Leading Off
Lafayette softball travel to Buies Creek, N.C. to participate in Campbell's Camel Invitational, their first of four tournaments on the 2025 slate. Lafayette will play four games, a 10 a.m. Friday matchup against Bryant, a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee against Campbell and a single game on Sunday against UMass-Lowell.
Familiar Friends
The 2025 Leopards return 11 members of last years' squad, including senior Mary Grace O'Neill, junior Olivia Catalina and sophomore Regan Dillon, three of the top five batting average leaders from last season.
New Faces From New Places
Lafayette compliments its 11 returners with seven newcomers. Caroline Hall, Emma Ahlborn, Jocelyn O'Keeffe, Sophia Alvarez-Backus, Makayla Lecky and Sadie Robinson all will enter the fold as they prepare for their first season of college softball, while Colgate transfer Dani Rosner joins the team with two years of experience.
Coaching Change
Kelliner Croushore takes over as interim head coach in her first season with the program after Karavin Dew stepped down in early February. Croushore joined Lafayette after spending a year at her alma mater, Holy Cross. Prior to Holy Cross, Croushore coached around the country, including stops at Occidental College, Georgetown and Rhodes College.
Run M.G.O.
Last season, senior Mary Grace O'Neill set a new single-season record after swiping 24 bags on 27 attempts. The Pleasantville, N.Y. native started all 42 games in centerfield, hitting .274 in 135 at bats while collecting eight doubles and a team-high three triples.
On The Road
After this weekend, the Maroon and White have three tournaments remaining: the Panther Invitational at Florida International, the Tiger Invitational at Clemson and the Penn State Invitational.
After visiting Miami, Clemson and University Park, the Maroon and White stay on the road for a two-game road trip to Poughkeepsie to take on Marist. Lafayette's first homestand won't come until Mar. 22, when Patriot League foe Holy Cross comes to town.
The Opponents
The Maroon and White open with Bryant on Friday. The Bulldogs started their season last weekend at the Bearkat Classic, beginning with a 1-4 record after finishing 2024 with a 34-17 mark. Soph. Laniya Lewis caught fire to start the season, hitting .455 in 11 at-bats. Lewis has collected five hits in those at-bats, including a double, a home run and four RBIs.
Friday's second game of the day pits Lafayette against the hosts. Campbell finished its 2024 slate with a 37-21-1 record and is already off to a 4-1 start. This weekend's tournament is the second straight hosted by the Camels. Junior OF Charlie Montgomery has propelled the team's start, hitting .611 with 11 hits including a pair of doubles, a triple and three RBIs. In the circle, Campbell claims a 3.61 ERA while its opponents are sitting at an ERA of 4.83.
The Leopards will face UMass-Lowell on Saturday and Sunday in a single game each day. The River Hawks participated in the UTSA Tournament last weekend, leaving San Antonio with a 0-5 record. Underclassmen Olivia DeCitise and Emily Baumes have stood out early, hitting .429 and .412, respectively. UMass-Lowell's pitching staff is giving up an average of 6.10 runs a game, while their opponents are holding the River Hawks to 3.20.
