Savannah, GA.—Savannah State University Softball will begin its season Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12 with two home games against Howard University at the brand new Tiger Softball Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday will mark the inaugural game at the Tiger Softball Complex. The brand new Tiger Softball Complex is part of the massive renovation project to Savannah State's athletic facilities.

The Lady Tigers will return seven starters including junior standout pitcher Madison Hedderly. The team added nine new players for a total of 22 on the current roster that will feature five seniors.

Hedderly pitched 24 games in the 2011 season, going 10-14 with a 4.66 ERA and 120 strikeouts. She also led the team in home runs with 8, hits with 44, and slugging percentage (.644). 

Amongst the five seniors in the 2012 squad are Tiffany Taylor, Jessica Weimerskirk, Shamyra Adams, and Chelsea Parrish.  Taylor led the team in stolen bases in 2011 with six, while Parrish led the team in doubles with 8.

Head coach Jose Gonzalez returns for his fifth season at the helm. Gonzalez is a 2000 graduate of Southern Mississippi and has been instrumental in the turn-around of Savannah State's softball program, inheriting a team that won only five games in the previous two years.

Gonzalez was the assistant head baseball coach at Englewood High School in Jacksonville, Florida, from 1999-2001. While at Englewood, he assisted in coaching the perennial power house to 32 wins, and a state championship during his two year stint. He also coached two players currently playing in the Major Leagues; Brett Meyers of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Daniel Murphy, of the Kansas City Royals.

The Lady Tigers will play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the first time this year. They begin conference action on March 31 at Tiger Softball Complex when they play host to Florida A&M University.