Softball Opens Play in Houston

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern softball will open up the 2019 season Feb. 1-3 at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational in Houston, Texas.
 
The Savage Storm open with a 3:30 p.m. contest against Pittsburg State on Feb. 1 with a 6 p.m. matchup against Texas A&M-Kingsville that night.
 
On Feb. 2 SE will take on Tarleton State at 1 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. contest against Augustana.
 
The event wraps up on Feb. 3 when Southeastern will face Washburn at 9 a.m. and Minnesota-Duluth at 11:30 a.m.
 
SE heads into the 2019 season picked fifth in the Great American Conference preseason poll.
 
The Savage Storm finished the 2018 season in third place after posting a 34-23 overall record and a 27-14 mark in GAC play.
 
SE returns four of its top five hitters from a season ago, led by first team all-conference and Freshman of the Year Elexis Watson who would go on to earn All-American honors at first base. She hit .394 a season ago with 16 home runs and 54 RBI along with a near SE record 19 doubles.
 
She is joined by Symphoni Shomo, Destiny Riddle, and Keeshia Thompson who each hit .346 or batter on the year, with Riddle and Thompson combining for 69 RBI, while Shomo led the conference in stolen bases with 42.
 
Southeastern brings in four new additions to bolster the 2019 roster, junior transfers Katie McCullar and Ivy Amador as well as freshmen Felicia Drake and Kamarie Wallace.
 
The Storm's opening opponent PSU is tabbed ninth in the MIAA preseason poll, while the Sunday morning foe Washburn is the MIAA preseason favorite.
 
Augustana is picked second in the Northern Sun, while Minnesota-Duluth is fourth in the league's preseason poll.
 
Both of SE's former Lone Star Conference rivals are picked in the top six in the league, with Tarleton State third and Texas A&M-Kingsville tabbed sixth.