Friday, February 9
Patriots Point
3:00 PM
College of Charleston
vs
Saint Joseph's
Cougars Host Charleston Invitational to Open 2024 Softball Season
2/8/2024 2:45:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston begins its third season under head coach Tracey Lynch this weekend when the Cougars host the Charleston Invitational at Patriots Point.
The Cougars open play Friday with games against Saint Joseph's (3:00) and Cleveland State (5:30). Charleston faces East Carolina (3:00) and Cleveland State (5:30) on Saturday and wrap up the tournament Sunday with a 12:30 contest against Saint Joseph's.
Admission for the weekend is free.
The Cougars return seven players who saw action in at least 30 games last season, including four-year starters Aniz Roman and Shealyn Starks. Roman was the only Cougar to start all 51 games last year and led the team while ranking 14th in the CAA with a .325 average.
Starks split her 50 starts between catcher and first base and batted .288, including .329 with 14 of her 18 RBI in conference games.
Karlee Hughes was named second team All-CAA as a freshman after batting .300 and leading the team with 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. Malaka Belser led the Cougars with four home runs and 31 RBI, ranking seventh in the conference in the latter category.
Mia Dittoe and Halle Cannon combined for 81 starts last year, and Brooke Tranum started the first 14 games and homered twice before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Sophomores Audri Bates and Sierra Paradis became fixtures in the lineup the second half of the 2023 campaign.
The Cougars added five position players, including Notre Dame transfer Brooke Marquez, who played in 111 games and started 65 times for the Fighting Irish. Kennedy Rhue transferred from Presbyterian, and freshmen Savannah Lockhart and Kaytlin Stacey are also new to the program.
In the circle Charleston returns Caroline Conner, last year's CAA Rookie of the Year who was seventh in the conference with a 2.95 ERA while tossing three shutouts and fanning 102 batters. Payton Lemire opted to come back for her fifth season after ranking third in the CAA with 113 strikeouts while also recording three shutouts.
Seniors McKenna Kelly and Lauren Sandor along with freshman Ryley Kutter round out the pitching staff.
The Cougars open play Friday with games against Saint Joseph's (3:00) and Cleveland State (5:30). Charleston faces East Carolina (3:00) and Cleveland State (5:30) on Saturday and wrap up the tournament Sunday with a 12:30 contest against Saint Joseph's.
Admission for the weekend is free.
The Cougars return seven players who saw action in at least 30 games last season, including four-year starters Aniz Roman and Shealyn Starks. Roman was the only Cougar to start all 51 games last year and led the team while ranking 14th in the CAA with a .325 average.
Starks split her 50 starts between catcher and first base and batted .288, including .329 with 14 of her 18 RBI in conference games.
Karlee Hughes was named second team All-CAA as a freshman after batting .300 and leading the team with 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. Malaka Belser led the Cougars with four home runs and 31 RBI, ranking seventh in the conference in the latter category.
Mia Dittoe and Halle Cannon combined for 81 starts last year, and Brooke Tranum started the first 14 games and homered twice before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Sophomores Audri Bates and Sierra Paradis became fixtures in the lineup the second half of the 2023 campaign.
The Cougars added five position players, including Notre Dame transfer Brooke Marquez, who played in 111 games and started 65 times for the Fighting Irish. Kennedy Rhue transferred from Presbyterian, and freshmen Savannah Lockhart and Kaytlin Stacey are also new to the program.
In the circle Charleston returns Caroline Conner, last year's CAA Rookie of the Year who was seventh in the conference with a 2.95 ERA while tossing three shutouts and fanning 102 batters. Payton Lemire opted to come back for her fifth season after ranking third in the CAA with 113 strikeouts while also recording three shutouts.
Seniors McKenna Kelly and Lauren Sandor along with freshman Ryley Kutter round out the pitching staff.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ SoftballCharleston Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Belmont (11/30/25)
Sunday, November 30
Charleston Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Drake (11/17/25)
Tuesday, November 18
Charleston Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. SC State (11/14/25)
Saturday, November 15
Charleston Women's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Iona (11/14/25)
Saturday, November 15
