ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State Softball gets their 2019 campaign started this weekend in New Mexico. The Grizzlies will compete in the U.S. Bank ENMU Softball Classic Kickoff that will be hosted by Eastern New Mexico in Rio Rancho, N.M.

OPPONENTS
Oklahoma Baptist Bison
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds

WHEN
Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 - 1 p.m. vs. Oklahoma Baptist
Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 - 5 p.m. vs. Eastern New Mexico
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 - 11 a.m. vs. Oklahoma Baptist

WHERE
Rio Rancho, N.M. - Rio Rancho HS Softball Complex (770 Broadmoor Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124)

Leading Off
• The Grizzlies get the season started this weekend with a neutral site tournament. They will take on two non-conference opponents in Oklahoma Baptist out of the Great American Conference and Eastern New Mexico out of the Lone Star Conference.
• Adams State posted a 19-35 record in 2018 and went 14-22 against RMAC opponents. They made the conference tournament and went 2-2 as the No. 7 seed.
• Last season the Grizzlies were 5-9 in neutral site games. In the same tournament last season in Albuquerque, the Grizzlies faced five opponents and went 1-4 against tough competition.
• Adams State brings back 14 players from a season ago. They also bring in 13 true freshman and handful of transfers that will look help the team make a return trap to the RMAC Softball Tournament.

Quick Hits
Taylor at the Helm
• Head Coach Dervin Taylor enters his 12th season leading the Adams State Softball program. In 11 seasons of competition, Coach Taylor has posted a 266-272 overall record with the Grizzlies.

Returning Grizzlies
• Adams State does bring back a number of players from 2018 including three of their top-five hitters in Tyler Hays (.361; 1st), Brittany Phillips (.327; 3rd), and Shelby Haskins (.322; 4th). Hays was an All-RMAC Honorable Mention selection last season.

In the Circle
• The Grizzlies bring back one pitcher from 2018 in Brittany Phillips. In her first season, Phillips made 16 appearances to go along with nine starts. She finished with a 3-6 record in the circle and sported a 6.31 ERA in 67.2 innings of work.

Bat Power
• With the Grizzlies bringing back three of their top five hitters, home run power will look to help the team. Tyler Hays led the way in 2018 with 16 homers, while Brittany Phillips and Shelby Haskins combined for 11 homers. The Grizzlies will look to find their power early on to start the 2019 campaign.

RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll
• The 2019 RMAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll has the Grizzlies slated to finish ninth this season despite finishing seventh a season ago. The team garnered 55 points and was just one point back of CSU-Pueblo.

Scouting Oklahoma Baptist
• The Bison posted a 16-31 mark during the 2018 season and was 13-26 in GAC play. The team did not make the conference tournament last season and was picked to finish 10th in the 2019 GAC Coaches Preseason Poll.
• Oklahoma Baptist will play four games in the U.S. Bank ENMU Softball Classic Kickoff. Two games are against Adams State, with the other two coming against Fort Lewis College and Eastern New Mexico.
• The Bison are under the direction of first year Head Coach Sam Maples. Coach Maples leads the Bison after spending the previous four seasons at Colorado Christian. In 2018, she guided CCU to a program best 43 wins and a runner-up finish in the RMAC Softball Tournament.
• Cheyenne Demaree is the top returning hitter for OBU after hitting .352 a season ago. She was second on the team in home runs in 2018 with 10 total and had 45 hits on the season.
• Katie Long will lead the way inside the circle this season. She was the top pitcher on the team in 2018 with a 4.28 ERA in 21 game appearances to go along with 16 starts. She was 7-8  in pitched 91.2 innings.

Scouting Eastern New Mexico
• The Greyhounds posted a 18-34 mark during the 2018 campaign and was 9-21 in LSC play. They did not make the conference tournament and are picked to finish ninth in the 2019 LSC Coaches Preseason Poll.
• Like OBU, ENMU will play four games in the tournament this weekend. They take on Fort Lewis twice, Adams State once, and OBU once.
• The Greyhounds have a new head coach for the 2019 season in Kira Zeiter. Coach Zeiter does have an Adams State connection as she was an assistant coach for three seasons and had a successful playing career for the Grizzlies.
• Jennifer McElroy is the Greyhounds top returning hitter from last season. The sophomore was an All-Conference pick as true freshman after hitting .351 for the season. She led the team in RBI's with 36 to earn Third Team honors.
• Junior Samantha Brockman is the only other returning hitter that posted over a .300 hitting average in 2018. She also hit over .300 in 2017 as well.
• Inside the circle, Hanna Gary and Kimberly Herron will lead the way this season. Gary was the team leader in 2018 with a 5-7 record and sported a team best 5.94 ERA. Herron was 2-9 in the circle and had a 8.89 ERA for the Greyhounds.

Up Next
• The Grizzlies will head to another tournament next weekend in the ASU George & Okla McCorkle Challenge hosted by Angelo State. The Challenge will span three days from Feb. 8-10 in San Angelo, Texas.
• Adams State will only face two teams over the three-day span in host Angelo State and Texas A&M International.