Coming off another season with a winning record the Mustangs will open up the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader starting at 3:00 pm against Feather River.

 

After a 2022 season, that saw the Mustangs go 22-21 and include players that had been with the program for years they will have more youth on the team this season. "We are a young team," said head coach Jim Fisher. "We have some players back that played a lot last year but now they have a new role. They aren't just supporting players as now they are leaders."

 

Among those players back that played at least 25 games last season are Madison Nelson, Danyelle Godoy, and Sydney Featherston. Godoy will be the team's leading returner at the plate as she drove in a third-best 24 runs last season. Featherston also broke the 20 runs batted-in mark as she hit eight extra-base hits and drove in 20 runs. 

 

"I think we have a more balanced lineup this season and we are going to be a gap to game hitting," said Fisher as they have just one player returning that homered last season, Godoy who hit one home run. Also expected to help is Alle Perea who played last season at Wayne State and should be starting in the infield along with newcomers Cheyenne Torrez and Erica Tovar.

 

Madison Nelson, Marisa Carranza, Gianna Carrion, and Jessenia Beltran will make up the pitching staff which has Fisher excited to see how it shakes out. Nelson led the pitching staff with nine wins last season while Carranza returns after a three-win season. "It's a nice mix with the two returners and then the two freshmen," said Fisher who would like to have multiple pitchers see time in the circle and not have to count heavily on just one pitcher throwing the bulk of the innings.

 

All home games this season will be played at the University of the Pacific as the Mustangs start the season with four straight home games before then going on the road for five straight.