Friday, February 7
Kennesaw, Ga.
NOON
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Jacksonville State
Kyndell Ethridge
Photo by: Jim Whitcraft
Softball Season is Back! 'Dons Head to Phyllis Rafter Memorial
2/6/2020 10:45:00 AM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team begins its 2020 season on Friday (Feb. 7), as the Mastodons head south to play five games in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial tournament hosted by Kennesaw State.
Phyllis Rafter Memorial
Opponents: Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State
When: February 7-9
Where: Kennesaw, Georgia | Bobbie Bailey Athletic Complex
Series History vs. Kennesaw State: Kennesaw State leads 2-0
Series History vs. Jacksonville State: Jacksonville State leads 4-0
Phyllis Rafter Memorial Game Schedule
Friday, February 7
Noon - vs. Jacksonville State
4 p.m. - at Kennesaw State (Stream)
Saturday, February 8
Noon - vs. Jacksonville State
2:30 p.m. - at Kennesaw State
Sunday, February 9
10 a.m. - at Kennesaw State (Stream)
Scouting the Owls
Kennesaw State is coming off a 26-29 season that ended in the ASUN Conference Championship. The Owls went 16-13 at home last season, and were led by Hannah Thomason, who had 47 hits and 33 runs. Hailey Andrews went 18-19 in the circle with a 2.43 ERA. Andrews has graduated, but Thomason has returned for her final year of eligibility. Head coach Tripp MacKay is in his second season as the head coach at Kennesaw State.
Scouting the Gamecocks
Jacksonville State went 36-15 last season, and were led by a pair of big-hitters in Taylor Beshears and Anna Chisolm. They both recorded 15 home runs in 2019 and had slugging percentages over .700, but neither are on the 2020 roster. Faith Sims led the pitching corps with a 23-5 record with a 1.79 ERA, but she has also graduated. The Gamecocks will be looking to replace these three heavy production players this season. Head coach Jana McGinnis is in her 27th season with the Gamecocks.
Young Bucks... I Mean... Mastodons
The Mastodons have just two seniors on the roster for 2020, Brooke Imel and Maria Palmegiani. There are seven juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen on the squad this season.
New Horizons
The 2020 campaign will be the final for the Mastodons in the Summit League. Next season the Mastodons will join the Horizon League. The longest trip in the Horizon League, Green Bay, at six hours, will match the shortest trip for the Mastodons in the Summit League (Western Illinois). The Mastodons joined the Summit League in 2007-08 making the 2019-20 season their 13th in the League.
Horizon League Foes This Year
Purdue Fort Wayne will play against four Horizon League schools this season. The 'Dons will face Wright State twice in the Huddle House Classic, Northern Kentucky at the Coach B Classic, UIC in the Billiken Spring Tournament, and Green Bay will be the home opener for Purdue Fort Wayne.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 10-39 last season, but picked up a win over Western Illinois in the Summit League Championship. The Mastodons scored two runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in a comeback win over the Leathernecks.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will head south again for the Troy Invitational on February 14-16. They will play Southeast Missouri, Troy, Southern Miss, Kennesaw State and Eastern Illinois.
Phyllis Rafter Memorial
Opponents: Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State
When: February 7-9
Where: Kennesaw, Georgia | Bobbie Bailey Athletic Complex
Series History vs. Kennesaw State: Kennesaw State leads 2-0
Series History vs. Jacksonville State: Jacksonville State leads 4-0
Phyllis Rafter Memorial Game Schedule
Friday, February 7
Noon - vs. Jacksonville State
4 p.m. - at Kennesaw State (Stream)
Saturday, February 8
Noon - vs. Jacksonville State
2:30 p.m. - at Kennesaw State
Sunday, February 9
10 a.m. - at Kennesaw State (Stream)
Scouting the Owls
Kennesaw State is coming off a 26-29 season that ended in the ASUN Conference Championship. The Owls went 16-13 at home last season, and were led by Hannah Thomason, who had 47 hits and 33 runs. Hailey Andrews went 18-19 in the circle with a 2.43 ERA. Andrews has graduated, but Thomason has returned for her final year of eligibility. Head coach Tripp MacKay is in his second season as the head coach at Kennesaw State.
Scouting the Gamecocks
Jacksonville State went 36-15 last season, and were led by a pair of big-hitters in Taylor Beshears and Anna Chisolm. They both recorded 15 home runs in 2019 and had slugging percentages over .700, but neither are on the 2020 roster. Faith Sims led the pitching corps with a 23-5 record with a 1.79 ERA, but she has also graduated. The Gamecocks will be looking to replace these three heavy production players this season. Head coach Jana McGinnis is in her 27th season with the Gamecocks.
Young Bucks... I Mean... Mastodons
The Mastodons have just two seniors on the roster for 2020, Brooke Imel and Maria Palmegiani. There are seven juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen on the squad this season.
New Horizons
The 2020 campaign will be the final for the Mastodons in the Summit League. Next season the Mastodons will join the Horizon League. The longest trip in the Horizon League, Green Bay, at six hours, will match the shortest trip for the Mastodons in the Summit League (Western Illinois). The Mastodons joined the Summit League in 2007-08 making the 2019-20 season their 13th in the League.
Horizon League Foes This Year
Purdue Fort Wayne will play against four Horizon League schools this season. The 'Dons will face Wright State twice in the Huddle House Classic, Northern Kentucky at the Coach B Classic, UIC in the Billiken Spring Tournament, and Green Bay will be the home opener for Purdue Fort Wayne.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 10-39 last season, but picked up a win over Western Illinois in the Summit League Championship. The Mastodons scored two runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in a comeback win over the Leathernecks.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will head south again for the Troy Invitational on February 14-16. They will play Southeast Missouri, Troy, Southern Miss, Kennesaw State and Eastern Illinois.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ SoftballHuge Dubs!
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Mastodon Softball walks off NKU
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Softball Win over IUPUI
Monday, April 15
Winning 'Dons are Happy 'Dons!
Sunday, February 25
