CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — With the softball season five days away, Lady Tiger softball is returning 16 players from last season's club and we're featuring the three position breakdowns up until Opening Day. 
 
Today's feature doubles as a message to the Lady Tiger softball faithful and also a preview on the CU outfield this season. 

Head Coach Shannon Wathen announced on Wednesday that Opening Day has been moved up a day due to weather. Opening Day is now on Monday, Feb. 17 at Brescia University. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET in Owensboro. 

Of the 16 returners, the Lady Tigers bring back four players that earned All Mid-South Conference honors last season in the outfield – Payton Blades (1^st Team), Ryleigh Oldham (2^nd Team), Hannah Judd (2^nd Team), and Lexi Miller (2^nd Team). 

The good thing about the outfield is the already established depth with three sophomores, a junior and senior. In addition, CU has two newcomers added to the outfield this season
 
Ryleigh Oldham – Redshirt – Right Field

• We'll start with the negatives as Oldham, the everyday right fielder for Coach Wathen the last two seasons, went down with an ACL injury during one of the fall scrimmages.
• Oldham has decided to redshirt this season. 
• Last season, Oldham hit .296 with three home runs, seven doubles and drove in 19 runs while starting in all 50 games. 
• She's started in all 107 games the last two seasons and boasts a career average of .303 with nine homers and 51 RBI. 

Payton Blades – Sophomore – Centerfield / RHP

• Blades, an NCCAA All-American during her freshman year, made a name for herself in multiple ways last season, including hitting No. 1 in the batting order, manning centerfield and throwing 66.2 innings in the pitching circle. 
• We'll feature her pitching numbers in our next preview but offensively, Blades hit .348 as a rookie with 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Her .348 average led the Lady Tigers last season. 
• She ranked 13^th in at-bats per game (3.5) and No. 29 in home runs. 
• Blades started last season at first base and saw action there during five games but then moved to the outfield for the majority of the year (41 games). 
• Defensively, she committed only three errors and had 79 putouts with four outfield assists. 

Lexi Miller – Sophomore – Left field 

• Seeing action in all 50 games, Miller hit .333 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI. Her on-base-percentage sat at .418 – second on the team in 2019 – and she drew a team-high 23 walks.
• Defensively, Miller returns with a .937 fielding percentage after committing only five errors and tallying a team-high 71 putouts in the outfield with three assists. 

Hannah Judd – Sophomore – Utility

• Starting in 46 of the 49 games she saw action in, Judd returns after finishing fourth-highest in batting average last season for Campbellsville. 
• She hit .333 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and nine doubles. 
• Judd saw action in the outfield and infield last season and provides options for head coach Shannon Wathen defensively. 
• Defensively, she finished without an error during her freshman campaign.
• In high school, Judd was a two-sport star for Green County High School earning Class A Player of the Year and 5th Region Player of the Year. She's expected to have a breakout sophomore campaign in 2020.

Sam McKee – Transfer Junior – Outfield / Catcher

• A transfer from Illinois Central College and a Congerville, Ill. product, McKee was a captain and two-time Academic All-American and was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team.
• Last season, she hit .304 with six home runs, 27 RBI and seven doubles for Illinois Central. She also led the team with 11 stolen bases. 
• McKee will be the No. 2 catcher this spring and will also see time in centerfield.

Brandi Garmon – Senior – Outfield

• Coming off an injury-filled sophomore season, Garmon was trying to find her footing last season and did so in a pinch-hitting role for the most part. 
• She finished last season 3-of-16 with six walks and four runs scored. 
• Garmon came up big against Houston-Victoria on March 2, 2019 with the game-winning pinch-hit at the Gulf Coast Invitational.

Sky Keown – Freshman – Outfield

• Prepping at Fairdale High School, Keown was able to shine as she was named as the team MVP, while earning All-District and All-Region honors.
• Keown also participated in volleyball at Fairdale. On the court, she earned All-District honors, while being named the best defensive player in October of 2018.
• She's known for her ability to play multiple positions and speed on the base paths. 

Daleyn Emerson – Freshman – Outfield

• Prepping at Russell County High School, Emerson was named All-District and All-Tournament team as a freshman, sophomore and junior. 
• She doubled as a hooper on the basketball court where she led the Lady Lakes to two district titles and the 4^th Region Championship.