ANDERSON, S.C. - Looking to sustain the remarkable success and build on the momentum of back-to-back record-breaking seasons on the diamond, the Anderson University softball team opens its 2015 schedule in early February with high expectations.

A year ago, the Trojans wrapped up the season ranked 22nd in the final National Fastpitch Coaches (NFCA) Division II softball poll, while setting a school record for the third consecutive season with 43 victories and their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

After capturing the program's first-ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament crown and a share of the league's regular-season title a year ago, AU went on to claim the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament and served as an NCAA Southeast Region host site for the first time in school history.

Head Coach Tommy Hewitt, in his 10th season at the helm of the program, says there's no pressure to reach even greater heights.

"We do not really feel any pressure to keep up the success," said Hewitt. "Our goal is to be better than we were last year. Everyone's goal when they come out should be to be better than they were the year before. We are not competing with the other teams that we play - we are competing with the team we had last year - to be better than they were."

Hewitt will be looking to fill the void left by the graduation of four starters, including two-time all-region selections Danielle Swygert and Abby Child, who both hit nearly .400 last season and combined for 25 home runs and knocked in 117 runs.

"They all led in different ways and their teammates respected them and followed them," added Hewitt. "We are going to miss them and you can't replace them, but what you can do - is the players that you bring in, help them become the players that they are - not the players that were here. Those players were in the program for four years. Travel ball has changed tremendously in just those four years, so I'm hoping the incoming freshmen will come in at a higher level than those seniors were when they came in as freshmen."

But Hewitt will return a nucleus of seven letterwinners, including five starting position players and a pair of hurlers that combined for 24 wins and three saves in the circle a year ago, while totaling 149 strikeouts in 52 appearances.

While acknowledging the challenge of judging a team before the first pitch is thrown, Hewitt noted, "We haven't started playing yet, but this early the team's strength would be pitching. It is all about the circle, but you have to score runs, too. We have scored a lot of runs in the past, but I don't know yet how this team will do. Our home runs were down [in the fall] but [overall] our hits were up, so I believe we may actually score more runs this year."

Sophomore hurler Lauren Rudesheim was second on the pitching staff with 16 wins and just four losses in 30 appearances in the circle last season. The 5-foot-8 right-hander tossed three shutouts and earned a pair of saves, while striking out 72 batters and holding opponents to a .225 batting average, which was sixth-best in the conference. Sophomore Augie Pena averaged more than eight strikeouts per game a year ago, which was second in the SAC, en route to posting an 8-2 record on the season. The native of Geneva, Ala., recorded a 3.59 ERA in 22 appearances.

Freshman left-hander Chelsea Jones, who will see considerable action in the circle and play first base when not pitching, will be counted on to produce early in the season and add quality depth at both positions.

"Our pitching is strong," said Hewitt. "All three pitchers are spinning the ball really well. I'm hoping to get a lot of ground balls, but with our outfield, we'll hold a lot of batters to long singles instead of doubles because we'll be able to get to the ball."

A pair of newcomers will see action behind the dish for the Trojans, with freshman Cailah Niles expected to make an immediate impact for the Black and Gold.

"Cailah has one of the strongest arms that has come through Anderson," said Hewitt. "And that's saying a lot, because Laura [Jansky]'s arm was strong. Cailah is working on her quickness skills. She has a powerful bat. If she hits - and it's important that she hits - she will be a great asset."

Fellow freshman Bethany Chapman will see time as both a catcher and in the outfield.

"Bethany has great attitude and a great work ethic. She will add a lot to the team."

With Swygert moving into the dugout to serve as a volunteer assistant coach, the freshman tandem of Jones and Rachael Barefield will occupy first base for the Trojans this season.

"We cannot replace Danielle," noted Hewitt. "But we have two first basemen that will split time there. If they play their game, they'll be tough. We'll be strong defensively with either one of them at first base.

