TAMPA, Fla. – The Hampton University softball team, in its first season under head coach Joe DiPietro, will open the 2015 season this weekend with a slate of six games in the South Florida Under Armour Invitational, spanning Thursday through Sunday.
 
Schedule: Hampton at South Florida, Thursday at 7 p.m.; Hampton vs. Jacksonville, Friday at 11 a.m.; Hampton vs. Florida, Friday at 4 p.m.; Hampton vs. Jacksonville, Saturday at 9 a.m.; Hampton vs. Illinois State, Saturday at 11:15 a.m.; Hampton vs. Michigan, Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
Live Stats: Click here.
Live Video: South Florida game only.
 
The Opponents: Hampton has never faced South Florida, Jacksonville, Illinois State, or Michigan. The Lady Pirates are 0-1 against Florida, losing to the Gators in the 2013 Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
 
New Era: The 2015 season will mark DiPietro's first season as head coach of the Hampton University softball program; he takes over after serving in the same capacity at Temple for five seasons – where he won 115 games. DiPietro will be joined on the staff by assistant coaches Michael Pelegrino and Kendra Knight; Pelegrino served as interim head coach last season for the Lady Pirates, winning 29 games.
 
Lady Pirates Picked to Win North: The Lady Pirates were picked to win the MEAC Northern Division this season, racking up 10 first-place votes in a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Lady Pirates won a share of the MEAC Northern Division crown last season with a 15-3 conference record, a season after winning the regular-season crown outright.
 
Jackson Preseason Pitcher of Year: Senior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.), the two-time reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Year, has been named the conference's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Jackson won 19 games – including 10 in conference play – en route to a 2.69 ERA and First Team All-MEAC honors.
 
Budden, Wilkins Recognized: Sophomore Danielle Budden (Jackson, N.J.) and graduate student Margaret Wilkins (Tustin, Calif.) were each named Preseason First Team All-MEAC. Wilkins was fourth in the MEAC in batting last season at .403, and she was second in the conference with 46 runs scored. Budden, who was named First Team All-MEAC last season, was third on the team with a .342 batting average, and she led the team with six home runs.
 
McCoy Also Recognized: Junior Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.) was named Preseason Second Team All-MEAC, coming off a 2014 season that saw her lead the team with a .979 fielding percentage and rank second on the team in batting with a .348 batting average. She had a team-high 15 doubles and was 8-for-9 in stolen bases.
 
Games Galore: With their six games at this weekend's USF Under Armour Invitational, the Lady Pirates are embarking on a packed schedule – particularly in non-conference play. On Feb. 7-March 1, Hampton will compete in the UNC Greensboro Tournament, playing five games over the course of three days, before playing five more games from March 6-8 in the Lady Pirates Classic. On March 10-14, Hampton will compete in the Rebel Games, competing in eight games over the course of five days.
 
Winning and More Winning: The Lady Pirates have won 88 games over the past three seasons, including 34 wins in the 2013 season in which Hampton won both the MEAC Northern Division regular-season title and the MEAC Tournament crown. Hampton won 29 games last season, advancing to the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament.
 
For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.