TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo softball team begins the 2018 season this weekend at the second annual Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Invitational in Clermont, Fla. The Rockets will play a total of five games in the tournament against defending NISC Champion Liberty, Detroit Mercy, Fairleigh Dickinson and Morgan State.

The Rockets will look towards the leadership of seniors Ashley Rausch and Samantha Showalter to guide the team in the upcoming campaign. Rausch started in all 58 games last season and compiled a .307 batting average that was good for second best on the squad. Showalter led the team in sacrifices with 10 and was among the team leaders in both walks (19) and fielding percentage (.985).

UT also returns a handful underclassmen who were key contributors to last season's 24-win season. Juniors Megan Choate and Katie Cozy each started in 50 or more games, while sophomore Samantha Golden received the starting nod in 49 of 58 contests.

Fourth-year head coach Kristen Butler is also expecting a talented group of nine freshmen to contribute immediately to the Rockets' lineup.

Toledo, which returns all four pitchers from a year ago, will count on an experienced group of hurlers in the circle. Juniors Heather Webb and Kailey Minarchick tied for the team lead with 10 wins apiece. Webb logged a 3.75 ERA, 103 strikeouts in 158.2 innings to lead UT in all three categories.

 Toledo holds a 1-0 series lead over both Fairleigh Dickinson and Liberty. Geographic rivals Toledo and Detroit Mercy have met 25 times, with the Rockets coming out on top on 18 occasions. Morgan State and UT will play their first two games against each other this weekend.

After opening weekend, the Midnight Blue and Gold will take a week off before traveling to Bowling Green, Ky. for the Western Kentucky Tournament on Feb. 23-25. UT will play a round-robin cycle with Indiana State, Wisconsin-Green Bay and WKU before a single elimination bracketed tournament.

Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Invitational

Toledo's Schedule
Friday, Feb. 9
    Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Toledo,1:30 p.m.
    Toledo vs. Detroit Mercy, 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10
    Morgan State vs. Toledo, 11:00 a.m.
    Toledo vs. Liberty, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11
    Morgan State vs. Toledo, 10:00 a.m.