The Lady Falcons Return Seven Standouts From The 2015 CIAA Championship Team

RALEIGH, NC (Feb 3) – On Saturday, Feb. 4, Saint Augustine's University will face Barton College in a season-opening softball doubleheader at Jeffries Field in Wilson, N.C. Game times are 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The Lady Falcons return seven players from the 2015 CIAA championship squad which qualified for the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Pitcher-utility player Marley Parker (Jr./Langley, British Columbia) and second baseman-pitcher Meranda Zanni (Sr./Phoenix, OR) headline a stellar veteran group which includes pitcher-outfielder Korey Hill (Sr./Virginia Beach, VA), utility player Akera McPhaul (Jr./Greensboro, NC), outfielder Jasmine Rios (Jr./Greensboro, NC), catcher-third baseman Haili Pettifer (Jr./Langley, British Columbia) and first baseman Tyanna Petersen (Sr./Brooklyn Park, MN).

Parker earned All-CIAA honors last season after leading the conference in batting average (.463). Zanni was named CIAA Tournament MVP in 2015.

The newcomers are second baseman-outfielder Celine Jones (Fr./Grand Bahama, Bahamas), pitcher-shortstop Makayla August (Fr./Palm Springs, FL), infielder-utility player Haley Sessoms (Fr./Kenansville, NC) and outfielder-shortstop Tamiera Sanchez (Fr./Sacramento, CA).

Dorothy Neal is back as head coach of the Lady Falcons after coaching the team from 1990 to 2011. She is also the women's bowling coach and Senior Woman Administrator at Saint Augustine's University.

Saturday's twinbill is also the season opener for Barton. Ten letterwinners are back from last season's team.