LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Softball team is all set to open up their 2025 season at the Gulf Shores Invitational this weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

West Alabama will kick things off against North Georgia at 10:00 a.m. on Friday before finishing the day with a matchup with Rogers State at 12:15 p.m. On Saturday, the Tigers are slated to play Barry at 9:30 a.m. and Florida Tech at 11:45 a.m. before closing this weekend's play on Sunday with contests against Nova Southeastern and Spring Hill at 11:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

"We are excited to play in the Gulf Shores tournament," said head coach Stephanie Defeo. "The competition will be tough and a great way to start the season. We have a very talented team and I know this will be a good challenge for us."

In 2025, the Tigers return a bulk of their roster that put together a 34-20 overall record a season ago. UWA is primed for a special campaign as they bring one of the most talented groups in the GSC into the new year. Preseason All-GSC selections, Marissa Mitchell and Madison Wright spearhead the roster as both are recognized around the league as two of the best players at their respective positions. 

Mitchell comes into the new season after a breakout 2024 campaign that resulted in the Shortstop being named the GSC Player of the Year, a First Team All-Region and Second Team All-American selection. The Senior led the country in RBIs with 82 while ranking second in the GSC with 23 Home Runs all while compiling a .426 batting average.

As for Wright, she is the ace of the UWA rotation. The lefty won 23 games on the mound for West Alabama last year, striking out 186 batters in a conference-high 217.0 innings. Wright will more than likely get the ball in a handful of games this weekend as she's set to begin her final collegiate season  on Friday. 

While Mitchell and Wright headline the roster, they are surrounded by talented and versatile players such as Ann Marie Stanbridge, Taylor Clegg, Eleanor De Block, etc. Stanbridge has been a staple in the Tigers lineup since she arrived as a freshman in 2023. The First Baseman has started 109 games in two seasons and comes into the 2025 campaign after hitting .345 in 2024 along with 16 Home Runs and 54 RBIs. Clegg can play all over the diamond, giving Coach Defeo flexibility while also being a productive bat in the lineup. Last season, Clegg hit .325 and swiped 15 bases in 18 attempts. For De Block, she will give West Alabama additional pitching depth along with newcomer, Megan Roe.

Opening weekend will be no cake walk for the Tigers as all six of their opponents combined for a 225-99 overall record with none standing taller than North Georgia. UNG enters the 2025 season as the eight-ranked team in the country after a 52-13 campaign in 2024. The Nighthawks had 10 players hit over .300 last season but lost a good chunk of them as they only return Rylie Moody, Grayson Perry, and Marycille Brumby. Even though North Georgia lost talent in the offseason, they've reloaded and will present an excellent opening day challenge for the Tigers. 

For Rogers State, they went 46-12 last season and return two of the best pitchers in the Central Region in Harley Culie and Jade Sanders. Culie and Sanders combined for a 1.59 ERA in 214.2 combined innings last season and will attempt to neutralize UWA's power hitting lineup.

Barry is a balanced team that realized a 34-18 season in 2024. The Bucs offensive M.O. is contact and speed while sophomores Samantha Rosenberger and Alexis Martin will carry out majority of the work on the mound. 

Florida Tech compiled a 25-21 record last year and bring back their top contact hitter and pitcher in Celeste Casillas and Adrian Hendrian to kick off their 2025 campaign.

Nova Southeastern was one of the better teams in the South Region a year ago as they finished 39-14. Two of the Sharks' top hitters in Gianna Russo and Maliyah Lawson return for their Junior and Sophomore seasons after both hit .331 last season along with 51 combined RBIs.

West Alabama will conclude the weekend with their matchup against Spring Hill. The Badgers went a perfect 22-0 in the SIAC last season but finished 7-21 in non-conference play, including 0-16 against the GSC with four of those losses coming to UWA. Third Baseman, Meadow Villar, is back for her encore season after leading Spring Hill in all of the major offensive categories in 2024.

West Alabama is all set for opening weekend with matchups against North Georgia and Rogers State on Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., Barry and Florida Tech on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., and Nova Southeastern and Spring Hill on Sunday at 11:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.