The Lady Lions softball team finished their Fall 2019 season of exhibition games with a 7-1 record.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the university defeated Louisiana State University of Alexandria 8-0 and followed by a 9-4 victory over Jones County Junior College.

Rick Fremin, head coach of softball, was proud of the team’s ability to recover during any tough moments from both of their final games.

“Us responding after adversity,” said Fremin. “They put up two, we respond right back, and we put up. The pitcher gives up a home run, she comes up and gets the next one out right after. She’s a veteran, she understands that. I am proud of how our team responded throughout the fall and with tonight’s games.”

Fremin also explained the improvements he has noticed in the team over the course of the fall season.

“Our team is more balanced than ever before,” stated Fremin. “Our pitching staff is deep. We’re athletic. We run well. I like our team chemistry. The negative is we’re a little banged up from the fall, but this is the last night, but I am pleased with the decent schedule that we played in the fall and how we responded.”

In the game against Jones County, Ali McCoy, a senior pitcher, hit her first home run with a two-run home run. McCoy was happy to have had a home run.

“I have to say the home run, just because I haven’t hit one,” said McCoy. “I’ve hit it off the wall a hundred times, but for it finally go over just makes me really happy. I’ll be getting stronger in the weight room, and working on my hitting, just because I changed my stance a little bit.”

Madisen Blackford, a junior utility player, was proud of herself and the team following both victories.

“I was really proud of the way I went ‘oppo,’ which is hitting into the opposite field because I’m left-handed, so I hit it through the left-center gap,” said Blackford. “I’ve been really working on that. It was the only thing I focused on last year. I’m definitely proud of our team. We’re gonna have a good year.”

Fremin explained what he hopes to work on before the next season.

“Getting healthy and just trying to be an elite lineup, one through nine,” shared Fremin. “We really tried to find our 12 hitters this fall, and I think we’ve identified them to give us our combination. Pitching wise, we’ve got a lot of options, and that’s very encouraging too because this game is just so centered around pitching, so I’m pleased. I thought the staff did a good job coaching them up, and we had a good fall.”

The Lady Lions will kick off their 2020 spring season on Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. against the University at Buffalo.