PROSPECTUS

HELENA, Mont. – The Carroll College softball team starts the 2016 season Friday against San Diego Christian, at 3 p.m. MST at the NAIA So Cal Classic tournament in West Covina, California.
 
Due to weather conditions, the game times for Friday have changed.  The game against San Diego Christian is now 3 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. and the game against Hope College is now 5 p.m. instead of 3 p.m.
 
The Saints will face six teams over the three day tournament including 18th-ranked Vanguard, 20th-ranked Biola University, Hope College, Antelope Valley and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical.
 
"We are a very talented group." said head coach Aaron Jackson. "I think this first weekend out we are going to surprise some people."
 
San Diego Christian is 6-2 on the year after finishing the 2015 season at 31-22.  The Hawks already have wins over other So Cal Classic teams Embry-Riddle and Antelope Valley.
 
Hope College will be starting their 2016 season in West Covina after concluding last year at 29-11.  The Saints take on Hope at 5 p.m. on Friday.
 
Vanguard opens up the season at 18th after finishing 37-22 in 2015.  The Lions are 8-6 in 2016 with wins over Antelope Valley.  Carroll's third game of the tournament will be against the Lions at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
 
Host team of the NAIA So Cal Classic, Biola currently ranks 20th after reaching 36-20 in 2015.  The Eagles are off to a slow start in 2016 at 3-4-1 and will face the Saints at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Antelope Valley currently sits at 0-8 on the early 2016 season.  The Pioneers finished last season at 11-30.  The Saints will take on Antelope Valley on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
Embry-Riddle is 1-5 on the year after finishing at 15-33 in 2015.  Carroll's final game of the So Cal Classic is against the Eagles at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
"We have the pitching staff to get through this weekend." Jackson said. "It is going to be a challenge for me to create the lineup because we have so many great hitters."
 
Carroll looks to build off of their first season in program history last year when they finished 13-27.
 
The Saints return 11 players from last year including first baseman Allison Bayer, pitcher Megan Gipe and center fielder Paige Blake.
 
Bayer led the team in batting average (.377), hits (49), home runs (7) and RBIs (27) while playing in all 40 games.  Blake also played all 40 games for the Saints while hitting .294 and led the team with 18 walks and 19 stolen bases.
 
Gipe led all Saints' pitchers with a 4.22 ERA and 127.2 innings while managing an 8-14 record.  She completed 19 of her 20 starts and recorded six shutouts on the year.
 
Live stats will be provided throughout the tournament and can be found at the tournament page.