Date: 2/4
Position: Pitchers/Catchers/Utility Players

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Pitchers: Jenna Hardy, So. (2-7, 3.38 ERA, 74.2 IP, 15 App, 13 GS, 2 CG, 39 K, .290 opp. avg.), Allie Hughen, Sr. (1-5, 4.13 ERA, 40.2 IP, 9 App, 8 GS, 3 CG, 28 K), Kelsie Rivers, Jr. (0-1, 3.41 ERA, 24.2 IP, 10 App, 2 GS, 1 CG, 8 K), Lexie Hutchins, So. (5-4, 4.00 ERA, 35.0 IP, 16 APP, 2 GS, 18 K, 1 BB) Catchers: Kamdyn Kvistad, Sr. (25-25 GP-GS, .300 avg, 24 hits, 10 runs, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 2 HRs, 18 RBI, 36 total bases, .450 SLG%), Kassidy Wilcox, So. (13-11 GP-GS, .316 avg, 12 hits, 6 runs, 1 2B, 7 RBI), Emma Kropp, So. (9-4 GP-GS, .200 avg, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 2B, 1 RBI) Utility Players: None

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Pitchers: Jamie Finnical (0-0, 21.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 1 App) Catchers: None Utility Players: None

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Pitchers: Kaitlyn Hughes (Fr., Hewitt-Trussville HS), Olivia Lackie (Fr., Holden HS) Catchers: None Utility Players: Abby Allen (Ouachita HS); Hannah Ogea (Fr., University Lab HS); Janeah Finney, Jr. (Whatley, Ala.)

Miscellaneous Notes
- Jenna Hardy allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of her 15 outings and ranked second in the Sun Belt in innings pitched and was 10th in strikeouts looking (12) during her first collegiate season.
- She tossed a program record 15-plus innings in a 4-3 loss at Nicholls State last season, which surpassed Devin Brown's former standard of 12.2 innings set against Texas State on April 7, 2018.
- Allie Hughen spent time both in the circle and in the infield during the 2020 season and is expected to do so again this season.
- Hughen started 12 games at second, six starts as the designated player and two games at shortstop, while also making eight starts in the circle as a junior.
- Lexie Hutchins struck out 18 and only issued one walk in her 35.0 innings of work. Her 14 relief appearances were tied for most in the Sun Belt, while her five wins were tied for sixth-most in the conference.
- Olivia Lackie – a four-time first-team all-state from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association – ranked 56th in Extra Innings Extra Elite 100 rankings, and No. 30 nationally at her position heading into her senior season.
- She was 21-2 with a 0.55 earned run average in the circle and struck out 288 batters as a junior, a year after she led the nation in strikeouts on MaxPreps.com for several weeks during the 2018 season, finishing with 301 strikeouts.
- Kaitlyn Hughes lettered four seasons in softball at Hewitt-Trussville where she was selected to the AL.com ALL-STATE TERRIFIC 20, which recognized the top 20 players from each classification at the conclusion of her senior season after she posted  a 7-0 record with a 1.00 ERA during the shortened season.
- Kamdyn Kvistad ranked third on the club last season with a .300 batting average and her 18 runs driven in led the team. The senior comes into the 2021 season tied for sixth on the program's career home run list (18), while her .477 career slugging percentage is eighth best. She also ranks among the top 20 in multi-hits (17th – 28) and multi-RBI games (16th – 16th).
- Abby Allen – a three-time first-team all-state performer by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) and a two-time first-team all-state selection by the coaches – was selected twice as the Northeast Louisiana Hitter and Player of the Year during her career.
- Allen ended her career holding the school's single-season (17) and career home run (56) records, along with the program marks in batting average (.533) and RBI (197) in 127 games at Ouachita Parish.
- Hannah Ogea left University Lab HS in Baton Rouge, La., holding career records in hits, singles, home runs, total bases, stolen bases, batting average, RBI, walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Of her 107 career hits, 59 went for extra bases.
- Ogea's father lettered three seasons in baseball at LSU (1989-91) and played professionally in the Cleveland Indians organization for six seasons.

Head coach Becky Clark
-On Jenna Hardy's performance in the circle last season as a true freshman and what she's done in the offseason to elevate herself:
"When Jenna came in last year, we knew she had a high ceiling and that she would grow and develop as the year progressed. She was really starting to take big steps forward when our season came to an abrupt end. To her credit, she worked hard in the offseason and has continued her forward progress this year as well. She has added a new pitch to her arsenal and has gotten more consistent with all of her pitches. I think the experience she gained last season is going to be incredibly valuable to her going into this season.'
-On the competition within the pitching group and how that position can be a strength of the program this season:
"Our staff has a lot of versatility and all complement each other. Each one of them brings something unique to the table and I look forward to watching them grow as a group throughout the season. They definitely all push each other, not just on the field, but in the weight room as well. The addition of [Olivia] Lackie and [Katelyn] Hughes give us two new and different looks and both are going to contribute in their respective roles."
-On what Kassidy Wilcox brings to the catcher position and the others at the position:
"Kass was playing great when we shut down last season. She was playing incredibly aggressive and competing every pitch. I feel like every freshman has to get to a point where they stop overthinking and just go play ball and Kass had figured that out. This year, we have three catchers who all have the ability to start behind the plate and give us a great chance to win. They push to make each other better and, more importantly, make their pitchers better."
-On the luxury of having a wide-range of talent to fill in at the utility position and how it allows her as a coach the ability to adjust and alter your lineup:
"From a utility perspective, we have several players who can play multiple positions, which makes it easier for me as a coach when trying to get sticks in the lineup. We try to have everyone proficient at two positions when possible just to give us as much versatility as possible. When we are recruiting, we are always looking for players who can do multiple things well. Ultimately, we are trying to get as much offense into our starting lineup as possible."

Sophomore Jenna Hardy
-On adjusting to the collegiate game last season and having the season unexpectedly being cut short:
"It was different than what I had been used to either in high school or travel ball, but it was exciting for me to be able to play at the collegiate level. It's so competitive at this level. Having the abrupt end to the season like we had was unexpected. I honestly didn't know much about COVID-19 at the time. We came to practice one day and found out there the conference was going to have a meeting to decide whether or not we kept playing. Going into that meeting, we weren't sure whether or not we were going to be able to continue to play. All of that made that practice more meaningful to me because that was the last time that I was able to spend time with that team."
- On where she felt that she was at in her development when the season ended:
"I felt pretty good. From the fall to the spring was such a big jump for me. I was working on making things more precise and better than they were. I had taken a huge step and had added two new pitches to my arsenal of pitches. It was just something that was going good for me."
-On how you feel that you've improved since last season:
"I feel that having all the time off that I was able to have gave me the freedom to truly work on the things I knew I really needed to work on and just take the time to truly build up and work on my mechanics"
-On how she's tied to be a leader of the staff and what she's seen out of the young arms where they have a lot of quality depth:
"I've would say that I've tried to be like a mother-figure to the younger pitchers. If they have any question, I've wanted them to know that they can come to me with them at any time, whether it be related to academics or athletics. I'm a free person to talk to. I'm a communicator and I talk with a lot of people. I feel that's my way of being a leader.
- On what she's seen out of the development Katelyn Hughes and Olivia Lackie, along with the rest of the staff:
"I've seen a lot of development out of them. I feel that since the fall everyone has gotten stronger mentally as a staff. With Hughes being a lefty and Lackie being a power pitcher, along with myself is just something that is going to make our staff even stronger."

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