Ohio Softball Opens 2023 Season at Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldog Classic

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team, under the direction of first year head coach Jenna Hall, opens the 2023 season Feb. 10-12 at the 2023 Gardner Webb Runnin' Bulldog Classic in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Bobcats will play four games in three days.

Ohio opens the weekend on Friday, Feb. 10 when they take on George Mason at 11 a.m. The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 11 when Ohio takes on Austin Peay at 11 a.m., followed by host Gardner Webb at 3 p.m. The Bobcats wrap up the weekend with one more game against Austin Peay at 12 p.m. All the games will take place at Brinkley Softball Stadium.

Unfortunately, none of the games will be streamed by the host institution, but live stats will be availible.

Hall begins her time as Ohio's head coach after being hired in August. Hall spent five seasons as Ohio's assistant, including four seasons with the Bobcats under current Pitt head coach, Jodi Hermanek. During 2011-12 Hall has spent the last three seasons at Pittsburgh working primarily with the offense. While there, Hall worked with Yvonne Whaley and saw her become one of the conference's top leadoff hitters, hitting .344 with 45 hits and 21 runs en-route to All-ACC Third Team honors in 2022. Prior to her time at Pitt, Hall spent seven seasons at Ohio State as an assistant coach. During her time there, Hall helped coach Ohio State to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2016 to 2019, a program first. She led Buckeye hitters in setting single-season school records in batting average (.348), home runs (74) and runs scored (380) while coaching four players who finished the season with 40+ RBI in 2015, a program first.

Ohio also added assistants Darrick Brown and Lilli Piper to staff this offseason.

Ohio finished last season 23-25 and 17-10 in MAC play and were selected third in this year's MAC Preseason Poll.

The Bobcats return 14 from last season, including junior Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.), while finished last season First Team All MAC and led Ohio batting average (.371), OPS (1.101), hits (56), triples (3), home runs (11) and RBI (39).

Junior outfielder Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) also returns for Ohio. Logan hit .283 with 34 hits, nine doubles, one triple and eight homeruns. She scored 25 runs and registered 23 RBI and drew 15 walks and had a .360 slugging percentage. Graduate student pitcher Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) is also back for Ohio in the circle. Last season she saw action in 24 games, making 17 starts. She pitched 124.2 innings with a 4.66 ERA and recorded 16 complete games and had a record of 9-10 with two shutouts.

Ohio welcomes, six newcomers to the diamond, including freshmen Austy Miller, Keegan Moore, Belle Hummel and Shelby Westler. Ohio also welcomes transfers Justice Palmer and Ellie Greene to the Green and White.

After this weekend, Ohio heads to Baton Rouge, La. Feb. 17-19 for the Tiger Classic.