The 2020 NCAA DI Softball season began with fireworks across the country over opening weekend! With so many games and all the excitement, we’re bring you the best “feel good” moments from the weekend.
1. UCLA’s Delanie Wisz blasted the Bruins’ first home run of the 2020 campaign. A transfer from Loyola Marymount in the offseason, Wisz is the younger sister of fellow “Bruin Bubble” member Stevie Wisz, who has battled heart disease from a very young age, and most recently had an open heart surgery soon after helping lead the Bruins to the National Championship in 2019.
SEE-YA!!!! The first home run of the 2020 season belongs to Delanie Wisz, as she bombs one out to center, with Garcia ahead of her following a two-out single.
9-0 Bruins, B2.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/I8PCAUoBsd
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) February 7, 2020
2. St. John’s went above and beyond in their opening day match-up against Clemson. The Red Storm presented the Tigers with a commemorative plaque celebrating the contest. Clemson ultimately defeated St. John’s, 6-2.
#SJUSB extends a sincere welcome to @clemsonsoftball with a commemorative plaque for their inaugural game!#ncaasoftball @ncaasoftball pic.twitter.com/7ue6OfQK7Z
— St. John's Softball (@StJohnsSoftball) February 7, 2020
3. To stay with Clemson, there were many “feel good” moments throughout the weekend, including Coach John Rittman receiving the very first game ball and a number of other “program firsts”.
And the game 🥎 goes to @rittmanjohn!!! pic.twitter.com/OS2JuPgnwp
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 7, 2020
☝️😁 Clemson's first-ever:
🐾Hit: Cammy Pereira
🐾RBI: Cammy Pereira
🐾Run Scored: Bailey Taylor pic.twitter.com/mu6LyjyBEP— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 7, 2020
🚨 CLEMSON'S FIRST HOMER 🚨
Freshman Hannah Goodwin goes opposite field to record the Tigers' first-ever HR, a three-run shot!
We lead 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth! pic.twitter.com/ksnLfQJibv
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 7, 2020
4. Mizzou brought a completely different level of “fire” to its opening weekend, despite the understandable disappointment surrounding the NCAA upholding penalties and sanctions. Check out this post-game speech from head coach Larissa Anderson.
Don’t poke the bear, or in this case the tiger. 🐅 #OwnIt https://t.co/3MNzYcD0SQ
— Larissa Anderson (@CoachLarissaA) February 8, 2020
5. When the fog rolled in and triggered a delay, Troy and Lipscomb made the most of it with some killer dance moves and a whole lot of fun to pass the time.
When is a fog delay …. we dance! @TroyTrojansSB @LipscombSB @NCAAsoftball #softballlife #fun #classy pic.twitter.com/9DCM775oTI
— Sandy Atkins (@TroySandy) February 9, 2020
6. Courtesy of Kayla Lombardo with Softball America, and just too great not to share: Texas State squared off against Team USA and their own assistant coach, Cat Osterman. If that wasn’t cool enough, senior Hailey MacKay went yard off of her coach.
In things you love to see: @catosterman hugs @hailey8_, who hit a dinger off of her today. 🤗 pic.twitter.com/TWuk0Ddmwy
— Kayla Lombardo (@KaylaLombardo11) February 9, 2020
👀👀👀
Senior @hailey8_ goes yard off her coach to get @TXStateSoftball on the board against Team USA‼️ pic.twitter.com/0xZW1fMxcO
— Softball America (@SoftbalAmerica) February 9, 2020
7. Natasha Watley dropped in and gave this inspirational talk to Pitt Softball.
“Are you pushing yourself to the extreme limit day in and day out.”
2x Olympic softball 🥎 player and All-American @natashawatley29 spoke with us yesterday on the importance of growth and going the extra mile every day 💪
Thank you Natasha for speaking to us!#H2P pic.twitter.com/yWQmTq0GNd
— Pitt Softball (@Pitt_SB) February 7, 2020
8. LSU brought all the feels this weekend, as the Andrews family was in full attendance for LSU vs. Florida A&M. Tigers great AJ Andrews threw out the first pitch for the game, while younger sisters Aliyah and Athena suited up for LSU and FAMU, respectively. The Tigers also recognized FAMU head coach Veronica Wiggins, who will retire after the 2020 season.
A House Divided! 💜🧡
The last time the Andrews family was all together at Tiger Park was in 2015. #ForeverLSU pic.twitter.com/IWyJvOdswl
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) February 9, 2020
An All Andrews ceremonial first pitch #TakeTheLead pic.twitter.com/Ts4747yh3z
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) February 9, 2020
Special recognition of @FAMUSOFTBALL's head coach Veronica Wiggins!
She will retire after this season with over 770 wins won over 29 seasons, which is top 50 in the NCAA! pic.twitter.com/g120UUigxL
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) February 8, 2020
9. Fans attended games and tournaments across the country in droves, with many young athletes turning out to watch their role models. Like this big-time Gopher and Amber Fiser fan.
What a great way to spend a Saturday in the Sun with Amber's #1 Fan pic.twitter.com/JafPu7oWRh
— Johnathan Brooks (@Jbrooksbaseball) February 9, 2020
10. A number of NCAA DI coaches reached milestone victories, both big and small, over the weekend. Nebraska’s Rhonda Revelle captured win No. 1000; Florida State’s Lonni Alameda recorded No. 700; UT-Arlington’s Peejay Brun reached the 200th career victory mark; Louisiana Tech’s Maria Winn-Ratliff recorded her first win as a Lady Techster and No. 700 in her career; and New Mexico State’s Kathy Rodolph picked up victory No. 500 with the Aggies.
Congrats to coach @RhondaRevelle on her 1,000th career win as a head coach and to all of the players and staff who have been part of the journey. 🥎🔥#heartNhustle x #GBR pic.twitter.com/Ogp1bzo1Nk
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) February 8, 2020
With the win, Lonni Alameda has earned her 700th career win! pic.twitter.com/wXaIorJHiD
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) February 9, 2020
Congratulations Coach Brun on your 2⃣0⃣0⃣th career win today‼️ 👏🏼🎉🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/rwplhtsYyt
— UTA Softball (@UTAMavsSoftball) February 9, 2020
Congratulations to @mariawinn on Win No. 1 at Louisiana Tech and Win No. 700 in her collegiate coaching career! Techsters run rule Alabama A&M 8-0. #AllAboard pic.twitter.com/wRcXt7q9id
— LA Tech Softball (@LATechSB) February 7, 2020
🐐🐐🐐
Congrats, Coach!#AggieUp // #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/eqNr75hgUQ
— NM State Softball (@NMStateSoftball) February 8, 2020
11. Amanda Scarborough said it best about all the excitement surrounding opening weekend:
Is it just me or have these past two days felt like the biggest opening days/weekend softball has ever had (by far)?
It’s been overwhelming….the amount of tweets, conversations, texts, games to watch, social posts, chatter…
It has felt like MAY.
I love you, softball. pic.twitter.com/jvisYbLNGI
— Amanda Scarborough (@ascarborough) February 8, 2020
12. And finally, Jen Schroeder seeing her alma mater wear her signature line of women’s catching gear has got to be one of the coolest things we can imagine.
Unsure there’s a cooler feeling than seeing your alma mater wear your signature gear set.
Wait, yes there is: hearing Alyssa Garcia tell me it’s her favorite ever.@EastonFastpitch @EastonFastpitch pic.twitter.com/ffpTy5hcr9
— Jen Schroeder (@jen_schro) February 8, 2020
