Lets get this 2️⃣ 0️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣ �� season going!

➡️ https://t.co/Rh2RkNaLc5#SCUBroncos #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/WkTvH4e4fF

— Santa Clara Softball (@SCUSoftball) February 9, 2023

Season Opening Weekend

• For the second-straight year, Santa Clara softball opens the season at the NorCal Kickoff, co-hosted by UC Davis and Sacramento State.
• The Broncos play a total of four games over three days, starting with Friday's season opener against Rutgers in a neutral site game in Sacramento.  SCU plays two more neutral site games on Saturday, the morning game against Utah Valley in Sacramento before heading to Davis to face Seattle University in the afternoon.  Sunday's finale is a true road game at tournament co-host UC Davis.  

WCC Preseason Poll / Coaching Staff

• SCU, under fourth-year head coach Gina Carbonatto, enters the season picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference as voted on by the six conference head coaches. 
• Last season, the Broncos finished third with a 7-8 conference record, the second highest conference victory total since 2006.  The 21-30 overall record was the highest win total since also the 2006 campaign when they went 24-34.
  • Carbonatto has served as the assistant coach for Great Britain's Under-22 women's softball team since 2018.
  • Last summer Carbonatto coached Great Britain's U-22 that competed in the European Under-22 Women's Fastpitch Championship in Kunovice, Czech Republic.
  • Bronco players Cameron McGinnis and Morgan Salmon were selected to play on Great Britain U-22 team earning two of the 13 roster spots.
• On Carbonatto's SCU staff are pitching coach Jen Deering, who is also in her fourth season, hitting coach Kristi Villar who joined the Broncos from South Dakota State last July and graduate assistant Montana Dixon in her second season.  
• For the upcoming season, Carbonatto will be the third base coach and Deering the first base coach.

2023 Roster

• The 21 player roster has 14 returnees including the top six hitters (by batting average) and top three pitchers.
• The 14 returnees account for 311 of the 341 hits and 20 of the 21 wins in 2022.
• Seven newcomers, all from the prep ranks, dot the roster.
• All but one player hails from California.  The lone out of stater, Emma Bickford, is from Sammamish, Washington.
• Breakdown by Class:
  • Graduate (3): Emma Bickford, Sammy Needham, Allyson Ferreira
  • Seniors (2): Regan Dias, Lauren LaHood (RS)
  • Juniors (4): Cameron McGinnis, Bailey McLaughlin, Ella Romero, Ashley Trierweiler (RS) 
  • Sophomores (5): Lauren Bryson, Abigail Charpentier, Sage Hager, Hannah Edwards (RS), Morgan Salmon
  • Freshmen (7): Robynn Balmediano, Leiora Davidson, Hazyl Gray, Jacqueline Lemus, Marie Martorella, Mariah Montalvo, Bethany Shih.

All-West Coast Conference Honors

• Three Broncos - Emma Bickford, Hannah Edwards and Ashley Trierweiler - were named preseason All-WCC.
• All five Broncos who were named All-WCC last season return - First Team: Trierweiler; Second Team: Edwards and Lauren LaHood; Honorable Mention: Sage Hager and Sammy Needham  

Schedule

• Santa Clara is scheduled to play a total of 53 games this spring including 25 home games and face two school that qualified for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.