Softball Ready to Begin 2024 Campaign in Florida
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The (RV) Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team opens its season with a doubleheader against Warner University on February 28 in Lake Wales, Florida.
As part of its spring break trip to the Sunshine State, MVNU is slated to face off against opponents such as Point Park University, Ohio Christian University, Penn State-Brandywine, Judson University (IL), Bellevue University (NE), Dordt University (IA), and Southeastern University. Following their Florida stint, the Lady Cougars will return to Ohio and commence conference play on March 12, taking on Huntington University.
The Lady Cougars will have to replace some crucial contributors from the previous season, namely First Team All-Conference standouts Macee Marcum and Kylee Pettit, and graduating Second Team All-Conference players Kaycee Ollis and Megan Pentz. Despite these losses, the team is excited about the future, with a youthful roster looking to remain competitive in the Crossroads League. MVNU finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 33-15 and a record of 23-15 in conference play, which was good for third in the standings.
MVNU enters the 2024 season with three impactful seniors returning in Sheridan Sullivan, Mallory Holcomb, and Mackenzie Hancock.
Sullivan will look to build upon her First Team All-Conference selection from last season. The right-hander finished first in the league with 9.21 strikeouts per seven innings. She was also ninth with an earned run average of 2.81. Sullivan had 13 pitching wins, which ranked sixth in the conference.
Holcomb is back following her Second Team All-Conference season. Holcomb hit .383 and had 51 hits, 18 RBIs, and 28 runs scored.
Hancock returns after being named as a gold glover in the field by the Crossroads League. Hancock helped turn seven double plays and had 67 putouts, 57 assists, and a fielding percentage of .961 at second base.
Junior, Nadia Hoffman returns and looks to take another step forward for MVNU after an Honorable Mention season. Hoffman solidified the pitching staff with a record of 9-4 and an earned run average of 2.61. Hoffman averaged 8.65 strikeouts per seven innings in 2023.
Head coach Jeana Howald's team takes the field at 4:00pm and 6:00pm on Wednesday, February 28 against Warner.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.