Jeremy Enlow

Softball 2/9/2021 1:51:00 PM

SB Class Preview: Seniors

ABILENE - Rounding out the softball class previews is a group of dedicated seniors who have been a huge part of helping the program transition under the new coaching staff. These athletes bought in to Coach Farler's mission and have been great leaders even in the a period of uncertainty and adversity. With a new season on the horizon and a chance to get back to competition they are ready to get back on the field and prove that they can compete and win in the conference.

This senior class is special. They have done a tremendous job of leading the squad so far this year. They are positive, driven, coachable and they show up wanting to be pushed every day. It has been so fun to watch each one of them grow in their leadership ability this year. They have embraced change and taken on whatever roles needed in order to help this program be the best it can be.

Head Coach, Abigail Farler

#1 Blakeli Brookreson

Appeared in 90 career games, mostly as a pinch runner or pinch hitter.
Made six starts for ACU last season

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (vs. Alcorn State, 2/23/20)
Runs: 1 (22 times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Runs Batted In: 1 (three times; last vs. Mississippi Valley State, 2/23/20)
Walks: 1 (four times; last vs. North Texas, 3/1/20)
Stolen Bases: 1 (14 times, last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)

On her season expectations:

“I am expecting us to come out with high intensity and confidence, and for us to get some dubs.”

#4 Linsey Tomlinson

Tomlinson will be out for the 2021 season due to injury
She will use this season as a redshirt year and will return for another year of competition in 2022

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (two times; last at Texas A&M, 2/9/20)
Runs: 3 (vs. Maine, 3/2/19)
Runs Batted In: 4 (vs. AMCC, 4/27/19)
Doubles: 2 (vs. AMCC, 4/27/29)
Homeruns: 1 (three times; at Houston Baptist, 5/3/19)
Walks: 2 (vs. North Dakota State, 2/10/19)
Stolen Bases: 2 (two times; last at Texas A&M, 2/9/20)

On her season expectations:

“Being injured has really shown me a different side of softball and I have a different appreciation for the game. I’ve seen these girls work so hard this year and I am so proud of the team we’ve become. We have faced so much adversity and I believe we will be successful this season because of it.”

"Blakeli is a huge part of the personality of this team. She bring so much life and energy to the field every day, she really brings out the best in her teammates. Blakeli has grown so much this year with her skills as an outfielder and a slapper. We look forward to seeing her compete with confidence this Spring."
“Losing Linsey this season to a significant injury was a big loss for our program. Linsey brings so much energy to the field, she is a fire starter and energizes her teammates. We are excited that she has decided to use her redshirt year to come back to play for us next season. She will add a lot of depth for us in the outfield, offensively with her versatility, and on the basepaths with her speed.”

#7 Briana Tijerina

Has appeared in 102 games in her career making 92 starts
Led the team with 22 walks in 2019
Hit .301 and scored 11 runs in 2020

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (two times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Runs: 2 (two times; last vs. Missouri State, 2/14/20)
Runs Batted In: 3 (vs. Detroit Mercy, 2/21/20)
Doubles: 2 (vs. Detroit Mercy, 2/21/20)
Triples: 1 (four times; last at McNeese, 3/6/20)
Walks: 4 (vs. SFA, 4/20/19)
Stolen Bases: 1 (nine times, last vs. Northwestern, 2/29/20)

On her season expectations:

“I expect our team to come out and compete. Even in moments of adversity, I expect us to fight back and find ways to win.”

#8 Katelyn Belch

Appeared in 106 games in her career, starting 93
As a freshman, hit the walkoff homerun to beat Texas Tech, 11-10
Last season totaled 13 hits with two double and a homerun

Career Highs

Hits: 4 (vs. Incarnate Word, 3/29/19)
Runs: 4 (vs. Incarnate Word, 3/29/19)
Runs Batted In: 2 (seven times; last vs. Creighton, 2/15/20)
Doubles: 1 (six times; last at Oklahoma, 2/28/20)
Triples: 1 (two times; last vs. North Texas, 3/26/19)
Homeruns: 1 (four times; last vs. Creighton, 2/15/20)
Walks: 2 (three times; last vs. North Dakota St., 2/10/19)
Stolen Bases: 2 (four times; last vs. AMCC, 4/26/19)

On her season expectations:

“I expect us to come out each game and compete to our highest potential. We have a really good team this season and I am excited to see what we can do.”

“Bri is a great team player for us. She has the potential to contribute in multiple positions on defense for us this year and is a valuable asset with her slapping ability. Bri has done a great job this year investing in her teammates spiritually. We appreciate her optimism and humility. Her consistently strong character has helped create a positive culture in this program.”
“It has been so much fun watching Kate grow as a third baseman and leader in our infield. She comes to practice every day ready to grow and be challenged. She has elevated everyone around her with her willingness to be pushed. Kate brings a ton of options for us at the plat and we are excited to see where she lands in the lineup because she is so versatile.”

