NASHVILLE - The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team is launching its 2024 season a day earlier than previously announced, The revised schedule is an attempt to dodge weather forecast for Albertville, Alabama, site of this week's Charger Chillout.
 
The Trojans new look schedule finds them opening with two games on Thursday, February 8 at the University of Alabama Huntsville Charger Chillout.
 
No. 24 (NFCA Preseason Top 25) Mississippi College is first on the 2024 slate with a 3:00 PM start time on Thursday. The two future Gulf South Conference foes will faceoff on American Field 2 at the Sand Mountain Park in Albertville, Ala. The Mississippi College Choctaws (4-0) are picked second in the Gulf South Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing second in the GSC last season.
 
The second game on Thursday is at 5:30 PM against the University of Montevallo. The 1-3 Falcons are also in the Gulf South and a future conference foe and are picked to finish eighth in the Gulf South this year. UM finished sixth in the GSC last year.
 
The first game on Friday finds the Trojans playing Young Harris College at 1:00 PM. The Mountain Lions are 4-1 on the year and picked to finish sixth in the Conference Carolina's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
The Trojans finish the trip with No. 12 UAH on Friday at 3:30 PM. The Chargers are 3-2 on the year and picked to finish first the Gulf South Conference. UAH won the GSC last year.
 

Thursday – 3 PM	Mississippi College	American Field 2
Thursday – 5:30 PM	University of Montevallo	American Field 3
Friday – 1:00 PM	Young Harris College	American Field 5
Friday – 3:30 PM	Univ. Alabama Huntsville	American Field 4

 
This is the seventh consecutive year the Trojans have opened the season at the UAH Charger Chillout. For the third year in a row, the event is being played at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville, Alabama. In addition to playing in the event every year since 2018. The Trojans also played in the Chillout in 2015 and 2016.
 
In their final season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Trevecca Trojans are picked to finish second, with six first-place votes, in the 2024 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Presented by Under Armour.   
 

2024 Great Midwest Preseason Coaches' Poll  Presented by Under Armour
PLACE	TEAM (First Place Votes)	POINTS
1	Hillsdale College (6)	175
2	Trevecca Nazarene Univ. (6)	168
3	Ohio Dominican Univ. (2)	165
4	Univ. of Findlay	146
5	Tiffin Univ.	127
t6	Northwood Univ.	117
t6	Cedarville Univ.	117
8	Ashland Univ.	100
9	Walsh Univ.	86
10	Malone Univ.	64
11	Thomas More Univ.	63
12	Lake Erie College	51
13	Kentucky Wesleyan College	48
14	Ursuline College	43

 
The pack at the top is of the poll is snug as the top three teams are separated by just 10 points in the preseason poll. No. 1 Hillsdale College received 175 votes with six first-place votes. No. 2 Trevecca received 168 votes with six first place votes. No. 3 Ohio Dominican University received 165 votes and two first-place votes. 
 
2024 ROSTER & SCHEDULE  
2024 Roster  
2024 Schedule  
 
The Trojans host the Music City Invitational Feb. 14, 16, 17, and 19. Cedarstone Park in Smyrna is the host for the event, but the Trojans play Quincy on campus on Monday, Feb. 19 to finish the Music City Invitational.
 
The game with Quincy is the first official home game and the last until the Trojans host Lake Erie College March 22. It is also their first home Great Midwest game. Before hosting the Storm, the Trojans play their first Great Midwest game in Ashland, Ohio against the Ashland Eagles on March 15.
 
The Great Midwest Championships are in Akron, Ohio this year at the fabulous Firestone Complex.
 
2022-2023 RECAP
Last season, the Trojans went 34-16 overall, finished third, 16-6, in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season. The Trojans went 2-2 in the G-MAC Championships.
 
Trevecca had a 12-game winning streak that lasted from March 7 through April 1. After finally dropping a game, ending the streak, the Trojans won 12 of the next 14. Together, the Trojans rolled off 24 wins over a span of 27 games.  
 
The Trojans hit 18 triples, double what they hit in 2022. Their home runs were significantly lower though, hitting just 18 compared to the 30 they hit in 2022.    
 
The Trojan pitching staff lowered its ERA in a full run in 2023 (2.42) over 2022 (3.84) season. Last season, the team had 13 shutouts to the 12 from the 2022 season.  
 
The Trojan pitchers struck out 240 batters, 20 more than the team did in four more games in 2022. In contrast, the team only allowed 51 free passes, 24 fewer than the 2022 season. The staff also gave up far fewer extra base hits, hit-by-pitch, and opponents hit just .229 against them (.257 in 2022).  
 
