FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s softball team will open its 2008 season on Saturday (Feb. 9) at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken, S.C. The Patriots will play the University of Charleston (W.V.) at 1 p.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan College at 3 p.m., both at Aiken’s Citizens Park.

FMU will open its home slate on Monday afternoon with a 2 p.m. Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern State University.

Fourth-year head coach Stacey Vallee welcomes back 14 letterwinners, including six position starters, the designated hitter, and one starting pitcher, from the 2007 squad that finished 34-16, spent five weeks in the Top 25 poll, and for the fourth straight year, narrowly missed earning a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament. FMU tied for fifth during the PBC regular season.

In the recent PBC preseason coaches’ poll for 2008, FMU was tabbed to finish sixth.

Leading the returnees is two-time All-PBC middle infielder Allie Aleman (.355 avg., 9 HRs, 43 RBIs); 2006 All-PBC and first-team All-Region selection Shannan Tyson (.380, 1 HR, 21 RBIs); and senior first baseman Monica Wofford (.345, 2 HRs, 24 RBIs). Aleman owns career totals of 19 home runs and 105 RBIs in 127 games. Tyson has fanned only eight times in 324 career at bats, while Wofford is third all-time in NCAA II history with 42 hit-by-pitches. Wofford was also named to the 2008 preseason All-PBC squad.

“We are experienced – a year older – with three seniors and 10 juniors,” Vallee said. “In particular, we have two very hungry four-year seniors (Aleman and Wofford) who have been through the last few seasons of almost making the NCAAs. They know what needs to get done.

“Our offense is in good form and that should be one of our greatest strengths. I feel as though I have a lot of options with our infield, all of which I feel good about.”

Returning on the mound is sophomore left-hander Michael Wolf, who as a freshman became only the second Patriot hurler in the past 18 years to win 20 games.  She compiled a 21-10 record with a 2.26 earned run average and a school-record 193 strikeouts in 216.2 innings.

Three junior college transfers and one freshman comprise the squad’s newcomers for 2008.

“Transfer Jessie Alesi will help relieve some of the pressure off Wolf on the mound,” Vallee added. “She can also hit, as evidenced by her numbers in junior college, so she will be in the lineup at times when she is not pitching. Another transfer Nicole Reuter will be look to for help in the outfield and to hit in the middle of the batting order.”

The Patriots' 45-game schedule includes eight home doubleheaders, the annual Patriot Invitational Tournament (a three-day 33-team event at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex), and the inaugural Eastern Carolina Softball Classic. Francis Marion will also host the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, April 18-20, at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex.

Francis Marion has won at least 30 games nine of the last 11 campaigns, and is 101-18 over the past 12 seasons during the month of February. This year’s schedule includes 6 home doubleheaders in February.