Next Game: Salem at Averett | February 18 | Cougar Field | Danville, Va. | 12:00 / 2:00 p.m.

NEW YEAR, NEW REGIME FOR SALEM
In mid-August, the Salem softball program ushered in a new era when Director of Athletics J.J. Antoine announced Courtney Tucker as the program's third head coach.

Recognized in 2014 as a member of the USA South Conference 50th Anniversary team, Tucker took over the Salem softball program after spending the last year as an assistant at William Peace. In her time at William Peace, the Pacers posted a 24-15 record and were 12-6 in USA South Conference action.

As a player, Tucker was a standout performer during her four-year playing career at N.C. Wesleyan, where she earned a bachelor of arts in criminal justice and psychology in 2007. A lifetime .359 hitter, who accrued 153 hits, 77 runs, 33 doubles and 13 home runs, she established the program record in RBI (124) and putouts (976) during her career. Tucker was instrumental in helping the Battling Bishops post back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2006 and 2007.

KEY LOSSES FROM A SEASON AGO …
Tucker takes over a program that finished 9-25 overall and 5-13 in USA South Conference play in 2022, marking the first sub-.500 season since 2014. Among the key losses from the 2022 senior class include Madison Thomas and Brianne Coleman. Coleman's departure will leave Salem looking for power in the lineup, after ranking in the Top-5 of 16 major statistical categories in 2022 and among the Top-5 sluggers in 17 statistical categories over the course of her career. Thomas, a two-way player, left a gap in the Salem bullpen, after closing her career with 12 career wins (sixth), games started (26-sixth) and ERA (4.52-sixth), among 10 major statistical categories where she ranked among the Top-15.

… WHO RETURNS TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SALEM SOFTBALL
The 2023 unit will have the luxury of five starters and seven returnees from a season ago, including Savanah Atkins, Cree Bass, Madeline Brown, Lauryn Fisher, Katie Gerhardt, Carlee McWilliam and Kat Price.

SAVANAH ATKINS 2022 CAPSULE: Atkins, the lone senior on the 2023 squad, was a key member of the team a season ago and finished ranked among the Top-5 in 16 statistical categories, including placing second in slugging percentage (.457), total bases (42) and doubles (five). The Dobson, N.C., native also brings stability to the Salem infield having logged time at catcher, first base and second base during the course of the 2022 slate, while seeing time at third base during the fall competition.

CREE BASS 2022 CAPSULE: Another key returnee from a season ago is Bass, who made 34 starts in the outfield. Bass tallied 15 hits, including a pair of doubles, scored four runs and accounted for six RBI. With an on-base percentage of .239 and a slugging percentage of .207, Bass' experience in the outfield coupled with her overall athletic ability will be a bonus for Tucker's lineup.

MADELINE BROWN 2022 CAPSULE: Brown was among the top offensive performers for Salem last season, before suffering a shoulder injury. A stellar fielder, Brown had the most putouts (142) and chances (148), while posting the second-best fielding percentage (.993). At the plate, Brown was third in on-base percentage (.394) and fourth in overall slugging percentage (.345). As she continues to recover from surgery on the shoulder, Brown's experience in the lineup and as an infielder will be key to Salem's defensive success.

LAURYN FISHER 2022 CAPSULE: Fisher provides Salem with experience and depth, competing in four games during the course of her first year. She had eight official at bats, drawing one walk along the way. Fisher's familiarity with a number of positions on the field will also prove vital for Tucker as she heads into the 2023 campaign.

KATIE GERHARDT / KAT PRICE 2022 CAPSULE: Junior classmates Katie Gerhardt and Kat Price will be looked upon to anchor the pitching staff in 2023. Gerhardt made 11 appearances, including seven starts, a season ago. In 22 innings of work, she notched 10 strikeouts and allowed 30 earned runs, closing with a 3.18 strikeout per seven inning mark. Meanwhile, the gritty Price entered the circle on 10 occasions for Salem and made nine starts. While she did not garner her first collegiate victory as of yet, Price did log 36.1 innings, issue 19 walks and made one strikeout.

CARLEE McWILLIAM 2022 CAPSULE: McWilliam was an integral part of the Salem offense throughout the course of her first season at Salem. The Charlotte, N.C., sophomore managed to closed with the third-most hits (23), fourth-best batting average (.261) and placed fifth in both on-base percentage (.365) and total bases (26). In 33 contests, McWilliam had three extra-base hits, all doubles, and put together a six-game hitting streak at one point during the slate.

2023 PROGRAM NEWCOMERS: Along with the seven returnees, Salem brings new blood into the program in the form of: Kaylyn Blackwell, Jessica Pinnix, Alli Stertzbach, Jocelyn Rogers, Maleah Tate and Shelby LaPoint. These newcomers, with a mix of upperclassmen, give the Spirits much added depth at a number of positions.

"This group will be special in many ways as they are my first team both here at Salem and as a head coach," said Tucker. "I am excited to see what we can accomplish this season."

SALEM, AVERETT REKINDLE USA SOUTH CONFERENCE RIVALRY
Averett's departure for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) means that the two programs will no longer face each other in a battle for positioning in the USA South Conference.

However, the Spirits and Cougars will clash for the second time in as many seasons this weekend. Averett holds a 10-4-1 record in the all-time series between the two programs, winning the last six straight head-to-head meetings. That winning streak began with an 8-5 victory in the second game of a doubleheader on March 3, 2018. Since that point, the Cougars have claimed three home wins, two road wins and a neutral site victory, which came on April 27, 2019, against Salem.

HOW SALEM FAIRS IN SEASON-OPENING SERIES'
The Spirits are 7-12-1 dating back to the program's induction, which came in 2012, in season-opening series. They have claimed two sweeps to open the season, the first of which came in 2013 against William Peace by scores of 9-1 and 2-1. The most recent season-opening sweep for Salem came in 2019, when Salem downed Southern Virginia on February 15th by scores of 10-0 and 10-0.

Averett marked the first opponent for Salem in the 2015 campaign, earning a 3-0 victory in the first game before the two reached a 4-4 deadlock in the second, where the game was suspended in the sixth inning.

SPIRITS PICKED NINTH IN USA SOUTH CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLLS
Salem was picked to finish ninth in the USA South Conference preseason poll, which was determined by the league's head coaches.

New head coach Courtney Tucker will be looking to build the foundation for the future of the Salem program, which finished 9-25 overall and 5-13 in USA South Conference play in 2022, marking the first sub-.500 season since 2014.

AVERETT PICKED SEVENTH AMONG ODAC POLLS
The Averett University softball team was voted seventh in the 2023 Old Dominion Athletic Conference's preseason poll, which was announced Thursday. The Cougars enter into their inaugural season in the ODAC after spending their existence as a program in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Averett went 18-14 overall with a 9-9 mark in the USA South last season. The Cougars went 7-3 against ODAC teams a year ago and also handed 2022 NCAA Division III national champion Christopher Newport University its only loss of the season.

Defending ODAC Tournament champion and NCAA Super Regional participant Virginia Wesleyan University was picked as the favorite with six first-place votes, just edging out Randolph-Macon College, which received the other five first-place votes after also appearing in the NCAA Super Regional last spring. University of Lynchburg, Roanoke College (an NCAA Tournament team last spring) and Bridgewater College rounded out the top five, followed by Ferrum College and Averett in the 11-team poll.

Averett opens its season at home with a doubleheader against non-conference foe Salem College on Saturday, Feb. 18.