Terps Set to Open Season at Kajikawa Classic
2/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLLEGE PARK, Md.—The Maryland softball team kicks off its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic. The Terps will look to start strong, facing five different opponents- Boston College, Boise State, Oregon, San Diego, and Utah State.
This Weekend On The Diamond
Maryland will travel to one of the premier college softball tournaments of the season. Hosted by Arizona State University, the Kajikawa Classic is the second largest preseason NCAA softball tournament of the season. This year, 32 teams will play in the five day tournament, including four from the Big Ten. Games will be played at Farrington Stadium and the Tempe Sports Complex. For more information on the tournament, visit the Kajikawa Classic Tournament Central. Be sure to follow @TerpsSoftball on Twitter all weekend for live in-game updates and behind the scenes content as the Terps hit the road for the first weekend of the season.
Fri, Feb. 12 Boston College 11:30 a.m. Live Stats
Fri Feb. 12 Boise State 4:00 p.m. Live Stats
Sat, Feb. 13 #6 Oregon 11:30 a.m. Live Stats
Sat, Feb. 13 San Diego 2:00 p.m. Live Stats
Sun, Feb. 14 Utah State 11:00 am. Live Stats
FIRST LOOK AT MARYLAND
- Maryland opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic.
- The Terps return 15 players from last season and welcome five freshman to the fold.
- Team captains were voted upon this offseason, based on their position. They are- Juli Strange (Overall), Corey Schwartz (Infield), Sarah Calta (Outfield), and Kristina Dillard (Bullpen).
- Senior Lindsey Schmeiser returns her bat to the lineup this season. She earned First Team All-Big Ten honors last year, hitting .369 with eleven home runs last season and a school record 21 doubles.
- Maryland is coming off of a 27-27 2015 season with a 9-14 conference record. The Terps look to improve on the .500 mark of a year ago, as they usher in a new coaching staff.
- Head coach Julie Wright enters her first season at the helm of the Maryland softball program. Wright most recently served as the head coach of Idaho State. As the leader of the Bengals, Wright won three straight Big Sky Championships.
- The 2016 season brings a challenging schedule. Maryland will play 11 games against teams in the NFCA Top 25, and another eight against teams receiving votes. Starting with #6 Oregon this weekend.
Offensive Outburst
- In 2015, Maryland was amount the country's pest at the plate posting a .309 team batting average and a .413 on-base percentage.
- National fire power- The Terrapins were in the top thirty nationally in a number of categories. They were sixth in doubles, 21st in scoring, 27th in home runs, 29th in slugging percentage, and 27th in on-base percentage.
- Hannah Dewey ranked sixth in walks and 21st in on-base percentage. Lindsey Schmeiser ranked fifth in doubles
- As a team, Maryland set program records in doubles (98), homeruns (69), RBI's (316), and walks (232).
ScOUTING BOSTON COLLEGE
- Boston College opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic.
- The Eagles posted a 27-24 record in 2015.
- Head coach Ashley Obrest enters her 5th season with Boston College. Obrest has put together a 94-115 record through her first four seasons.
- The Eagles were picked to finish eighth in the ACC in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- The Terps hold a 17-13 all-time series record over the Eagles. The two teams last met in a three game series in 2014 up in Chestnut Hill. Boston College took the first two games of the series before Maryland took the finale on a Corey Schwartz go-ahead double.
ScOUTING BOISE STATE
- Boise State opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic
- The Broncos are coming off of a 12-42 2015 season and 4-20 conference record.
- Head coach Cindy Ball returns to Boise, Idaho for his second season.
- Boise State was picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- This weekend's match-up marks the first-ever meeting between the Terps and the Broncos.
ScOUTING OREGON
- Oregon opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic.
- Oregon is one of the most prolific programs in college softball, the Ducks have made the Womens College World Series three of the past four years.
- The Ducks are ranked sixth in the NFCA Preseason Top 25.
- Head Coach Mike White is entering his sixth season as the leader of the Ducks. He has elevated the program to new levels, claiming the programs first ever No. 1 ranking in 2014. White is 280-83 through five years.
- Left-handed pitcher Cheridan Hawkins is one of the most decorated players in college softball. Last year, Hawkins was a First Team All-American, Pac 12 Pitcher of the Year, and one of three finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year.
- In 2015, Oregon won its third straight Pac 12 title going 51-8 and recorded a program best 21 conference wins.
- Maryland lost the only meeting all-time against Oregon, when Oregon was ranked No. 4 in the country back in 2014.
ScOUTING SAN DIEGO
- San Diego opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic
- The Toreros are coming off a 29-23 campaign in 2015 with an 8-7 conference record.
- Pitching was key for San Diego last year as they led the WCC with a combined 2.75 staff ERA.
- Melissa McElvain is entering her 15th season as head coach of the Toreros. McElvain has a career record of 292-396; she is San Diego's career win leader.
- San Diego was picked to finish sixth in the Western Coast Conference in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- This weekend's match-up marks the first-ever meeting between the Terps and the Toreros.
ScOUTING utah state
- Utah State opens its 2016 campaign this weekend at the Kajikawa Classic
- The Aggies posted a 19-36 (11-13) record in 2015.
- Youth is the key word for the Aggies in 2016, Utah State welcomes 11 newcomers to this years squad after losing five seniors.
- Steve Johnson returns for his third season at the helm for the Aggies. Johnson is 37-73 in two seasons.
- Utah State was picked to finish fourth in the Western Coast Conference in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- This weekend's match-up marks the first-ever meeting between the Terps and the Aggies.
road warriors
- The first 24 games of the 2016 season will take place away from College Park The Terps travel to Tempe, Az., Atlanta, Ga., Boca Raton, Fla., Washington DC, and Norman, Okla. before returning home on March 18 for the Maryland Invitational.
looking ahead
- After this weekend's Kajikawa Classic, the Terps head south to Georgia for the Georgia State Tournament. Maryland will play a total of five games against #5 Alabama, Georgia State, Mercer, and Miami (OH).. The team's full schedule can be found here.
-Maryland-
