Softball Opens 2020 at ATU Invite

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern softball will open the 2020 season on Feb. 1-2 at the Arkansas Tech Invitational in Houston, Texas, with its opener set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday against Texas Woman's followed by an 8 p.m. matchup with Texas-Permian Basin.
 
The final two games of the trip will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday against Texas A&M-International and then at 12:30 p.m. against St. Mary's.
 
The Storm return two of their top-three hitters, led by Symphoni Shomo who posted a .346 average with 44 runs scored and stole a league-best 43 bases.
 
She is joined by Katie McCullar who batted .304 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 33 RBI.
 
SE returns seven players who saw starting action a season ago.
 
McCullar is the team's leading returning pitcher after posting a 17-10 record a season ago with a 4.46 ERA in 48 appearances while adding 96 strikeouts.
 
The Storm will add seven newcomers to the roster in 2020, with Tena Spoolstra, Ashley Hedrick, and Kyia Monawhee all transferring in as juniors, while Amberlyn Walsworth, Kady Fryrear, Gracie Ore, and Bailey Beard come to SE as true freshmen.
 
The Pioneers are coming off an 11-29 season and are picked 13^th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll.
 
UTPB comes to the tournament off a 10-39 season and are tabbed 16^th in the LSC preseason poll.
 
The Dustdevils head into the invitational off a 26-32 campaign a season ago and are picked 11^th in the LSC preseason poll, but did earn one first place vote.
 
The Rattlers were 30-25 in 2019 and head into the 2020 season picked eighth in the LSC preseason poll.