CONWAY, Ark. – Looking to build off of last season's success, the Central Arkansas softball team begins anew in 2023, starting out in Lake Charles, La., to participate in McNeese's Cowgirl Classic. While in the Bayou State, the Bears will play four games, playing UAB, Idaho State and the hosting Cowgirls. The Bears will take the field for the first time this season on Friday, playing the Blazers at 10 a.m. The Cowgirl Classic is the first of five tournaments the Bears will play this season, and the first of three on the road.
 
Winners of 37 games last season, Central Arkansas embarks on the new campaign after returning six players in the starting lineup and a pair of league-leading pitchers. Among the returners, four were named Preseason All-ASUN, with Tremere Harris, Mary Kate Brown, Jenna Wildeman and Jaylee Engelkes all earning preseason bids. The four combined for 245 hits last season, more than half of the hits for the Bears.
 
Individually, this group put together some of the best numbers in school history last season: Engelkes tied the school record for home runs in a season (12), Brown had the second-most RBI in a season (54), Wildeman had the second-most stolen bases in school history (40), and Harris had the third-highest batting average in school history (.391). In the circle, Kayla Beaver led the ASUN with 21 wins, while Jordan Johnson led the conference with 185 strikeouts.

The Bears are also excited about some of the talent added to the roster this season, notably junior infielder Madi Young. Joining the team from Butler Community College, Young led her team hitting .564 with 84 hits, 29 doubles, nine triples and 13 home runs. She led the Grizzlies to a 48-4 record, including just two regular season losses, one at home and one on the road. Behind Young's bat, Butler CC averaged over 10 runs scored per game, while allowing barely two.
 
Playing UAB first, the Blazers are coming off a 25-24 record in 2022, finishing fourth in Conference UCA West. The Blazers return Sierra Frazier, last season's top hitter and starting catcher. She hit .326 in 49 games, adding nine doubles, three triples and seven home runs, striking out just ten times in 138 at bats. In the circle, UAB was led by returning senior Sarah Cespedes, who logged 11 wins last year. Throwing four complete games, Cespedes held opponents to a .251 batting average, earning a 3.66 ERA with 87 strikeouts.
 
Idaho State is a first-time opponent for the Bears, with the teams playing Central Arkansas' second game of the tournament. The Bengals look to build on a 25-27 record from last season, adding 13 new faces to the roster, returning 11 from last season's squad.
 
Returning to the circle this year is pitcher Emma McMurray, who finished eighth in the Big Sky Conference with a 4.34 ERA with 80 strikeouts, giving up just 12 home runs. At the plate, Angelica Cano will lead the lineup after finishing 2022 with 48 runs scored, the second-most in the Big Sky, while slugging.650, the seventh-best mark in the Big Sky.
 
Finally, the hosting McNeese Cowgirls open the season with a home tournament for the sixth-straight year, and host their 15^th Cowgirl Classic. The Cowgirls have had the most success out of any Bear opponent this weekend, having won 40 games last season and advancing to an NCAA Regional Championship for the first time in program history. McNeese is poised to make another run in the national tournament after being selected to finish first in the Southland Conference preseason poll.
 
Returning for the Cowgirls is junior utility player Jil Poullard, who led the team with a .367 batting average last year, logging 55 hits and scoring 44 runs, hitting a team-high seven homers. She was one of three batters hitting over .340 last year, along with returner Crislyne Moreno. Pitching for the Cowgirls this season, Ashley Vallejo makes her return to the circle after leading the team with a 2.32 ERA, logging 18 wins, 17 complete games and 121 strikeouts.
 
First pitch of the 2023 season is at 10 a.m. on Friday, as the Bears and Blazers battle it out to open the year. Central Arkansas will turn around and face Idaho State immediately following the UAB game, wrapping up play for Friday. On Saturday, two more games are on tap, with a 3 p.m. rematch against UAB followed by an 8 p.m. start against McNeese to cap the weekend.