MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The University of West Alabama softball team opens its season in the 2014 Bobcat Bash hosted by Georgia College on Saturday. The Tigers will face the Bobcats in a double-header in the first day of the invitational, followed by a double-header against Georgia Southwestern on Sunday.

UWA enters the 2014 season after its third straight trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament and a 30-20 overall, 16-14 Gulf South Conference, finish in 2013.  

"We just need to come out and not try to do so much," UWA head softball coach Will Atkinson said. "Our pitchers need to take control of the strike zone and give our defense a chance to make plays.

"Both of these teams will be a good test for us moving forward," Atkinson said. "They are in the same situation as we are, having had to deal with inclement weather."

The Tigers return only four starters from a year ago, but boast 13 juniors and seniors. Atkinson is counting on that maturity, as well as strength at the pitching position, to continue his team on the path to the postseason.

"One of the big things for us this season is finding consistency. We have a lot of returning upper classmen with experience playing at the collegiate level," Atkinson said. "We need them to step up as leaders and perform.

"We are lacking some depth in our position players, but we will have a deeper pitching rotation than many other teams we will face this year. As long as our pitching gives us a chance, I know our defense will be solid for us."

Seniors Anna Shartzer and Whitney Brown are two returning starters expected to step up into larger leadership roles this season. Both were named to the pre-season All-GSC team earlier this week.

Junior's Alli Hall and Miriah Chaves are the two newest additions to the team, having joined the squad only two weeks ago. Their late arrival, however, has not been a detriment to the team.   

"This is a cool ball club. We have a lot of great personalities," said Atkinson. "They are solid ball players, but they are really good people. They have really jelled together well.

"We added two players at the break, and if anyone were to walk up and see our practice they would not be able to pick out the two people that have only been here two weeks. That really speaks to our maturity. It's just a matter of getting those first few games under our belt and doing the things we know how to do."

Both double-headers are set to start at 10 a.m. at the Peeler Complex on the campus of Georgia College.