EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The SIUE softball team begins its 2024 campaign in Florida at the Frank Griffin Classic.

The Cougars have five games scheduled over the next three days with two games against Boston University, two against Bighamton and one against host Stetson. The DeLand, Florida, tournament will be played at Patricia Wilson Field.

The opening contest is set for 11 a.m. CT Friday against Boston University.

SIUE, 30-26 last season and the runner-up at the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference Championships, has a mix of top returners and a host of newcomers ready to step into the lineup.

Sydney Baalman (Hardin, Illinois), Kelsey Ray (Goreville, Illinois) and Rylie Pindel (Las Vegas, Nevada) all return to the pitching staff, and SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden has added two more arms for depth in Emma Henderson (Battle Ground, Indiana) and Reese Ray (Goreville, Illinois).

The team's top hitter from last season returns to the lineup. Paige Rocha (Platte City, Missouri) hit .416 last season with a team-leading 74 hits and 19 walks as well as an on-base percentage of .475.

Grace Lueke (McLeansboro, Illinois) played in just 38 games last season after battling back from an injury. She still led the team with seven home runs and was fourth in RBIs with 25.

Piper Montgomery (Arnold, Missouri) settled in as the team's starting catcher with 53 starts last season. She hit .226 with four doubles in 2023.

The returners include Jenna Herron (West Frankfort, Illinois), who appeared in 37 games last season, and Lauren Yslava (Gilroy, California), who has 13 home runs in her first two seasons in a Cougar uniform.

Along with Emma Henderson, Sorden welcomes a host of transfers this season, including juniors Anna Henderson (Battle Ground, Indiana), Kaylynn Salyars (Muscatine, Iowa), Madison Kearns (Glenpool, Oklahoma) and Danielle Shuey (Bloomington, Illinois).

The newcomers also include several true freshmen in Amber Morgan (Washington, Pennsylvania), Maleah Blomenkamp (Freeburg, Illinois), Jenna Little (St. Paul, Missouri), Abby Harvell (Imperial, Missouri), and Harley Limberger (Warren, Michigan).