Expectations High For A Successful 2021 Season As Softball Opens Campaign On Saturday Versus D'Youville

Bridgeport, Conn.-2020 was a season of high expectations for the University of Bridgeport that never materialized due to the global pandemic.  Coming off a 2019 campaign that saw the Purple Knights win their first-ever East Coast Conference title and advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament for the first time in 30 years, UB, like all other athletic programs, was forced to shut down last March.  After over a year away from the diamond, Bridgeport softball returns to action this Saturday afternoon at 12 noon in Seaside Park hosting East Coast Conference newcomer, D'Youville College, and hopes are high for another stellar season, as the Purple Knights have been predicted to top the conference standings in this year's ECC preseason coaches' poll.  Saturday's action marks the beginning of a 24-game, East Coast Conference-only slate for head coach Dawn Stearns' team.

11 players are back from last year's squad that posted an 8-5 record before the forced shutdown.

Senior Elyssa Marmolejo (Rialto, Calif.) returns after batting .349 in 2020.  Classmate Kaira Ramon (Stamford, Conn.) brings her powerful bat back to the heart of the Bridgeport lineup.  In 2019, Kaira led the Purple Knights with a .391 batting average; to go along with three home runs and 35 runs batted in.  Last season, she batted .286 in 13 outings.  Senior Sarah Silver (Vernon, Conn.) was off to a fast start last season batting .313, and she will look to continue that hot start in 2021.  Sophomore Taylor Yates (Elk Grove, Calif.) got her UB career started with a bang last season clubbing three home runs and driving 10 during the shortened schedule.  Seniors Hope Lincoln (N. Providence, R.I.) and Samantha Ferreri (Hauppauge, N.Y.) plus sophomores Meg McFarland (Monroe, Conn.) and Hannah Kirk (Chino Hills, Calif.) also bring their talents back to the 2021 Purple Knights, as the team chases the ECC crown.

In the pitching circle, the talented trio of senior Miranda Hillman (Placentia, Calif.) plus sophomores Kaite Burawski (Hartley, Del.) and Samantha Schiebe (Monroe, Conn.) will look to shut down the opposition's offense.  Hillman went 2-2 last season with a 3.23 earned run average in five starts.  Burawski and Schiebe shined in their Bridgeport debuts last season.  Kaite went 4-3 with an impressive 1.93 ERA in seven starts, in which she worked five complete games, including a shutout, and struck out 46 batters in 36.1 innings pitched.  Samantha was a perfect 1-0 last season in four appearances.

Head coach Stearns, who enters season number 12 at UB, welcomes five quality newcomers to this year's Purple Knights program.

Fans can follow all the action of 2021 at www.ubknights.com where links for live stats and video of games will be posted.

2021 Spring Sports Attendance Policy

Attendance at 2021 University of Bridgeport Spring athletic events will be limited to members of the UB community (students, faculty and staff) only, who can show active compliance with the University's CoVID-19 protocols.

Access to the venues for women's lacrosse, softball and baseball will not open for spectators until 30 minutes before the scheduled event start time, and everyone will be required to wear approved face coverings and maintain social distancing rules.

Also, bleacher seating at baseball and softball contests will be limited to team members only to increase social distancing, so spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets, as standing will not be permitted near the backstops or the dugouts.