CHARLOTTE, NC (February 1, 2023) – For the third season in a row, the Claflin University softball team was picked to finish first in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Pre-Season Predicted Order of Finish. The Lady Panthers will have a strong team to lead the way this season with four Lady Panthers earning spots on the CIAA Pre-Season All-Conference Team.
The first place ranking comes as no surprise for the Lady Panthers as the team claimed the 2022 CIAA Softball Championship and made an historic run to a runner-up finish in the 2022 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region. The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 23-15 overall record and a 15-1 record in CIAA play. In addition to claiming the conference title, the Lady Panthers also claimed the CIAA Southern Division championship.
The Lady Panthers will return with some of the top talent in the conference on the field. Claflin senior first base Alexandria Beavers, senior outfielder Brenay Howard, senior designated player Jaelyn Jackson, and sophomore outfielder Kennedy Baskerville all earned spots on the 2023 CIAA Pre-Season All-Conference team.
The Lady Panthers will open the 2023 softball season, Sunday, when the team hosts the Allen (S.C.) Yellowjackets at 1:00 p.m. For more information on Lady Panthers softball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.