JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University Lady Bulldogs were selected to finish seventh in the GSC standings for the 2024 season (voted by coaches)Last season under first-year head coach Sydney Sturner, the Lady Bulldogs made their second consecutive GSC tournament appearance. Union ended the 2023 season 24-26 overall (13-15 GSC), good enough for seventh place and a conference tournament birth.As a team in 2023 Union batted .304/.353/.476 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage). Returning to the lineup from the heavy hitting 2023 roster is Preseason All-GSC selection Macey Neal (voted by coaches). Macey slashed .453/.485/.776 last season for Sturner’s offense and finished the 2023 season with a GSC First Team All-Conference selection as well as set a school record with a 21-game hit streak.
Macey Neal on the upcoming season:
“I’m super excited to see what God has in store for our team this upcoming season. We lost some key pieces from last season but have improved every day in preparation for the new season. We will have new faces stepping into a larger role, and I am excited for them. We have introduced a new assistant coach, Bryan Wallen, who has already made an immediate impact on our roster. Our team also gained a lot of new underclassmen that have bought into our culture and will have the opportunity to make a footprint in the softball program early in their careers. This team has more chemistry than any other team I have played on here at Union. As a team, we want to give God all the glory and let him guide us throughout the season.”Another big piece to the Bulldog offense is the return of third-year center fielder Morgan Jennings who provides speed and a reliable left-handed bat in the Lady Bulldogs’ lineup. Jennings has batted over .340 in both of her years as a Lady Bulldog and collected 77 hits in 87 total games played. On the mound, Union returns all of their innings from the 2023 season. Riley Vaughn, who had an incredible freshman season, returns to the center of the diamond for the Lady Bulldogs in 2024. Vaughn finished the 2023 season with a 12-12 record and a sub 4.00 ERA and collected 153 strikeouts in 138.2 innings pitched.
As for newcomers, Lainey Baker and Sarah Kate Thompson were selected for the newcomers watch list. Baker transferred in from Sanford University where she tossed 41.2 innings. Sarah Kate Thompson is a junior college transfer from Itawamba Community College. Thompson batted .348 during her sophomore season at Itawamba.Union’s 2024 schedule features trips to Valdosta State University, University of West Florida, University of Alabama at Huntsville, Christian Brothers University, and the University of Auburn in Montgomery. Union will play host to Lee University, Shorter University, Delta State University, the University of West Alabama, and the University of Montevallo.The Lady Bulldogs’ season begins in Youngsville, La., at the Mardi Gras invitational on Feb. 2nd where they will play Harding University in their first game of the 2024 campaign. Visit uuathletics.com for everything Lady Bulldogs softball.
