LAWTON – The reloaded Cameron softball team begins their 2022 season at the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Tournament this weekend in Arkadelphia, Ark. 
 
Opening weekend for the Aggies consists of six games over a three-day span at a tournament hosted by Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist. After multiple schedules changes, the stage is set in Arkansas. On Saturday, CU takes on Oklahoma Baptist at 11 a.m. and then Ouachita Baptist at 1 p.m. Sunday, the Aggies battle Henderson State at 9 a.m. and then Arkansas-Monticello at 3 p.m. Opening weekend concludes on Monday when Cameron plays Emporia State at 11 a.m. and then HSU again at 1 p.m.
 
In the third season under head coach Kayla Adams, Cameron faces one of their biggest reloads of a roster in recent history, having to replace a quartet of four-year starters. After a 25-18 overall record and a 16-14 Lone Star Conference mark, the Aggies will look to return to the top of the league standings after being voted ninth in the LSC preseason poll back in January. 
 
Despite the losses from the 2021 roster, CU still features one of the top players in the LSC in second baseman Khmari Edwards. The 2019 All-American led the team with a .365 average in 2021 with 34 runs, 36 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. Adams also has the benefit of returning two-way player Breley Webb as well as Mikayla Richmond and Haley Castle, who were all three All-LSC selections as year ago. 
 
Webb hit .345 with 13 doubles and 20 RBI at the plate and posted a 3.26 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 88 innings in the circle. Adams also returns Jocelyn Bright who looks to take over the staff ace role after a successful end to her freshman campaign. Bright totaled 50 K's in 62.1 innings of work and ended the season with two complete-game gems against ranked Texas A&M-Commerce and Oklahoma Christian teams. 
 
Adams also expects newcomers Karis Clark, Josie Swafford, Alyssa Deanda and Kaiden Boren among others as well as returners Kylie French, Madyson Marvulli, and Maci McMurtrey to step up this season. 
 
The Lady Bison from OKBU are CU's top challenge. They were picked sixth in the Great American Conference preseason poll after going 21-20 last spring. They return Asia Henry and Emily Richardson in the lineup and Kayleigh Jones, an All-GAC pitcher, and Aspen Younce in the circle. Jones posted a 2.58 ERA and was fourth in the GAC with 134 strikeouts. When the two teams met last season, the Aggies won 12-0 behind a two homer, five RBI game by Castle and a no-hitter by Webb. 
 
Ouachita Baptist is picked to finish seventh in the GAC, right behind the Bison, after going 20-18 last spring. The Tigers return three All-GAC selections in Hope Waid, Heather Brown, and Nikki Schneider. Wade hit .377, Brown hit .383, and Schneider posted a 2.42 ERA in 2021. Cameron won 14-2 when the two teams met last season, with French providing three hits and three RBI in the win. 
 
After going 13-31 last spring, Henderson State enters the new year picked to finish 10th in the GAC led by Kaitlyn O'Quinn, Abbie Moore, and Monica Monreal. O'Quinn stole 26 bases last spring and hit .341, Moore had a team-best nine doubles, and Monreal hit .337. The two programs have not met since 2014 but will play twice this weekend. 
 
In their third year under head coach Kyle Lem, UAM enters the season picked eighth in the GAC after going 15-23 last season. Bailey Camp and Madison Morrissey both hit over .313 with at least 21 hits last season. Alexis Pevehouse and Jamie Franks each had over 35 K's in the circle for the Cotton Blossoms in 2021. CU and UAM have met twice all-time back in 2013. 
 
Emporia State was voted to finish ninth in the MIAA preseason poll, going 21-23 last spring. The Hornets return six players that started at least 10 games last season with three pitchers with starting experience. Emma Furnish was honorable mention all-conference, hitting .255 with 20 RBI and 21 runs scored in 2021. CU beat ESU when they last met in 2017. 
 
Live stats will be available for all six games this season thanks to both HSU and OBU sports information staff. Video should be available for all the games except the first game against the Reddies on Sunday morning. 
 
Next weekend, Cameron spends their first weekend at the Edmond Festival, playing five more games over a three-day span, Feb. 11-13 hosted. The first games at McMahon Field are scheduled for Feb. 16 against Southwestern Oklahoma State.