Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

2023 CU Softball Preview

TwaitsBridgetAction2021aacbd

Softball | 1/23/2023 10:00:00 AM

For the past two seasons, the Clarkson University Softball team was eliminated from Liberty League playoff contention on the final weekend of the regular season, and the Golden Knights are eager to return to the conference tournament in 2023.

Guided by head coach Kristen McGaughey and assistant Lexi Smalarz, the Green and Gold will certainly miss the arm of two-time conference pitcher of the year Olivia Zoeller and the big bats of Sarah Vaccaro and Kayla Robert, but this year's group is more athletic around the diamond with players that can compete at multiple positions, allowing the coaching staff to juggle a lineup for the best matchups.

The team returns a pair of conference all-stars, including sophomore Zoey Kovach, who enjoyed a standout first season with a .422/.431/.531 slash line with each figure ranking in the top 15 in the Liberty League, and senior Bridget Twaits, who earned Liberty League First-Team status in her first full collegiate season in 2021. Overall, the squad is one full of youth with just two seniors.

In the circle is one of those seniors in the way of Riley Page. The tall righty tossed 35.1 innings in 2022, striking out 39 hitters as one of only eight pitchers in the league with more than one strikeout per inning. She also hit .464 in 29 plate appearances and will likely see her time at the plate increased, especially after smacking two home runs in limited at bats. Joining her as a stalwart of the rotation is sophomore Devin Fitzpatrick, another two-way player who will both pitch and see time at first base. Fitzpatrick struck out 39 in 49 innings of work, posting a 3.14 earned run average, and she also hit a home run and slugged .389 in 21 plate appearances. Newcomers Rylee Broadwell and Lily Corrice will also see time in the circle, likely getting most of their innings as relievers.

The infield will have two different starters in 2023, and the group will be mixed up frequently. Twaits will play at shortstop with junior Molly Pezzano also capable of seeing time there, but the duo could shuffle around in the middle infield. At first base, Becky Kennedy-Titsworth will be the starter for the third straight year, though Fitzpatrick will split time at the spot when not pitching. At the hot corner, sophomores Elizabeth Greco and Kaya Johnson will also split time, with the duo getting moved around the field as well.

Kovach was a frequent starter behind home plate in 2022, but the position has more depth this year with Greco likely seeing time, as well as speedster Katy Aldous. Aldous mostly came into games as a pinch-runner, swiping five bases in as many tries, while Greco hit .444/.538/.444 in 13 plate appearances as a freshman.

The outfield will be different than a year ago, as sophomore Emma Sabourin is the team's lone returning starter, and she will receive most of the time in centerfield. Bridget Kerwin, Aldous, Karyssa Parker, and Elissa Uveino also will get time on the grass.



 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Katy Aldous

#2 Katy Aldous

C/OF
5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R
Becky Kennedy-Titsworth

#11 Becky Kennedy-Titsworth

IF/OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Riley Page

#6 Riley Page

P/UT
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Molly Pezzano

#12 Molly Pezzano

IF
5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Kayla Robert

#4 Kayla Robert

IF
5' 5"
Senior
R/R
Bridget Twaits

#5 Bridget Twaits

IF
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Sarah Vaccaro

#10 Sarah Vaccaro

OF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Olivia Zoeller

#9 Olivia Zoeller

P/UT
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Bridget Kerwin

#1 Bridget Kerwin

OF
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
Devin Fitzpatrick

#3 Devin Fitzpatrick

P/IF
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Katy Aldous

#2 Katy Aldous

5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R
C/OF
Becky Kennedy-Titsworth

#11 Becky Kennedy-Titsworth

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
IF/OF
Riley Page

#6 Riley Page

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
P/UT
Molly Pezzano

#12 Molly Pezzano

5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Kayla Robert

#4 Kayla Robert

5' 5"
Senior
R/R
IF
Bridget Twaits

#5 Bridget Twaits

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
IF
Sarah Vaccaro

#10 Sarah Vaccaro

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
OF
Olivia Zoeller

#9 Olivia Zoeller

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
P/UT
Bridget Kerwin

#1 Bridget Kerwin

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Devin Fitzpatrick

#3 Devin Fitzpatrick

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
P/IF