Posted: Jan 27, 2014

Seahawks announce 2014 softball schedule

Salve Regina's softball schedule during spring break in Clermont, Fla., includes games against nationally-ranked programs (schedule subject to change).

NEWPORT, R.I. - For the fourth straight season, Salve Regina University softball opens its schedule at the National Training Center (NTC) Softball Complex competing in the Dot Richardson Spring Games.

First-year Seahawk head coach Jessica DePolito wanted a tough schedule for her squad.

"We will be playing a nationally-ranked team (Coe) and regional teams from the NEWMAC (WPI) and NESCAC (Bowdoin) which will be challenging, but I am very excited!"

DePolito inherits two returning Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) all-conference players in senior outfielder Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) and junior designated hitter Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine).

Nelson had 23 RBI and a .358 batting average (ranked 12th in the league) last season. She slugged two homeruns and collected a team-best nine doubles. Nicholson batted .321 on the season with five doubles and two homeruns. Her 20 RBI tied for fourth on the Seahawks.

Senior Marissa Simpson's (Brimfield, Mass.) .369 batting average put her in the top ten in the league in that category. With 11 extra-base hits, she also had 20 RBI to tie with Nicholson.

They will wield the big bats against first-time opponent Ohio Northern University in the Seahawks' first game on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Hancock Park (9 a.m.). The Polar Bears carry a one-game win streak into the new season; they ranked second in the nation in double-plays per game (0.57) in 2013.

Salve Regina remains at Hancock Park for its second game, an 11 a.m. first pitch scheduled with nationally-ranked Coe University. Head coach Bob Timmons has led the Kohawks to 13 NCAA regional appearances, including three-straight appearances the last three years. It will be a first-time meeting for the Seahawks and Kohawks in softball.

On Sunday, March 9, the Seahawks have a 9 a.m. game at the NTC Softball Complex against an opponent yet to be announced. At 11 a.m., and staying at the NTC site, DePolito will face Brandeis University, a member of the University Athletic Association (UAA). The Judges finished 23-19 last season with one of their victories coming against the Seahawks (8-4 on March 8, 2013). Salve Regina has three wins in the all-time series with Brandeis, but the last 10 meetings have been wins for the Judges.

Salve Regina gets reacquainted with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Monday, March 10 (9 a.m.), at the NTC Softball Complex. These teams have only faced each other once before, a 5-4 decision for the Red Hawks in 2001 at Cape Coral, Fla. Rensselaer finished 26-15 a year ago. A first-time meeting with Alvernia University (37-11 in 2013) follows the Seahawks' game with RPI. The Crusaders have yet to name a replacement for their former head coach, Lindsay Berger, who stepped away in December to focus on raising her newborn son.

On Tuesday, March 11, the Seahawks return to Hancock Park for a first-time meeting with regional opponent Worcester Polytechnic Institute. WPI just lost its long-time head coach George LeGacy to illness earlier this month. Whitney Goldstein, who spent the last three seasons at regional power Amherst College, will guide the Engineers in 2014. Another first-time foe, Juniata College, will be found at 11 a.m. Samantha Kszepka begins her first season as the Eagles' head softball coach.

The first eight games in Florida (March 8-11) will feature live statistics and live video with play-by-play call from veteran sports information director Ed Habershaw.

After a day off on Wednesday, the Seahawks wrap up their Florida schedule with games against Bowdoin College (9 a.m.) and Manhattanville College (11 a.m.) at the NTC complex on Thursday, March 13. Salve Regina scored four times in the first inning against Bowdoin last season in Clermont, but the Polar Bears had a two-run rally in their last at-bat to win 6-5 and improve to 4-0 before finishing with a 30-14 record. The Seahawks and Valiants have split their previous two meetings - Salve Regina won 15-2 in Purchase, N.Y., on April 2, 2000; Manhattanville avenged the mercy rout with a 10-2 decision in Clermont three years ago.

The nine scheduled opponents for Florida totalled 207 wins and had a .593 winning percentage (207-142) in 2013.

Salve Regina returns home to host a doubleheader with Rhode Island College on Tuesday, March 18 (4 p.m.) at Toppa Field in Freebody Park. The Seahawks, 23-19 overall including 11-6 at Toppa last season, play seven doubleheaders on their home field including five twinbills with CCC opponents - Endicott, University of New England, Eastern Nazarene, Western New England, and Curry.

In 2012, Salve Regina earned the conference's No. 1 seed and hosted championship rounds at Toppa Field. The Seahawks will be captained by seniors Nelson, Simpson, and Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.) in 2014.