OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 31, 2018) – Last season's Oklahoma Christian softball team was pretty much held together by bailing wire and bubble gum, and still the Lady Eagles – with just 11 available players – managed to post a solid 33-23 record and put themselves in the conversation for the NCAA Division II tournament.

They did so despite battling numerous injuries that – in most seasons – would have sidelined players. Instead, those players gained experience and developed toughness, and the good news for OC is eight of them – including the Heartland Conference's top pitcher – are back this season.

Even better news? They've got some significant reinforcements. There will be 16 players in uniform for the Lady Eagles when they open their season Friday morning against Washburn (Kan.) in the Southeastern Regional Invitational in Durant.

That will give head coach Tom Heath, associate head coach Jessica Ruckman and pitching coach Steve Gault options they simply didn't have available last season. If OC needs a dependable pinch-hitter or a speedy pinch-runner, or if a player is injured or struggling, there will be available teammates on the bench ready to step in and stand in the gap.

"There will be players on the bench that are power hitters and speedsters," Heath said. "We've got some really good speed this year and a lot of depth at different positions. We are going to have the luxury this year of playing several people. It doesn't matter who's in the lineup – we're capable of beating anybody, especially with our pitching staff."

As Heath noted, success in softball usually begins in the pitching circle, and the Lady Eagles have their top three hurlers back from last season. Junior left-hander Madison Hagood (16-12, 6 saves, 1.69 ERA) was the Heartland's pitcher of the year in 2018, while senior right-hander Madison Nordyke (8-7, 2.66 ERA) and junior righty Kaylie Upton (7-3, 4.26 ERA) also are more than capable of shutting down opposing lineups. Both made the All-Heartland second-team list last season.

Freshman Hannah Andrews will also pitch, working mostly in relief as she learns from the veterans, and another freshman hurler, Hannah Dean, will take a redshirt season.

Heath said all three returning pitchers have improved over last season, when they ranged from good to spectacular at times.

"We're in better shape now than we were last year," Heath said. "They all worked hard this summer and this fall and it should pay off."

When not pitching, Nordyke (.311, 1 home run, 17 RBIs) will play first base, and Upton (.278, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs) also figures to be somewhere in the lineup. Upton's versatility in the field – she played first base and two outfield positions in addition to pitching last season – gives the Lady Eagles choices as to where.

All-Heartland second-team pick Sheridan Fuller (.305, 1 home run, 16 RBIs) will bat leadoff for the fourth straight season and is a returning starter at second base. A master at getting on base – she posted a .431 on-base percentage last season – Fuller is a wily veteran who always seems to make the clutch play, whether on offense or defense. She led OC with 16 stolen bases last season.

Sophomore Caitlyn Young (.212, 13 RBIs) will move to shortstop, her natural position, this season from center field. Returning shortstop Lacey Davidson (.245, 1 home run, 20 RBIs) – a preseason All-Heartland selection – and Bailey Strecker, a transfer from NCAA Division I Saint Louis, give OC experience and offensive pop and both should see significant playing time at the middle infield positions or first base.

Junior Bridget White (.314, 5 home runs, 40 RBIs) is the Heartland's best defensive third baseman – with only six errors in 213 chances in 2017 – and one of the league's best hitters at that position as well. Ruckman thinks White will "bust out" offensively this year.

Playing college softball for the first time in three years will be senior transfer Jessica Killer, who will be the Lady Eagles' primary left fielder. Speedy junior-college transfer Hunter Strickland will be in center, while returnee Kayla Eichler (.267, 3 home runs, 21 RBIs) and freshman Daelyn Denny will share time in right field. Another freshman, Stevee McMillin, will provide critical depth for OC in the outfield, and Upton also could see time there.

OC has a huge hole to fill behind the plate with the graduation of current graduate assistant coach Niki Davidson – a four-year starter – but the coaches are confident the tandem of freshman Payton Sabolski and sophomore Kirsten Scott (who missed last season due to injury) will be successful in doing so.

"Kirsten caught some as a freshman and had a year of learning behind Niki," Ruckman said. "Payton is getting back in the mix after recovering from a broken ankle and we'll ease her back into it."

A change in the Heartland Conference's scheduling system also could help the Lady Eagles, as they'll play five games apiece against league foes, instead of only three, with a 3-2 split on hosting. That means every Heartland team will, at some point, have to play at OC's Tom Heath Field, where the Lady Eagles have established a strong home-field advantage the past four seasons.

OC was picked third in the preseason Heartland poll – behind perennial powers St. Mary's (Texas) and Lubbock Christian (Texas) – but the Lady Eagles did receive a pair of first-place votes, a sign of the growing respect Heath's program is gaining in the league.

"We did a lot more last year with 10 players than some people did with 20 or 25," Ruckman said. "That allows us to set the bar higher this year. We know now we have the depth that we needed last year to keep going at the end of the season. We've got some really, really good talent coming in, and what we had was great. It will be a huge boost to our season."