Rock Hill, S.C.— Winthrop softball opens up the 2022 season in the Sunshine State with the River City Leadoff, Feb. 11-13.
The event will take place on the campus of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida. Eagles will play on the campus of Jacksonville Friday and then at UNF the remainder of the weekend.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Tournament Info: River City Leadoff | Jacksonville, Fla. | Feb. 11-13, 2022 |
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Participating Teams: Campbell, Florida A&M, Jacksonville, North Carolina State, North Florida, Western Carolina, Winthrop
Friday, Feb. 11 (Jacksonville University – Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex)
Winthrop vs. North Carolina State, 11 a.m. |
Live Stats
Winthrop vs. Western Carolina, 1:30 p.m. |
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 12 (University of North Florida – UNF Softball Complex)
Winthrop vs. Florida A&M, 11 a.m.|
Live Stats |
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Winthrop at North Florida, 4 p.m. |
Live Stats |
Live Stream
Sunday, Feb. 13 (University of North Florida – UNF Softball Complex)
Winthrop at North Florida, 12:30 p.m. |
Live Stats |
Live Stream
GLANCE AT THE EAGLES
- Eagles are coming off a 26-24 campaign in which the team won six out of the final eight games of 2021
- In 2021 the Eagles as a team finished with the 4th most homeruns (49) and stolen bases (88) in a single-season in program history
- The team set the program single-season mark for hit-by-pitch and the 5th best on-base percentage
- Return 12 players from last year's team while welcoming nine newcomers
- Among the departed are Big South All-Conference performers Ansley Gilreath, Ashley Westbrooks and Madyson Watson
- Westbrooks and Gilreath combined for 67 doubles, 59 homeruns, 251 RBI and 135 walks in their careers
- Watson was the ace in the pitching circle and also did damage at the plate with 17 runs, seven homeruns, and an on-base percentage of .354
- Also gone is catcher Taylor Charlton, who batted .283 with 12 homeruns and 31 RBI
- One of the top returning players is junior Macy McCall, who set the program record for stolen bases in a season with 48
- Her 48 stolen bases were also ranked 2nd in the nation (NCAA D1)
- McCall led the Big South Conference in runs with 43 and her .362 average was second-best in the league
- Other returning starters include Kaitlyn Tucker, Lauren King, and Bailey Warren
- Tucker was 1-of-3 players on the team in 2021 to appear in all 50 games (49 starts) as she made 48 starts at short
- King made 27 starts at second, 16 at third and was 1-of-5 players with 21 or more RBI (21)
- Warren spread out her 44 starts between catcher, left field, right field and the designated player
- Tucker and Warren were both named to the Big South All-Freshman Team
- Warren was second behind McCall in stolen bases with 14 (14-for-15)
- The Eagles were voted 4th in the Big South Conference Preseason Poll
HEAD COACH WINDY THEES
- Head coach Windy Thees is in her third season at Winthrop and in her 17th season as head coach of a collegiate softball program
- Spent five seasons at Georgia State & College compiling a 163-92 record followed by six years at Memphis (172-151) and three seasons at Ole Miss (69-94)
- In her 17 seasons she's compiled an overall record of 471-395 and a record of 309-305 at the helm of a D1 program
- In her first season with the Eagles the team earned 30 wins, which are the second-most for a first-year head coach in program history
- In her first season she also guided the team to the Big South Conference Tournament Championship game, falling in the if necessary game to Longwood
- Led Ole Miss to five wins over nationally-ranked opponents that included a 2-0 victory at #1 Florida in 2014
- In 2003 she led Georgia State & College to a runner-up finish in the Division II National Championship
- Thees was a four-year starter at Florida State as both a catcher and second baseman
NEW FACES
RECORD BOOK WATCH
- McCall's 46 stolen bases in her first year with the Eagles puts her tied for 6th all-time in program history
- The program record for stolen bases is 71 by Charlene Smith (1989-92)
- If McCall can match her run total of 43 from last season, she'll pull within 25 runs of the program's all-time Top 10
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS OPPONENTS
- Eagles face North Carolina State for the 8th time as the Wolfpack lead the all-time series 6-1
- The last time Winthrop faced N.C. State was 4-2-19 in a 4-2 loss on the road
- This marks the 22nd meeting with Western Carolina as the Eagles lead the series 12-9
- Winthrop and Florida A&M meet for the first time
- Eagles and Ospreys meet for the third time with each team winning once
UP NEXT
Following their opening weekend in Florida, the Eagles return home for the Winthrop Eagle Invitational Feb. 18-20. Winthrop will open up on Friday, Feb. 18 with Youngstown State at 3 p.m. and Albany at 5:30 p.m.
For everything Winthrop softball visit
www.winthropeagles.com or follow us on social media @Winthropsoftbal, winthropsoftball (Instagram) or
www.facebook.com/Winthrop-Softball.
