Softball Steps Up to Plate

By Ryan Marshall

The Santa Clara women's softball team opens up their season today in Texas and will take on the University of Texas El Paso. 

The Broncos have a tough schedule ahead of them this season, as they hope to improve their record from last year. After UTEP, the team will play five games over the weekend in a tournament hosted by New Mexico State in Las Cruces, New Mexico. For fourth-year Head Coach Lisa Mize, this type of competition is exactly how she believes her team will improve.

"We're going to take it one game at a time," said Mize. "We're playing a tough schedule, as we should be, but that's how we're going to get better." 

What is different about this year's Bronco softball team is the addition of 10 newcomers — a talented group of freshmen and transfers that can potentially make an immediate impact. 

"All of our freshmen that we recruited are very strong," said Mize. "(Junior) Carissa Theis (a transfer from New Mexico State University) is definitely going to bring us something to the pitching circle and bring some leadership to that position. We also have a junior college transfer, Alyssa Jepsen, who is very vocal out on the field. She's a great middle infielder, and has potential to be one of our impact hitters."

Towards the end of last season, injuries started taking their toll on the team and the bullpen became severely depleted. With the addition of Theis, along with the freshmen recruits, the Broncos should have plenty of depth in their pitching staff this season. 

Santa Clara also returns two seniors, Briana Knight and Kristin Welsh. Knight led the team offensively last year with an impressive .413 batting average to go along with 20 runs batted in, eight home runs and 22 runs scored in 29 games. 

"Briana Knight has been our go-to player every year since she's been here," said Mize. "She's fun to watch. She had an amazing season last year, unfortunately cut short due to injury so we just hope she can pick up from where she left off. Kristin Welsh also struggled with injuries last year. She had a shoulder injury, then she was out four weeks with a concussion, so we're just really happy that she's healthy and coming back stronger. With the senior leadership that those two bring, I think we'll see a lot of good things with those guys." 

With the added depth, influx of new talent and the return of Knight and Welsh, expectations are higher for the Broncos this season than in years past.  

"I think as far as the season goes, obviously we have higher expectations than last year," said Mize. "We've got a lot of new faces, so I think for the first time since I've been head coach here we have some depth so we can move some things around and see some different (lineups). As far as expectations, we just want to continue to improve with the ultimate goal of coming out with a winning season." 

The first time you can catch the Broncos at home is Feb. 21 when they take on UC Davis at the Police Activities League Stadium in San Jose, Calif.

Contact Ryan Marshall at rmarshall@scu.edu or (408) 554-4892.