#9 Donelle Johnson

Johnson had dealt with a number of injuries since joining the Wildcats but her career still stands out
She is a four-time selection to the Southland Commissioner's Honor Roll and was named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2017
Earned Third Team All-Southland recognition as an outfielder in in 2018

Career Highs

Hits: 2 (19 times; last at SFA, 5/4/18)
Runs: 3 (two times; last vs. Sam Houston State, 4/20/18)
Runs Batted In: 4 (vs. Southern Illinois, 2/10/18)
Doubles: 2 (four times; last vs. Sam Houston State, 4/20/18)
Homeruns: 1 (eight times; last at SFA, 5/5/18)
Walks: 3 (vs. NBowling Green, 3/6/18)
Stolen Bases: 1 (seven times, last vs. Incarnate Word, 4/13/18)

On her season expectations:

“My expectation is for the team to gain and keep momentum throughout the season. I expect us to be a versatile team who can deal with anything we encounter and let our momentum carry us all the way to the conference tournament.”

#10 Caroline Adair

Appeared in 142 games making 117 starts
Hit her first career homerun against PVAMU, a grand slam to send the game to extra innings with ACU getting the win
Nine of her 14 hits in 2020 were extra-base hits

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (four times; last vs. Mississippi Valley State, 2/23/20)
Runs: 2 (10 times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Runs Batted In: 4 (vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Doubles: 2 (vs. Alcorn State, 2/23/20)
Triples: 1 (three times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Homeruns: 1 (vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Walks: 1 (12 times; last vs. Northwestern, 2/29/20)
Stolen Bases: 1 (seven times, last vs. Maine, 3/1/19)

On her season expectations:

“My expectation is just to come out and have fun , especially with our new appreciation for being back on the field, and enjoy the game of softball again.”

“Don has overcome a lot during her time as a Wildcat. She has fought through numerous injuries and is committed to finishing out her career as strong as possible. It has been exciting to watch Don compete at multiple positions on defense for us. She is versatile and is a true utility for us. We anticipate her playing most of her innings in the outfield, but she is fully capable of jumping into the infield for us if needed this season. Her baserunning will be exciting for our fans to watch this year!”
“We are so glad that Caroline was able to come back and play for us for one more season. Caroline is a truly gifted outfielder who does a great job of leading that part of the field. We anticipate her making a lot of exciting, game changing plays in centerfield this season. Caroline is an exciting player to watch offensively as well. She has put in a lot of work in the offseason and we cannot wait to see it payoff for her and the team!”

#20 Kayla Keeling

Appeared in 112 games making 109 starts
Ranks in the top 10 of ACU's DI history for career batting average (.281), hits (85), RBI (51), and homeruns (11)
Led the team with 13 walks last season

Career Highs

Hits: 3 (three times; last vs. Mississippi Valley State, 2/16/19)
Runs: 1 (26 times; last vs. North Texas, 2/28/20)
Runs Batted In: 4 (at Sam Houston State, 4/12/19)
Doubles: 1 (six times; last at McNeese, 3/7/20)
Triples: 1 (three times; last at Lamar, 3/8/19)
Homeruns: 1 (11 times; last vs. North Texas, 2/28/20)
Walks: 2 (five times; last vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Stolen Bases: 1 (at Lamar, 3/8/19)

On her season expectations:

“I expect us to come out and compete with passion. We want to be the team that nobody wants to play against because we bring everything we have to each game.”

#33 Samantha Bradley

Named to the Southland All-Academic second team in 2019 and the first team in 2020
Named to the Preseason All-Southland first team for 2021
Led the team with a .357 batting average last season, totaled 25 hits with six doubles and three homeruns
Made 13 starts in the circle and had 30 strikeouts and a 3.99 ERA in 2020

Career Highs

Hits: 4 (at Houston Baptist, 5/4/19)
Runs: 2 (two times; last vs. Maine, 3/2/19)
Runs Batted In: 5 (vs. Missouri State, 2/14/20)
Doubles: 1 (14 times; last at McNeese, 3/7/20)
Triples: 1 (vs. Maine, 3/1/19)
Homeruns: 1 (five times, last vs. North Texas, 3/1/20)
Walks: 1 (13 times; last vs. North Texas, 3/1/20)
Stolen Bases: 0
Innings pitched: 8.0 (vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)
Strikeouts: 8 (vs. Prairie View A&M, 2/25/20)

On her season expectations:

“I expect our team to have a lot of energy and confidence as we face each team this season.”

“Kayla's leadership on the field is huge for us. She is vocal and confident. Kayla takes a lot of pride in mentoring the other catchers on the team and it shows. It has been fun to watch Kayla continue to grow offensively for us and to even become a threat as a baserunner.”
“Sam will be a critical part of our success this season. She has grown a lot mentally and physically as a pitcher and has been willing to be coached and refined. She has several tools as a pitcher that she has really narrowed down, we look forward to seeing those play out against outside competition. At the plate, Sam has incredible pop and potential to do damage scoring a lot of runs.”

As most of these athletes will see their softball careers come to an end after this season, you can feel the passion and excitement they have to go out there and leave it all on the field. These players have been anxiously waiting to get back on the field since their season was cut short a year ago and it is evident that they have grown physically, mentally, and spiritually as they prepared for this spring. This class has become phenomenal leaders on and off the field, and they are going to make a noticeable impact on the field this season.

The Wildcats will now open their season at UTEP where they will face the Miners as well as No. 4 Oklahoma. First pitch for the Wildcats will be at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 against the Miners. Stay tuned to the ACU Softball social accounts and the athletics website for any and all updates throughout the season.