TOLEDO, Ohio - The University of Toledo softball team travels to Georgia this weekend to open its 2021 season. The Rockets will be playing five games at Mercer's Black and Orange Challenge on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28.
 
Black and Orange Challenge (Macon, Ga.)
Friday, Feb. 26
vs. Alabama A&M, 11:00 a.m. | Live Stats
vs. Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m. | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 27
vs. Pittsburgh, 10:00 a.m. | Live Stats
vs. Alabama A&M, 5:00 p.m. | Live Stats
 
Sunday, Feb. 28
at Mercer, 10:00 a.m. | Live Stats
 
ABOUT TOLEDO
Toledo (11-12 in 2020) will once again have senior Erin Hunt as their leader in the circle this season. She is coming off another stellar season, having posted a 9-4 win-loss mark and 2.06 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched during last year's shortened schedule. She possesses a 26-17 record and 2.42 ERA in two seasons as a Rocket. Toledo also returns its leading hitter, senior 3B Dayna Denner, who led the way in 2020 with a .408 batting average and 19 RBI in 23 contests. The Rockets return 18 letterwinners from last season with 13 freshmen and two transfers making their debuts for the Midnight Blue and Gold.
 
MORE TOP RETURNEES

• Sophomore OF Leah Munson ranked second on the team with a .328 batting average last year and scored a team-high 12 runs.
• Junior 2B Bri Roberson finished third on the team with a .300 hitting mark, scored 10 runs and was perfect in five stolen-base attempts.
• Junior C Raquel Emery registered a .286 hitting mark with six RBI in 11 contests.
• Junior OF Anna Dixon hit .271 at the plate and scored six runs with five RBI in 18 games.
• Sophomore SS Lily Beyer recorded a team-high six stolen bases.

NO MAC TOURNAMENT
Last spring, the Mid-American Conference made postseason changes for several sports, including softball, which included the removal of the conference tournament. The winner of the MAC's regular season this year will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Toledo won the 2019 MAC Tournament title as the No. 7 seed and didn't have an opportunity to defend its title in 2020.
 
SCOUTING ALABAMA A&M
Alabama A&M is 1-3 coming into this weekend with its only win an 8-6 victory over Alabama State in its season opener last Friday. Freshman SS Serena Herbrandson leads the Bulldogs at the plate with a .429 average (6-for-14). Junior Alyssa Lopez possesses a team-best 3.27 ERA but is winless in two complete-game performances.
 
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh is off to a 1-6 start this season with its lone win coming vs. Virginia. Freshman Dani Drogemuller earned that victory last Friday by hurling four innings of scoreless relief for the Panthers. Junior 1B Sarah Seamans leads or is tied for the team lead in RBI (7), slugging percentage (.588), walks (4), and OPS (1.017) and has struck out just once in seven contests.
 
SCOUTING MERCER
Mercer is 2-4 on the season, with both wins coming in a season-opening doubleheader vs. Wesleyan on Feb. 16. The Bears have rotated their lineup throughout their first six games, with only four players seeing action in every contest. Senior 2B Danielle Castleberry has a team-high .375 average (6-of-16) with junior OF Elisa Rosado ranking second with a .350 hitting mark and team-best .650 slugging percentage.
 
ON DECK
The Rockets will head to Florida next weekend to compete in The Spring Games on Friday-Sunday, March 5-7. Toledo will face Stetson and Middle Tennessee on Friday, North Dakota and South Dakota on Saturday and New Mexico State and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.