Photo by: Joseph Craven
Wright State returns experience for new campaign
2/5/2020 11:35:00 AM | Softball
As the Wright State softball team gets set to open its 2020 campaign, third year head coach Laura Mathews has 16 returning players from last season's roster to go along with six freshmen and one transfer.
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The Raiders, who finished 22-33 overall and 9-15 in Horizon League play in 2019, return last season's top 12 hitters, including two players – Rebekah Lenos and Madison Hartman – who had 50 or more hits a year ago and both finished with a team-high 12 doubles. Madison Whitaker had a team-high 30 RBI with five home runs. Lenos, Meredith Keel, Jordyn Poulson and Macy McCall each had double-digit totals in stolen bases with 51 of the team's 65 stolen bases – and every player who stole a base in 2019 return for 2020.
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In the circle, Wright State returns its three winningest pitchers from last season – Olivia Otani (8-14, 4.03 ERA), Lexie Hilling (6-1, 4.01 ERA) and Makenna Durieux (6-14, 4.10 ERA). Durieux and Otani combined for 177 1/3 of the team's 356 2/3 innings of work. Durieux struck out 110 batters and walked 41 and had the best opposing batting average at .287.
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Junior Raidyn Johnson was named to first team All-Horizon League last spring after leading the Raiders with a .375 batting average in 39 games overall while hitting .422 against Horizon League teams. Sophomore Madison Hartman earned spots on the All-Horizon second team and to the All-Freshman Team after hitting .311 in 54, including a .356 mark against Horizon League teams, while posting 51 hits and 21 RBI with a .402 slugging percentage. Senior Rebekah Lenos was named second team All-Horizon and to the Horizon League Softball All-Academic Team last season after hitting a team-high .313 in 53 games with 12 doubles, 10 steals and a team-best 35 runs scored from the leadoff position.
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The Raiders will play their first 18 games outside the state of Ohio, traveling to Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Arizona for tournament action before returning to take on crosstown foe Dayton in a doubleheader on March 13. Wright State's first home contests come on Mach 15, a doubleheader against Western Michigan, before Horizon League play opens the following weekend.
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In addition to Horizon League home series with Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Green Bay and IUPUI, the Raiders will also welcome Morehead State and Ball State to town for midweek doubleheaders. Wright State will travel to take on Akron and Miami (OH) in midweek action along with Oakland, UIC, Northern Kentucky and Detroit Mercy in HL series.
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The Raiders, who finished 22-33 overall and 9-15 in Horizon League play in 2019, return last season's top 12 hitters, including two players – Rebekah Lenos and Madison Hartman – who had 50 or more hits a year ago and both finished with a team-high 12 doubles. Madison Whitaker had a team-high 30 RBI with five home runs. Lenos, Meredith Keel, Jordyn Poulson and Macy McCall each had double-digit totals in stolen bases with 51 of the team's 65 stolen bases – and every player who stole a base in 2019 return for 2020.
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In the circle, Wright State returns its three winningest pitchers from last season – Olivia Otani (8-14, 4.03 ERA), Lexie Hilling (6-1, 4.01 ERA) and Makenna Durieux (6-14, 4.10 ERA). Durieux and Otani combined for 177 1/3 of the team's 356 2/3 innings of work. Durieux struck out 110 batters and walked 41 and had the best opposing batting average at .287.
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Junior Raidyn Johnson was named to first team All-Horizon League last spring after leading the Raiders with a .375 batting average in 39 games overall while hitting .422 against Horizon League teams. Sophomore Madison Hartman earned spots on the All-Horizon second team and to the All-Freshman Team after hitting .311 in 54, including a .356 mark against Horizon League teams, while posting 51 hits and 21 RBI with a .402 slugging percentage. Senior Rebekah Lenos was named second team All-Horizon and to the Horizon League Softball All-Academic Team last season after hitting a team-high .313 in 53 games with 12 doubles, 10 steals and a team-best 35 runs scored from the leadoff position.
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The Raiders will play their first 18 games outside the state of Ohio, traveling to Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Arizona for tournament action before returning to take on crosstown foe Dayton in a doubleheader on March 13. Wright State's first home contests come on Mach 15, a doubleheader against Western Michigan, before Horizon League play opens the following weekend.
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In addition to Horizon League home series with Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Green Bay and IUPUI, the Raiders will also welcome Morehead State and Ball State to town for midweek doubleheaders. Wright State will travel to take on Akron and Miami (OH) in midweek action along with Oakland, UIC, Northern Kentucky and Detroit Mercy in HL series.
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Players Mentioned
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IF
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