ROLLA, Mo. – The more things change, the more they stay the same may be the catchphrase for Missouri S&T's softball team as it gets ready to begin its 2023 season.

The start of the new season also brings about the start of a new era for the program, as Bryan Howard has taken the reins as the head coach for the Miners as it prepares to open its season Friday at the Music City Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.  But while the Miners have a new coach leading the program, the team Howard will put on the field is almost identical to the one that finished last year at 24-26 and was in contention for a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament all the way to the final day of the season.

"The team has been working hard in the weight room and on the field," Howard said.  "It's been a completely new way of approaching practice, but they have adjusted well. They are an extremely driven group."

S&T lost just one player off its roster from last season – designated player Ashley Davis (Erie, Ill./Erie) – meaning the eight regular starters from a year ago and its entire pitching staff is back in the fold.  The Miners bring back eight players who had at least 100 at-bats last spring, plus their top hitter from two seasons ago that battled through injury issues for much of last year.

Hannah Antzoulatos (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) led the Miners in several offensive categories during the 2022 campaign, as she batted .327 with six home runs, 28 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases while playing solid defense all season in center field.  She will head up the group of outfielders that will include returning starter Elizabeth Viox (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville), who hit .318 a year ago and part-time starters Christina Eliopulos (Tinley Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) and Ciarrah Bell (Marceline, Mo./Marceline), who could also be a candidate for the vacant designated player role.  Other candidates in contention for roles in the outfield include Madi O'Farrell (Olathe, Kan./Olathe Northwest) and Peyton Dillon (Yorkville, Ill./Rosary).

On the infield, the other top offensive forces return in first baseman Shannon Flowers (Katy, Texas/Katy), who tied Antzoulatos for the team lead in home runs and knocked in a team-high 36 last spring and Madison Passolano (Mokena, Ill./Lockport Township), who hit .342 in just 79 at-bats as she missed two stretches of time due to injuries.  Passolano, the leading candidate to start at shortstop and a .341 hitter during the 2021 season, also reached base more than 40 percent of the time last season.

S&T also has back returning starters Emma Vaughn (Pevely, Mo./Herculaneum) at third base and Baylee Jobson (Marceline, Mo./Marceline RV) at second, while other contenders for starting roles include returners Taylor Caton (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West) and Shiane Taylor (St. Jacob, Ill./Triad) as well as the lone freshman on the roster, Alyssa Haile (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell Central).

Chloe Saltijeral (North Aurora, Ill./Rosary), who handled the bulk of the catching duties last season, returns as does Gretchen Roth (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South) and Rachel Smith (Monroe City, Mo./Monroe City R-1), who did not play last spring but did make 13 starts in the 2021 season.

They will catch the four returning pitchers to the roster, headed by Bryn Wooldridge (Salisbury, Mo./Salisbury) who went 12-10 with a 3.69 earned run average in a team-high 142 1/3 innings.  Charlye Rowland (Pearcy, Ark./Lake Hamilton) won 10 games in the circle and recorded a 3.87 ERA, while sophomore Julia Kanoy (Hamilton, Mo./Penney) fanned 59 hitters in 45 innings of work a year ago.  S&T's fourth pitcher, Mayce Barber (Excelsior Springs, Mo./Excelsior Springs), appeared in 10 games last spring.

"We expect to compete hard and make the conference tournament," Howard said. "That won't be enough though, as we feel we can make a run once we're in it. If we continue to work hard and progress, there's no reason why we wouldn't."

The Miners will play six games over three days in Nashville, starting with games Friday against Findlay and Trevecca Nazarene, then play six more the following weekend in Owensboro, Ky., in the Blue Bridge Battle and five additional games in the MIAA/GLVC Crossover in Joplin from March 3-5.  After playing those 17 games away from Rolla, the Miners will play at home for the first time on March 8 when they begin their 16-game home slate against Augustana at the S&T Softball Field.