The team ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II rankings for Strikeout-to-walk ratio. Trevecca was also No. 12 in WHIP, No. 14 in Earned Run Average, No. 15 in stolen bases per game, No. 20 in Shutouts, and No. 22 in Triples.  
 
Individually, Gracie Kirby was No. 6 in NCAA Division II in Sac Flies. Kendall Andrews was No. 3 in Stolen Base Percentage, No. 11 in Triples and No. 17 in Triples Per Game. Ashlan Sensing was No. 2 in Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio and Walks Allowed Per Seven Innings. Sensing was also No. 7 in WHIP, No. 15 in Shutouts, No. 20 in Stolen Bases, and No. 33 in Strikeouts. Jessie Brown was No. 24 in Stolen Bases.  
 
Ashlan Sensing pitched a perfect game against Staten Island on March 9 at the PFX Spring Games in Florida. She followed that up with a no-hitter on April 27.  
 
2023-2024 OUTLOOK  
PREVIEW  
The 2024 Trojans welcomes six newcomers: four freshmen and two transfers with 14 returning to fill the 2024 roster.  
 
The freshmen are Raegan Hunter (Ashland, TN), Callie Williams (Griffin, GA), Addy Grace Summers (Nashville, TN), and Annabelle Ellis (Dickson, TN).   
 
The transfers are Kylie Chetakian (San Clemente, CA / Wheaton College) and Halle Grace Patton (Savannah, TN / Volunteer State CC).  
 
RETURNING  
The Trojans return three Great Midwest All-conference team athletes. Kendall Andrews, Anna Bennett, and Ashlan Sensing are on the first team. Additionally, Sydney McCormick is the 2023 Elite 26 Award recipient.  
 
Anna Bennett and Ashlan Sensing made the first team for the second year in a row. Kendall Andrews made the third team in 2022. Sydney McCormick, who missed games this year due to injury, was on the first team in 2022.   
 
Kendall Andrews and Anna Bennett both made the 2023 NFCA All-Region and 2023 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Midwest Region First Team. Kendall Andrews garnered the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) softball Player of the. She also was the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week.    
 
Ashlan Sensing was named Tennessee Sports Writer's Association (TSWA) Pitcher of the Week a combined three times in the 2023 season.   
  
Kendall Andrews | C – JR – 5-7 – Murfreesboro, TN / Blackman HS / UT Chattanooga  
Andrews was a D2CCA and NFCA All-Region, and Great Midwest First Team selection. She produced a .406 batting average while scoring 42 runs on 57 hits with nine doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, and 35 RBI. She added 38 stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .511 while slugging .757.
 
She finished #5 in triples in the nation and #13 in stolen bases.
 
In the Great Midwest, she finished first in stolen bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS, and walks. She was third in batting average, home runs, and runs scored. Additionally, she is also fifth in RBI.
 
Andrews also earned the Tennessee Sports Writer's Association Player of the Week (5/28) and the Great Midwest Player of the Week (4/19) honors this season.
 
Anna Bennett | OF – JR – 5-6 – Lebanon, TN / Lebanon HS  
Bennett was a D2CCA and NFCA All-Region, and Great Midwest First Team selection after she had a .401 batting average last season, scoring 34 runs on 67 hits. She added 16 doubles, five triples, and three home runs and drove in 30 RBI. She had six stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .441 while slugging .611.
 
She ranked nationally in doubles and triples.
 
In the Great Midwest, Bennett finished third in doubles, fourth in batting average, and fifth in triples. She is top ten in four other categories.
 
Ashlan Sensing | P – SO – 5-6 – Dickson, TN / Dickson HS  
Sensing finished the regular season with a 18-9 record in her 27 starts. In 182 innings pitched, she allowed 33 earned runs while striking out 190 batters resulting in a 1.27 ERA. She had 21 complete games and eight shutouts.
 
She was the Tennessee Sports Writer's Association (TSWA) Pitcher of the Week, March 14, 2023.   
 
COACH TYREE  
Ben Tyree begins his sixteenth season as the head coach at Trevecca. Tyree owns the most wins in Trevecca history and has tallied Greater Midwest wins than any other league coach. He has an overall record of 501-216-2.
 
He has accumulated a postseason record of 51-26 (32-18 D2 Era), and he surpassed the 500-win mark last season. He produced a 15-3 mark in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He has been named the Great Midwest Coach of the Year four times and has been voted the Coach of the Year seven times including the NAIA years.  
 
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE  
Home Games = 18  
Away Games = 14  
Neutral Games = 20  
 
THE TROJANS BY CLASS  
Freshmen = 4  
Sophomores = 5  
Juniors = 5  
Seniors = 6  
14 returners  
6 newcomers (4 freshmen / 2 transfers)