ANDERSON, S.C. -- Anderson University head softball coach Tommy Hewitt made it through his first season with just 11 players on the roster. This year, Hewitt will have more weapons. With a deeper pitching staff and a deeper overall roster, Hewitt is expecting the Lady Trojans to improve on last year's 20-32 record. Anderson, picked fifth in the CVAC preseason poll, opens the 2007 season Wednesday at USC Upstate. "We're going to have something this year we didn't have last year - depth," Hewitt said. "If somebody gets hurt, they're not going to have play hurt. If somebody gets tired, they're going to get a break. All of the players we have can play. I don't know where we'll wind up in the conference, but no one is going to out work us." Anderson smashed the school record for home runs in a single season last spring with 49. Anderson's 49 home runs also led the CVAC. The previous school record for home runs in a single season was nine. As a freshman, catcher Kayla Williams (.374) led the CVAC in home runs (17), RBI (49), and total bases (115). Shortstop Kayla Thrasher (.306) was second on the team and third in the league in home runs with 10. "The Kaylas didn't surprise me, but what surprised me was some of the others who hit four or five home runs," Hewitt said. "Stephanie Griffis hit five home runs. We had 11 players on the team and all but one hit at least one home run. What we did in practice with our swings made a difference. We have the potential this year to do better than we did last year." If Anderson is going to move up in the league standings, the pitching and defense will have to improve. Anderson finished ninth in fielding and 10th in team ERA last spring. "We led the CVAC in home runs, but we also probably led the league in home runs allowed," Hewitt said. "We've got to do a better job of keeping the ball off the plate. Last year, we had just two pitchers. If they got in trouble, we had no place to go. This year, I will have the flexibility to bring in a pitcher for one batter or have starting pitchers pitch three innings and then bring in a fresh arm." Anderson's pitching staff starts with seniors Ashley Rogers (3-5, 3.55) and Stephanie Griffis (12-15, 4.66). Rogers missed most of last season because of an arm injury. The two additions to the pitching staff are sophomore Katie Van Gieson and freshman Donya Cobb. "Ashley got hurt in the first game and was lost for most of the year," Hewitt said. "She has fought back and gone through rehab. She is throwing real hard." The infield will feature freshman Mickie Brown at first base, sophomore Ellen Steele (.239) at second base, Thrasher at short, and freshman Meredith Knox at third base. "Mickie is a tall target at first and she's going to be amazed at how much power she has," Hewitt said. "Ellen is the quickest second baseman I've seen in a long time. Kayla is very solid and she's a step or two quicker. Meredith will firm up the left side. She will get to a lot of balls hit in the hole between third and short." Two veterans - junior Melissa Carmichael (.238) and sophomore Allison Cromer (.279) - return to the outfield. Freshman Kasey King also will get some time in the outfield. "Melissa has deceptive speed and gets a good jump on the ball," Hewitt said. "Allison has a lot of potential. When she breaks out, she's going to be tough. Kasey will have to play somewhere because of her bat."