RiverHawks Open 2010 Season on Road at Arkansas Tech

RUSELLVILLE, ARK. - Northeastern State's 2010 softball season will open Wednesday after a one-day delay due to wet playing  conditions following a 4-inch snow at Arkansas Tech University's Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.

The RiverHawks and Golden Suns will throw the first pitch of a scheduled doubleheader at 1 p.m. with Northeastern State's Cayee Coleman , freshman from Red Oak, scheduled to take the circle for the RiverHawks in the opener.  Lacee Craig, senior from Bartlesville will pitch the nightcap.

"I'm very excited about getting the season stated," said Northeastern State head coach Dee Gerlach. "We are very young but athletic team. Right now I just want to see where we are in the pitching department. It's going to be interesting. Lacee is going to be an a pitch count in the second game. Kylee McKinney is injured right now and is unable to pitch.

"But we are excited to get started and play someone else other than against ourselves" said Gerlach.

The RiverHawks are coming off a 9-35 record last season and return three staters  from that club and along with two pitchers. The RiverHawks were picked fifth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Coaches poll.

Arkansas Tech, who was tabbed to finish second in the Preseason Gulf South Conference West Division Coaches' Poll, returns five starters and nine letterwinners from last season's squad that won a school-record 42 games and also won its second consecutive Gulf South Conference  West Division title.

The RiverHawks will next play Missouri State University Saturday at Edmond, weather premitting, before hosting the RiverHawk Invitational in Tulsa on Feb. 12-14.