaden Tate (Las Vegas, Nev.) who figures to be a factor in a variety of roles.

Following the opening weekend of action, The Hall is back in Texas for the Bearkat Softball Classic hosted by Sam Houston State. Overall the Pirates are away from home for the first 29 games of the 2017 campaign before the home opener on Tuesday, March 20.