University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagle Softball Opens Season with Coca-Cola Classic
2/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 8, 2012
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A new era in Southern Miss Softball begins on Friday, Feb. 8, when the Golden Eagles take on Central Arkansas at 5 p.m. in the opening game of the 2012 Coca-Cola Classic under new co-head coaches Jon Malgradi and Kirsten Voak.
"We're more than excited to get this season underway," said Voak. "Our team has put in an incredible amount of work in their fall and preseason workouts to get prepared for the year. As a coaching staff, we are just ready to see them hit the field and realize their potential. We are expecting big things from this team in 2012."
The Golden Eagles will begin play on Friday at the newly renovated Southern Miss Softball Complex. With the addition of new banners to highlight the tradition of Southern Miss Softball, new outfield windscreens, and an updated player clubhouse, the complex has built on its standing as a top-flight facility to watch softball.
Central Arkansas and Rhode Island make up the three-team pool of the Coca-Cola Classic with the Golden Eagles playing each time twice.
Southern Miss will take on Central Arkansas on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 11, at 12:30 p.m. The final two games of the Golden Eagles' slate will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday when the team takes on the Rams of Rhode Island.
Rhode Island returns 11 position players and four pitchers from a squad that finished 7-46 a year ago while Central Arkansas finished off their 2011 campaign with a 26-30 record but return three first-team all-Southland Conference selections.
The Rams and Bears will also play each other at 10 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday to complete the five-game event.
Season tickets are still available for $60 for reserved chairback seats while general admission bleacher tickets run for $40. Single game tickets are also available for $8 for reserved chairback seats. General admission seats can be purchased for $6 for adults and $4 for youth, ages 3-17. Tickets can be purchased before gameday online, at the Pat Ferlise Ticket Center or by calling the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425). Tickets can also be purchased at the gate.
-SouthernMiss.com-