One of two seniors in the infield, standout second baseman Jessica Neidigh has started all 161 contests at second base during her collegiate career and holds the school record with 188 runs scored. With her first base hit of the season, Neidigh will own the school record for career hits, which she currently shares with Swygert. Her .425 career batting average ranks second all-time in school history.

The former All-America selection has earned All-South Atlantic Conference each year of her stellar career and has captured all-region honors twice. Last season, Neidigh posted an 11-game hitting streak from late February through mid-March and reached base in 17 consecutive contests during one stretch. She was a school-record 26-for-26 in stolen base attempts and is 63-of-64 in stolen base attempts in her three-year career.

"What can you say," noted Hewitt. "Jess has been a mainstay for us and is a tremendous asset."

Freshman Carli Hurtado is expected to start at shortstop for the Trojans after posting an impressive fall campaign.

"Carli had a really good fall," added Hewitt. "She hit over .300 and for a freshman slapper that's not bad. We had her hitting the two-hole and she responded well, but she also learned that college-level fielders can get to some of those balls defensively, so she is having to think a little more at the plate."

The other infield anchor will be veteran Bri Cason at third base. Also a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Cason has also started 161 consecutive games for the Black and Gold at the hot corner. She was named South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week last April, while notching 10 multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI contests a season ago.

"Again, I cannot say enough about Bri," added Hewitt. "She has been tremendous and possesses so many intangibles. She doesn't have the strongest arm, but has the quickness to throw everyone out."

Left-fielder Rebecca Martin is back for her senior campaign after recording a career-high .313 batting average last season. Martin also hit for power a year ago, blasting a career-best seven home runs, which ranked 11th in the SAC. She scored 26 runs and notched six doubles, while driving in 20 runs in 52 games.

"Rebecca got better and better and better last year and really works hard at her game," noted Hewitt. "She has a little different mindset this year. She is really determined and is going to be a lot of fun to watch this year."

Trudi Shuman, a 5-foot-9 freshman from Savannah, Ga., is expected to compete for playing time in left field.

"Trudi will also play in left field," added Hewitt, "She is a really hard worker. Trudi cares about the game, wants to do well and is constantly looking at ways to get better."

Third-team All-American Molly Child, a junior, will patrol center field for the Trojans for the third consecutive season. Child collected all-region accolades following the 2014 campaign and is a two-time First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference selection. She was also named to the SAC All-Tournament team and led the Trojans with a season-high 18-game hitting streak from late February though late March, while notching 14 multiple-RBI games.

Child ranked 25th in the nation in runs scored per game a year ago and the LaGrange, Ga. native was third on the squad and fifth in the league in RBI. Her .405 batting average on the season was fourth in the SAC and is eighth in AU's record books, with her career .372 batting average ranking fifth all-time at AU.

"Molly is coming off a great year," said Hewitt. "She has a good outlook as far as what's going on in the outfield and the actual play of the outfielders. She has taken on ownership of the outfield."

Another left-hander, Allison Oxner, adds depth to the talented outfield and will back up Child in center field.

"Allison has gotten more comfortable since the fall coming into the spring," said Hewitt. "She has a lot of confidence now that she didn't have in the fall."

Right fielder Courtney Czentnar became the third AU player in four seasons to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors after playing in all 55 games a year ago and drawing a starting nod in 53 of those contests. She was fifth on the team with a .314 batting average, while ranking fourth on the squad and eighth in the conference with 42 RBI.

"Courtney has all the potential in the world," added Hewitt. "If she cuts down on her strikeouts this year and puts the ball in play, a lot can happen."

"We open up [the season] against some really strong competition," concluded Hewitt. "By the end of February, I'll have a good feel for how the conference standings will fall out. My expectations are high, but the players expectations are even higher than mine, which is good."

The Trojans are slated to open the season against Conference Carolinas' opponent Lees-McRae on Sunday. First-pitch at Smethers Field is set for 1:30 p.m.