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MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State Softball team is set to kick off its 2019 season on Friday in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament at Bailey park in Kennesaw, Ga.
 
The Eagles will play four games between Friday and Sunday in the tournament hosted by Kennesaw State. Morehead State faces the host Owls at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday before taking on Chattanooga at 10:00 a.m. and Ohio at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Eagles close the tournament against the Mocs on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
 
The games mark this first weekend of action for MSU Softball under new head coach Samantha Jones. Jones, who spent two seasons as an assistant at Miami (Ohio) before taking over the program, inherits a roster which boasts nine returning players and nine newcomers.
 
Of the returning players, senior outfielder Aubrey Bennett sports the most experience having played in 147 games while making 109 starts. Bennett is lefty slap hitter who hit for an .242 average in 2018 while accounting for six RBI and five stolen bases. The senior was ultra-effective in the field as she turned in a .969 fielding percentage.
 
Others returning in the field for the Eagles include sophomore infielder Kalle Coleman, junior infielder Lindsay Anderson, junior outfielder Allison Davis, and junior outfielder Cassie Griffin. Junior infielder Helyna Bissell also returns after sitting out the entire 2018 season due to injury.
 
Newcomers in the field include freshman outfielder Bella Caracciolo, freshman outfielder Sarah Hallock, freshman infielder Peyton Rose, freshman utility player Peyton Slater, freshman catcher Princess Valencia, freshman infielder Elizabeth Lindsey, and sophomore infielder Alexis Stother.
 
In the circle, Morehead State is expected to use a committee of pitchers. Sophomore Megan Murphy appeared in eight games in 2018 including making two starts. The right-handed Georgetown, Ky., product was 1-1 overall with an ERA of 4.02. Murphy's 15.2 innings pitched are the most of any returning pitcher on this seasons roster. Sophomore Sara King saw 0.2 innings in 2018 and senior Chyenne Meyer, who will split time between the circle and field, has tossed just 4.2 innings in her two years at MSU.
 
Freshman lefty Lakyn Largent, and junior right-hander Randi Hamilton will also help the Eagles' pitching staff in 2019.
 
"We are a young team that will look to improve with every pitch as the season goes along," said coach Jones. "We are going to give everything we have and then some as we build this program with an "all in" mentality."
 
The Eagles game against Kennesaw State will be streamed live on the Owls Facebook page. Live stats will be available for all other games of the tournament. Fans can also follow @MSUEaglesLive on Twitter to keep up with in-game updates of MSU Softball all season long.