ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany softball team is set to begin its 2020 campaign this weekend at the Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida. The tournament will be on Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23. The Great Danes are slated to face Cornell, Providence, Columbia, Merrimack and Manhattan.
 
Tournament Info 
Friday, February 21 vs. Cornell (11:00 am)
Friday, February 21 vs. Providence (1:30 pm)
Saturday, February 22 vs. Columbia (1:30 pm)
Saturday, February 22 vs. Merrimack (6:30 pm)
Sunday, February 23 vs. Manhattan (11:30 am)
 
All games can be watched on FloSoftball.

Leading the Pack

• Katie Falotico led the Great Danes in batting average (.352), runs scored (34), hits (50), and rbis (41) in 2019.
• Maranda Jimenez was third on the team among pitchers in ERA (3.50), and tallied an overall record of 5-5.
• UAlbany led the America East in fielding in putouts (911) and fielding pct (.968).
• Falotico was first on the team with 333 putouts.
• The Great Danes finished 2019 third in the America East in ERA (3.11).

Scouting the Opponents

• Cornell finished the 2019 season with a 10-36 record (5-16 IVY). Pitcher/infielder Ashley Delany returns to the Big Red lineup after leading the team with a .390 batting average. Delany was also named honor mention All-Ivy League.
• Providence finished the 2019 season with a 30-22 record (11-9 Big East). The Friars fell to DePaul in the conference semifinals by a score of 4-0.
• This season, Providence enters the tournament with a 2-3 record. The team closed out the 2020 Bearkat Classic last weekend with victories over Sam Houston State and George Mason. Big East Co-Freshman of the Year Daniela Alvarez returns for the Friars after recording an 18-8 record in the circle with a 2.21 ERA in 2019.
• Columbia finished the 2019 season with a 24-21 record (15-6 IVY). The team's season concluded after falling to Harvard in the IVY League Playoff Series by a score of 11-1. Infielder Max Ortega is set to return for Columbia after leading the team with a .397 batting average last season, and was tabbed First Team All-Ivy League.
• Merrimack finished 2019 with a 25-23 record (15-12 NE10). The team's season concluded after dropping the NE10 Championship Quarterfinal to New Haven by a score of 4-3.
• Utility player Lucy Colarusso is slated to return for Merrimack after leading the team in batting average (.346). Pitcher Jenna Wike will also return after leading in the circle with a 2.02 ERA.
• Manhattan finished the 2019 season with a 21-29 record (8-12 MAAC). Annie Moore is set to return for the Jaspers after tallying five home runs, which was second on the team. Kayla McDermott led in the circle with a 3.68 ERA, and notched nine wins.

Great Danes Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll
The Great Danes were selected to finish fifth in this year's America East Preseason Poll. The Great Danes tallied 18 points, finishing ahead of Hartford (13 points) and Maine (six points). America East 2019 Tournament runner-up Stony Brook was picked to finish first with 34 points and four first place votes. Rounding out the rest of the top four was UMass Lowell (31 points) in second with two first place votes, defending champion UMBC (24 points) in third with one first place vote and Binghamton (21 points) in fourth.
 
Rookies Return
Sophomores Lové Drumgole and Chloe Lewis return for the Great Danes after having strong rookie seasons. Both were named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2019.Drumgole has was a regular in the Great Danes lineup, starting 38 games at shortstop. The infielder had a breakout game against Niagara on April 25, as she racked up two doubles and scored two runs to help the Great Danes to a 7-0 win. Lewis finished her first season in the circle with a 3.59 ERA in 18 appearances, and tallied three wins.
 
Keepin it Fresh
This season, the Great Danes welcome 10 freshmen to the roster. Wendi Hammond, Caitlyn Mitros, Adian Sheeren, Natalie Florschutz, Madison Petrella, Breanna Bryant, Kaycee Hawk, Morgan Petty, Emma Adams and Schuyler Ossman all look to make their collegiate debuts in 2020. 
 
Seeing Double
Falotico led the Great Danes with 15 doubles in 2019 which was tied for second in the conference. The junior also hit not one, but two home runs in the same inning in a 13-5 victory over Binghamton last season.
 
Next
The Great Danes will continue tournament play at the Spring Games in Boombah Soldier's Creek in Longwood, Florida on Friday, February 28 through Sunday, March 1.