The 2024 St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees Softball season will kick off with a doubleheader scrimmage against Hawkeye Community College on Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Ambrose Dome. This will mark the start of Head Coach John Kelly's second season at the helm, but he expects the team will finish games they could not in the 2023 season.

"Our 2023 team was very talented, but not having a normal fall season – with my not being hired yet – we weren't able to consistently execute little things in big moments of close games, leading to 11 one-run losses. This fall season was very productive for the returners, as well as freshmen and transfers. I believe the 2024 team will be far better prepared physically and mentally to win those close games this upcoming season!"

Kelly welcomes back 13 returners, including nine juniors and seniors and fifth-year CCAC First Team All-Conference and NFCA All-Region pitcher/1B Erica Ralfs, First Team All-CCAC OF Shai Erdrich (44 SB), and Second Team All-CCAC SS Alyssa Schumacher. Those 13 are joined by a talented freshman class, including Iowa 3A All-State P Leah Maro, who attended nearby Assumption High School, Illinois 3A All-State OF Taylor Martyn and P Chloe Mitchell as well as three talented transfers, junior OF Mady Reed and P Cara Linnenkamp from Southeastern CC, and senior 1B and lefty Gracie Jevyak, also from Assumption HS, who transferred from Iowa Wesleyan.

The 50-game 2024 season will see the Fighting Bees play a highly competitive schedule against several NAIA ranked teams, as well as 2023 national tournament teams. The fun starts in the Ambrose Dome with three February weekends (Feb 10-11, Feb 17-18 and Feb 24-25) against top teams Madonna (RV), Concordia (RV), Mount Mercy (RV), and Aquinas.

The Fighting Bees will then hit the road to play in the Friends University tournament in Wichita, Kan., March 1-2 against No. 17 Ottawa, and 2023 national tourney participant Avila.

SAU will then return home to host perennial powerhouse Grand View (RV), before leaving for Florida to battle No. 22 Southeastern and other top Florida teams - Keiser, St. Thomas, Webber and Florida National.

CCAC play commences on March 27 at Roosevelt, with big games against No. 24 Saint Xavier on April 13, and St. Francis (RV) on April 20. The conference schedule ends on April 27 in South Bend, Ind., against IU-SB, before a final doubleheader at Indiana Tech (RV) on April 28.

The CCAC Tournament starts on May 2 in Crown Point, Ind. With the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round commencing on May 13.

Coach Kelly adds, "This team can compete against the best teams in the country, I have no doubt. Our ceiling is high! Our pitching, defense, speed, power, maturity and depth will make us a tough match-up for anyone. The team can't wait to get the season started!"