Softball 12/13/2021 1:10:00 PM Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Jim Clift Announces 2022 Softball Schedule

A home game with Tennessee highlights schedule

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball head coach Jim Clift today announced the 2022 schedule that features four tournaments and a home game with Tennessee.

The Catamounts will compete in tournaments in Florida, a pair in South Carolina and West Virginia. Western Carolina will play a total of 55 games in the season.

2022 SCHEDULE

CLIFT QUOTES:
"We are excited to return to some sense of normalcy this Spring. Our players were able to experience a true Fall and I know they already feel more prepared for the upcoming season compared to last year."

"We have a very challenging preseason schedule, which should prepare us well for conference play."

"Last year we were a very young and inexperienced team. This year we bring back all but one starter and have added a fantastic freshman class adding depth in all areas, including additions to an already talented pitching staff."

OF NOTE

The third time is the charm after two canceled series, in 2020 and 2021, the Catamounts are scheduled to host the Tennessee Lady Vols, at the Catamount Softball Complex, April 13 at 6 p.m. for a single game.
Western Carolina opens the season traveling to a tournament at North Florida – the River City Lead-Off Feb. 11-13. WCU is scheduled to face N.C. State, Jacksonville, Campbell, UNF, and Virginia.
The Catamounts will host Georgia State in a doubleheader on Feb. 16. WCU's earliest home opener in program history usurping the date of Feb. 19, 2006, when Western Carolina hosted South Carolina State.
Western Carolina will also participate in tournaments hosted by Winthrop (Feb. 18-20), College of Charleston (Feb. 25-27), and Marshall (Mar. 11-13).
In the tournament at Winthrop, the Catamounts will face Towson, Youngstown State, Ball State, and Winthrop.
In the tournament at College of Charleston, WCU will face former Southern Conference foes Appalachian State and host College of Charleston along with Connecticut and host College of Charleston.
The Catamounts' last tournament of the season is at Marshall squaring off against Fairfield, Norfolk State, and Marshall.
Before the last tournament of the year, at Marshall, the Catamounts will travel to South Carolina State Mar. 2.
Western Carolina will also travel to North Carolina Central (Mar. 15), Gardner-Webb (Mar. 22), Appalachian State (Mar. 23), and North Carolina A&T (Mar. 30) in non-conference play.
In addition to Tennessee and Georgia State, Western Carolina has two more non-conference home games when the Catamounts welcome Presbyterian (Mar. 17) and USC Upstate (April 6) in doubleheader action.
In Southern Conference play, Western Carolina will host UNCG (April 2-3), Mercer (April 15-16), and Chattanooga (May 7-8).
Road conference games including trips to ETSU (Mar. 26-27), Samford (April 9-10), and Furman (April 23-24).
Three of Western Carolina's 2022 opponents, Campbell, UNCG, and Tennessee, made the 2021 NCAA Softball Tournament.

GET TO KNOW THE CATAMOUNTS

Reigning 2021 Southern Conference Player of the Year Bailey Huneycutt returns for her senior season in 2022. She had 51 hits in 2021 hitting .364.
Sixteen players return from the 2021 season including eight players from the infield and both starting pitchers (Jayme Eilers and Savannah Rice).
Six newcomers join the team for 2022 including five freshman and junior transfer Brooklynn Brewington from Charleston Southern.
The Catamounts were the runner-up in the 2021 Southern Conference Championships.
Western Carolina's 27 wins in 2021 were the third-most in program history as the 2006 team had 41 and the 2016 club had 33.
The Catamounts had two pitchers with double-digit wins, Eilers with 14 and Rice with 11, for the third time in the program's history matching the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Western Carolina swept a total of eight doubleheaders in 2021.
In the 2021 season, Western Carolina won a program-record 11-straight games during the season.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#4 Jayme Eilers: P; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#35 Bailey Huneycutt: SS; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#00 Savannah Rice: P; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#13 Brooklynn Brewington: IF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#4 Jayme Eilers
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: P

#35 Bailey Huneycutt
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: SS

#00 Savannah Rice
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: P

#13 Brooklynn Brewington
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: IF