ROLLA, Mo. – Over the past two seasons, Missouri S&T's softball team has dealt with a handful of obstacles, including a shortened season due to COVID-19 and a transition year with many new faces in the lineup.

But the year of experience gained during the spring of 2021, as well as having success during the fall, provides head coach Cathy Monroe optimism that the 2022 season is one where the Miners can make strides on the field and move up in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings.

Missouri S&T gets its season underway on Friday when it takes part in the Music City Invitational in Nashville, Tenn., when it plays six games over a three-day period.  The first game will be against host Trevecca Nazarene at noon on Friday, followed by a matchup against Wisconsin-Parkside and two games apiece on Saturday and Sunday.

"We are excited to finally compete for the 2022 season," Monroe said.  "The team has been working extremely hard this fall and spring to get to this point.  We will be focused on our process and playing to our potential.  We have a team goal to qualify for the conference tournament but with a bigger focus on a one game at a time mentality."

The Miners return four or their top six hitters from last season, led by shortstop Madison Passolano (Mokena, Ill./Lockport Township) who led the way with a .328 average.  Passolano also led the team in several categories, including stolen bases with nine, hits with 41 and extra base hits with 12 that included three home runs.

Another of the top hitters, Taylor Caton (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West), will return at third base and will compete for that role along with returner Bryn Wooldridge (Salisbury, Mo./Salisbury) – who figures to play a utility role during the season as she will also be part of the pitching contingent.  Caton batted .255 last spring and drove in 15 runs while as a hitter, Wooldridge posted a .277 average and drove in 13.

The Miners are expected to have two new starters on the right side of the infield in Shannon Flowers (Katy, Texas/Katy) at first base and Baylee Jobson (Marceline, Mo./Marceline RV) at second.  S&T also has two newcomers, Shiane Taylor (St. Jacob, Ill./Triad) and Sydney Hart (Hannibal, Mo./Hannibal), who will look to compete for spots on the infield.

In the outfield, S&T returns two starters in Elizabeth Viox (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville) and Hannah Antzoulatos (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy), each of whom started a majority of the time together last season.  Viox started in all 42 games in center field and hit .262, while Antzoulatos hit .247 in 37 starts and recorded a team-high three triples while manning a corner outfield spot.

Returner Christina Eliopulos (Tinley Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) and newcomer Emma Vaughn (Pevely, Mo./Herculaneum), a transfer from Jefferson College, are expected to compete for the starting role in right field with fellow newcomers Madi O'Farrell (Olathe, Kan./Olathe Northwest), Peyton Dillon (Yorkville, Ill./Rosary) and Ciarrah Bell (Marceline, Mo./Marceline) all seeking to earn playing time in the outfield.

At the catcher position, the Miners return senior Ashley Davis (Erie, Ill./Erie) and sophomores in Chloe Saltijeral (North Aurora, Ill./Rosary) and Gretchen Roth (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South) that will battle for the starting spot.  Saltijeral saw the most playing time at the position during her freshman season, starting 17 times and hitting .239.  They will catch a staff that will be headed by Wooldridge, who struck out 40 hitters in 103 innings.

Freshman Julia Kanoy (Hamilton, Mo./Penney) is expected to compete for a starting role as well following a high school career where she struck out 850 hitters and had a 0.84 earned run average.  Veteran Charyle Rowland also returns after throwing 80 1/3 innings last spring, while newcomer Mayce Barber (Excelsior Springs, Mo./Excelsior Springs) will mainly pitch in a relief role and could be used in a utility role.

S&T also has several candidates to fill the designated player spot, with Davis in the mix along with Caton and Wooldridge.  Davis appeared in 23 games and made most of her starts at that position last season.

Missouri S&T will open its GLVC schedule on March 11 at William Jewell, then begins its home slate March 13 when it hosts Truman State to begin a 10-game homestand.