The Sacramento State softball team is prepared to take on rivalries with a balanced offense and defense coupled with good camaraderie.

The team’s top hitters from last season were Devin Caldwell, Shannon Kaufman and Emily McCormick, who scored a combined 43 runs for the Hornets. The team compiled a record of 20-24 and a conference record of 12-8.

Head coach Kathy Strahan wants them to take their talents and progress throughout the season with motivation to excel in the conference.

“I expect us to make a run for the conference championship,” Strahan said. “I think we have a lot of strong returners with the addition of very talented freshmen.”

Strahan said one player to watch for is sophomore Devin Caldwell, freshman of the year and last season’s top hitter for the Hornets with a .328 batting average.

Strahan is expecting good defense this season from senior first baseman Alyssa Nakken, who Strahan said is a terrific all-around player who batted .290 and led the team with an on-base percentage of .388.

She also named senior catcher Marissa Navarro to help the Hornets, who had four games in which she knocked in three RBIs.

To improve on last year’s season, the members strengthened the bonds with each other, something Strahan said was missing from last spring’s squad.

“We are in a much better situation now, the chemistry is really good and this team is very close and work together well,” Strahan said.

She expects the team to play solid defense and have timely hitting to be successful.

Strahan said outfielders such as Kaufman are expected to play good defense and pitchers, who are to make effective throws through the season.

She said the team needs to improve on offense, citing a wrist injury sustained by McCormick, the Hornets’ No. 3 hitter, who has recovered and is awaiting final clearance to play.

“It’s going to be hard putting together this offense with an injury like that and getting some other people to step up,” Strahan said. “If some freshmen can kind of fill in some spots offensively and help us generate some runs, I think we will be in good shape.”

Strahan said the team collectively does not need any improvements, but rather individual issues each player has need to be addressed.

Associate head coach Cara Hoyt said the Hornets’ pitchers would be a formidable force for their opponents, due to the variety each member brings to the game.

“They all do something different, they complement each other,” Hoyt said.

Senior pitcher Shelby Voelz said the pitching rotation for the Hornets gives opponents a variety of pitches consisting of downball, change-up and fastball among others that will give an advantage.

Caldwell said the team’s chemistry is a big aspect of the potential success for the season. She also said the fall games proved successful for the team, “If you don’t have the team chemistry, you can’t all play together,” Caldwell said. “We are all close both on the field and off the field.”

Caldwell said the team should build on its existing skills, come out strong against opponents on the field and keep up momentum in order to have a winning season.

Voelz said she is excited for the upcoming season, especially the game against Fresno State.

Last season, Fresno State beat the Hornets in two games, and she said the atmosphere in the stadium can be intimidating with the large crowd taunting.

Voelz said she has an obligation to be a leader and the team itself is a family, and trust is a strong factor for the players.

Voelz said she is specifically looking forward to the game against University of Washington and said the team would have won the game last season if not for the game being called off due to rain in the fifth inning.

Last season, the Hornets were able to win three out of four games against LMU, all played in Shea Stadium.

“They are our biggest rival in conference and I think they are up there with us, and every year it’s a battle between us,” Caldwell said.

The Hornets’ will be on the road for their first game against Long Beach State on Friday.

Joe de Ocampo can be reached at [email protected].