Softball Preview: Season Opening NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, FL

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball’s 2023 campaign begins Friday as the No. 12/13-ranked Lady Vols travel to Clearwater, Florida, for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, played at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

The weekend opens with a doubleheader on Friday against Howard at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the nightcap at 8:30 p.m. versus Illinois. Tennessee plays two more on Saturday against South Alabama at 4 p.m. and No. 6 Texas at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Vols close out the tournament with a 10 a.m. first-pitch on Sunday versus No. 8 Northwestern.

A full tournament schedule along with additional information about the 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic can be found at this LINK.

FOLLOW LIVE
Live stats will be available for each game throughout the weekend via SIDEARM Stats. All stat links can be found by visiting the Tennessee softball schedule page on UTsports.com. GameChanger will provide a free live stream for all games during the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

How to Download & Watch
1. Download the GC app on your phone or device
2. Create your free account
3. Search for your team type: University Name + Mascot + NFCA
4. Click the blue ‘Join Team’ button

Andy Brock will lead the radio call for Tennessee softball during its trip to Clearwater with an audio broadcast for all five of Tennessee’s games this weekend. Links to each audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and will be shared on @Vol_Softball social media accounts throughout the weekend.

LADY VOLS IN THE POLLS
Tennessee will begin the campaign as top-15 program in the four major softball polls. The Lady Vols are ranked No. 12 in the country by ESPN.com/USA Softball and D1Softball, while checking in at No. 13 in the USA Today/NFCA and Softball America national rankings.

In a vote of the league’s head coaches, the Lady Vols were tabbed to finish second in the SEC Preseason Poll, garnering three first-place votes.

PRESEASO HONORS
Tennessee players have garnered a plethora of preseason recognition from numerous softball outlets over the past month. Most notably, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were named Preseason All-Americans by D1Softball and Softball America. Both mentioned on USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The duo also picked up Preseason All-SEC accolades from the league’s head coaches earlier this month – joined by senior Zaida Puni in that recognition.

Milloy, Rogers and newcomer Payton Gottshall were featured on Extra Inning Softball and D1Softball’s Top 100 players entering the season. Milloy ranked No. 12/13, while Rogers came in at No. 16 and 49. Gottshall landed at No. 71/72.

SCOUTING THE FIELD
Howard

2022 Record: 31-24 (17-4 MEAC)
2022 Conference Finish: 2nd
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Key Player/Stat: Howard had six players selected MEAC Preseason All-Conference, including Kalita Dennis who was tabbed as the preseason player of the year. The Bison were picked to finish first in the MEAC by the league’s coaches.

Illinois

2022 Record: 34-22 (15-7 Big Ten)
2022 Conference Finish: 3rd
Series Record: UT leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2014 (W, 10-0)
Key Player/Stat: Illinois returns fifth-year senior Avery Steiner along with its top two pitchers from a year ago in Sydney Sickels and Tori McQueen. Steiner led the Illini with a .391 average, 77 hits and 35 runs scored. Sickels and McQueen combined for 25 of Illinois’ 34 victories in 2022.

South Alabama

2022 Record: 25-21 (16-6 Sun Belt)
2022 Conference Finish: 2nd
Series Record: UT leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: March 5, 2022 (W, 9-0 (6))
Key Player/Stat: For the second straight year, Olivia Lackie and Mackenzie Brasher were named to the Sun Belt Conference preseason all-league team. The Jaguars also received 118 points and were picked to finish third in the preseason poll by the league coaches.

No. 6 Texas

2022 Record: 47-22-1 (12-6 Big 12)
2022 Conference Finish: 3rd
Series Record: Texas leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Feb. 14, 2020 (L, 11-0 (5))
Key Player/Stat: Sophomore Mia Scott was selected to the 2023 Big 12 Softball Preseason Team and was tabbed to USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year. Texas finished the 2022 season as the national runner-up.

No. 8 Northwestern

2022 Record: 45-13 (19-4 Big Ten)
2022 Conference Finish: 1st
Series Record: UT leads, 7-6
Last Meeting: Feb. 8, 2020 (W, 6-3)
Key Player/Stat: Jordyn Rudd and Danielle Williams lead a Wildcats squad that reached Oklahoma City in 2022. Both player were also named to USA Softball’s Top 50 Watch List for Collegiate National Player of the Year.

UP NEXT
Tennessee goes international next weekend as it travels to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Puerto Vallarta Challenge. The Lady Vols will face Sacramento State, North Dakota State, Cal State Fullerton and Liberty along Mexico’s Pacific coast.

-UT Athletics