By Andrew Hornback
The University of Louisville softball team will begin play Friday against No. 21 University of North Carolina at the Florida International Tournament in Miami, FL.
North Carolina junior Danielle Spaulding, who was named to the Amateur Softball Association of America’s Top 50 Watch List for the 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Tar Heels.
The Cards were big to finish 3rd in the Big East coach’s preseason poll after finishing 12-8 in conference play last season.
After North Carolina the Cards will turn around and immediately play the host team, Florida International University. Florida International finished 29-34 last year, but have continued to improve under head coach Beth McClendon, who said her team is at full strength offensively even after losing three seniors who were named to the Sun Belt All Conference Team last season.
The Saturday schedule will also be packed for the team. They will face Jacksonville University at 10:00 AM and then No. 10 Texas A&M University at noon. The Aggies have some of the best bats in the country, led by senior Bailey Schroeder who had a .444 batting average last season.
The Cards will end the weekend tournament against Auburn University on Sunday. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Regional last season after finishing 38-22, but were predicted to finish fourth in the SEC West preseason coach’s poll. Auburn catcher Tatiana Fernandez, who was one of the top statistical offensive players in the SEC last season, is the team’s top returning player.
