MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State will host an exhibition softball game for the first time in program history when in-state foe Alice Lloyd College comes to the University Field on Friday for a doubleheader that starts at noon.
It will be the season opener for first-year head coach
Megan Griffith's club, while the ALC Lady Eagles already had an exhibition contest scheduled on Tuesday at Milligan University in Johnson City, Tenn.
"We're incredibly excited and thankful for the opportunity (to play). This week has been an all-hands-on-deck situation with getting the field ready and battling the weather. We're expecting a good competition," Griffith said.
Morehead State returns 10 players from last season's 8-36 campaign. Six starting position players and two pitchers highlight those back for 2023, while five newcomers have joined the club.
Senior outfielder Maddi Gailor was tabbed by the Ohio Valley Conference as a "Player to Watch". The Louisville native led the 2022 club with a .275 batting average, 18 RBI and 12 stolen bases.
Senior shortstop
Kirya Kingery (.264 BA, .347 slugging percentage, .346 on base percentage), sophomore utility player
Ilencia Lightbody (.241 BA, 12 runs, 11 walks, 6 SB, .940 fielding percentage), senior first baseman/designated player
Taylor Rhea (.210 BA, 7 RBI, one home run), senior center fielder
Trinity Spear (.189 BA, 16 runs, 8 SB) and junior infielder
Peyton Jordan (.219 BA, 9 RBI, .991 Fldg. %) all return as regular starters.
Junior
Lennon Spicer (6-19, 4.42 ERA, 16 complete games, 94 strikeouts, 50 walks) and sophomore
Madi Ogden (2-11, 1 save, 4.94 ERA, 9 CG, 54 K, 51 walks) handled the bulk of the pitching duties last spring and will again be the team's anchors in the circle.
Junior utility player
Mayumi Kinchen-Atkins (19 games/13 starts) and junior outfielder
Erin Boyle (31 games/17 starts) also return looking to make key contributions.
As a team in 2022, the Eagles batted .213, scored 107 runs, hit six homers, drove in 90 runs, drew 82 walks, stole 43 bases and notched a .941 fielding percentage. In the circle, the squad posted a 5.49 ERA; struck out 160 batters, while walking 159.
Freshman pitcher
Jessie Begley (Somerset, Ky./Pulaski County HS), freshman outfielder Taikibrea "Red" Campbell (Hartwell, Ga./Hart County HS), junior catcher
Kaytlyn Cripps (Price, Utah/Colorado Mesa Univ.), freshman catcher/infielder Nazari "Zee" Jackson (Forsyth, Ga./Mary Persons HS) and freshman catcher/infielder
Emily Williams (Louisville, Ky./Butler HS) join the team this season.
"Preseason has been one for the books. These women have gotten after it relentlessly since Jan. 9. We are ready," Griffith said. "I'm thrilled for the players to have the opportunity to showcase their hard work at home first. Opening at home means a lot to us and we're looking forward to putting on a great show for our fans."
A member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, Alice Lloyd posted a 17-32 record last season and returns 14 players, including many from the surrounding area. Morehead native, senior infielder Lexie Morris (.278 BA, 15 RBI); West Liberty native, senior first baseman Lyndsey Adkins (.333 BA, 6 HR, 10 SB); senior pitcher Baylee Cox (.321 BA, 7 doubles, 15 RBI) and sophomore catcher/outfielder Ellie Keene (.292 BA, 7 2B, 21 RBI, 14 SB) are the top returning hitters. In the circle, Sandy Hook native, sophomore Maleigh McDaniel (8-5, 4.62 ERA, 65 K, 32 BB) and Cox (3-8, 3.79 ERA, 56 K, 59 BB) saw the most action last spring.
It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Morehead State officially opens the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 18 with its first two games of the UNC Greensboro Tournament. The Eagles will face the host Spartans at noon and then UNC Wilmington at 5 p.m. MSU turns around and plays both squads again the next day.
The team's first official home series will be on March 11, when it hosts first-year Ohio Valley Conference member Southern Indiana for the first two of a three-game set starting at noon at the University Field.
