Game 1
Jackson State vs Central Arkansas
Friday, Feb.7, 2020 • 12 p.m. • New Orleans, La.
Live Stats
Game 2
Jackson State vs No. 16 Texas Tech
Friday, Feb.7, 2020 • 2:30 p.m. • New Orleans, La.
Live Stats
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Jackson State softball team is set to kick off the 2020 season with four games at the Big Easy Classic in New Orleans, La., on Feb. 7-8.
The Lady Tigers will take on Central Arkansas and No. 16 Texas Tech on opening day (Feb. 7) and will face Montana and Houston Baptist on Saturday. JSU will be apart of eight teams at the Big Easy Classic this week along with Louisiana Tech, Alabama A&M, Montana, Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist, and No.16 Texas Tech.
Tiger Quick Hits
The Lady Tigers' return several starters to the 2020 squad including pitcher Kayla Owens who was selected to the Southwestern Athletic Conference second team as a pitcher following a stellar 2019 campaign for the Blue and White.
The junior finished with a 4.21 earned run average after giving up only 65 runs on 581 batters faced and finished with a record of 10-13 while pitching 14 complete games.
The California native also only allowed an opponent batting average of .291, 172 hits, and 88 strikeouts.
Coming off of a 13-36 (7-11 SWAC) record, the Lady Tigers were selected to finish fourth in the Eastern division and seventh overall in the SWAC, receiving 45 points.
The Lady Tigers also return starters Kaitlyn Elzie, Madelyn Prukop, Destyn Jones, Kelsey Smith, Ariana Cruz, Yasmin Melero, Zoey Keyes, Brooke Boechler, and Sierra Smith.
Elzie returns as the teams leader in batting average with a .333 average with 20 hits on 60 at bats. The Blue and White return its top five RBI leaders in Kelsey Smith (19 RBIs), Kayla Owens (15 RBIs), Madelyn Prukop (13 RBIs), Destyn Jones (13 RBIs), and Sierra Smith (10 RBIs).
Jackson State is coming off of a season in which it hit .216 as a team with 160 total runs sccored, 253 hits, 39 doubles, 12 triples, and seven home runs to go along with a 7-11 conference record in year one for head coach Kevin Montgomery.
With several key contributors returning to the lineup and circle this season, Jackson State will look to make a splash in non-conference play before making a deep run in SWAC play.
Day 1 (Friday, Feb. 7)
9:30 a.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Alabama A&M
Montana vs. Central Arkansas
Houston Baptist vs. Texas Tech
12 p.m.
Alabama A&M vs. Houston Baptist
Central Arkansas vs. Jackson State
2:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Montana
Texas Tech vs. Jackson State
Day 2 (Saturday, Feb. 8)
9:30 a.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Houston Baptist
Texas Tech vs. Central Arkansas
Jackson State vs. Montana
12 p.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Texas Tech
Alabama A&M vs. Montana
2:30 p.m.
Jackson State vs. Houston Baptist
Central Arkansas vs. Alabama A&M
Day 3 (Sunday, Feb. 9)
10 a.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Central Arkansas
Montana vs. Texas Tech
Houston Baptist vs. Alabama A&M
