Softball 2/9/2021 11:18:00 AM CU Athletics

Lady Tigers move up Opening Day; ready for six-game road swing in Florida to start 2021

FLORIDA — Lady Tiger softball better be glad it went to Florida a few days early to get settled because head coach Shannon Wathen had to move up the season opener a full 24 hours due to weather on Saturday.

Campbellsville hasn't played in 339 days since COVID-19 shutdown the sports arena, and ultimately the world, in March 2020. The Lady Tigers return a slew of All-Conference and All-Americans from years past and the 2021 season is primed to be another great year.

Schedule this week:

Wednesday, Feb. 10 at No. 25 Webber International, 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 11 at No. 19 Warner University, 4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12 at Southeastern University, 1 p.m.

Fan policy:

Only Southeastern University is allowing visiting fans admittance into athletic events. Webber International and Warner are not allowing visiting fans due to COVID-19 protocols.

How to tune in:

Each host school is providing video streams on their respective websites and those are linked above.
Jordan Alves will broadcast each game remotely on the CU Sports Network. Go to www.CampbellsvilleTigers.com/watch to tune in to Alves' broadcast. Fans can pause the video provided by the host and match the video with Alves' audio.

Quick look at the opponents:

No. 25 Webber International has started the season 2-0 with wins over Columbia International. The Warriors play Florida National on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.
No. 19 Warner has also started 2-0 with wins over Columbia International.
Southeastern played Florida National last week and swept the three-game series.
All three teams from the Sun Conference are also scheduled to play University of the Cumberlands this coming weekend.

Returners:

CU returns seven of the eight everyday starters as position players including three recently named to the Mid-South Conference Preseason Watch List – Tori Humphrey, Payton Blades, and Ryley Whitney.
Humphrey is a former MSC Freshman of the Year, NCCAA All-American, NFCA All-American, and three-time All-MSC selection as the left-handed slugger has started over 160 games at third base in her career. Humphrey is a career .388 hitter as she has 30 career home runs and 145 career RBIs.
Whitney is the primary starter at catcher for the Lady Tigers as she is also a former MSC Freshman of the Year from 2018 and has been a two-time All-MSC First Team selection. Whitney has hit for a .344 career average as she has 13 home runs, 91 RBIs, and has walked (31) more times than she has struck out (27) in her career.
Blades works as both a pitcher and utility position player mainly playing center field in her two years as a Lady Tiger. She has excelled in both spots as she touts a 2.24 career ERA in 103.1 innings pitched and a slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) of .357/.395/.598 in 69 games played as a hitter.
The Lady Tigers also return shortstop Riley Hurst, first baseman Mia Aldridge, leftfielder Lexi Miller, centerfield/catcher Sam McKee, utility Hannah Judd, and right fielder Ryleigh Oldham.
Hurst is a career .300 hitter with 11 home runs and 53 RBI – 46 of them coming her rookie season.
Aldridge has battled arm injuries her entire career and has moved from outfield to first base. She's a career .313 hitter with 19 homers, 78 RBI and career .517 slugger.
Miller is a career .342 hitting with 41 RBI. She also has tallied 31 career walks in 69 games for the Lady Tigers.
McKee transferred to Campbellsville last season and hit .273 through 19 games.
Oldham is returning from an ACL injury over a year ago and will provide much-needed depth in the outfield and in the middle of the order. She is a career .303 hitter with nine home runs and 51 RBI through two seasons.
Judd hit .333 her freshman season with seven home runs and 25 RBI. She's a career .312 hitter for the Lady Tigers and is expected to play second base along with the capabilities to play each outfield position.

Pitching Staff:

Payton Blades leads the charge in the circle for the Lady Tigers. In addition to her being the #1, CU has Karson Williams, Katy Chadwell, Courtney Patterson and Anna Wantz in the circle.
Williams, a senior lefty, has a career 4.33 ERA in 33 games. She's tossed 66.1 innings and allowed 41 earned runs while striking out 29.
Chadwell battled injuries last season and only saw action in five games and seven innings. Her ERA was stellar through those seven innings with a 0.95 ERA, 2-1 record, and one save.
Patterson tossed 31.1 innings last season and finished with a 2-2 record through nine games. She finished with a 2.90 ERA.
Wantz battled injuries last season as well and saw action in only one game. In 10 games her freshman season, Wantz tossed 17 innings and went 2-2 with a 6.59 ERA.

Coaching Staff Additions:

Former All-Conference baseball player, David Montoya, was hired in August as a full-time assistant. He works closely with the infielders, outfielders, and hitters.
Lane Hager was also hired as a graduate assistant in August to aid in all things a part of the program.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Mia Aldridge: 1B; 5' 7"; Graduate Student; Lawrenceburg, Ky.

#2 Payton Blades: RHP/UTL; 5' 5"; Sophomore; Island, Ky.

#16 Katy Chadwell: RHP; 5' 10"; Freshman; Danville, Ky.

#9 Tori Humphrey: 3B; 5' 10"; Graduate Student; Paducah, Ky.

#1 Riley Hurst: SS; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Baxter, Tenn.

#6 Hannah Judd: UTL; 5' 4"; Sophomore; Greensburg, Ky.

#22 Sam McKee: OF/C; 5' 5"; Junior; Congerville, Ill.

#3 Lexi Miller: LF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; Madisonville, Ky.

#21 Ryleigh Oldham: RF; 5' 5"; Junior; Madisonville, Ky.

#33 Courtney Patterson: RHP; 5' 8"; Freshman; Madisonville, Ky.

Players Mentioned

#4 Mia Aldridge
: 5' 7"; Graduate Student; Lawrenceburg, Ky.
: 1B

#2 Payton Blades
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; Island, Ky.
: RHP/UTL

#16 Katy Chadwell
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Danville, Ky.
: RHP

#9 Tori Humphrey
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student; Paducah, Ky.
: 3B

#1 Riley Hurst
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Baxter, Tenn.
: SS

#6 Hannah Judd
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Greensburg, Ky.
: UTL

#22 Sam McKee
: 5' 5"; Junior; Congerville, Ill.
: OF/C

#3 Lexi Miller
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Madisonville, Ky.
: LF

#21 Ryleigh Oldham
: 5' 5"; Junior; Madisonville, Ky.
: RF

#33 Courtney Patterson
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Madisonville, Ky.
: RHP