Jackson Free Press

Last season was historic for the Jackson State Lady Tigers softball team. Under first-year head coach Rick Fremin, the team won more than 20 games for the fourth time in program history. More importantly, the Lady Tigers won their first Southwestern Athletic Conference softball championship. JSU received a bid to the Alabama regional and faced the Crimson Tide in their opening game. The Lady Tigers lost two straight games, however, ending their season.

Fremin was hired right before the season started last year, but his team got a full offseason to work with him after the season ended.

Today, Jackson State starts the 2012 season against Southeast Missouri at 4 p.m. at the JSU Softball Complex. The Lady Tigers success rides on infielder Wendi Reed.

The JSU softball program started in 1996, and the Lady Tigers would love to build on last season's success. Reed will have to play just as well or even better this season for JSU to repeat as SWAC champions.

Reed is from Little Rock, Ark. She led the team or was near the top of every statistical category for the Lady Tigers last season. She had a .338 batting average with 51 hits for a JSU team that finished the season 26-20.

As a junior last season, Reed had six doubles, seven triples and eight home runs with 29 RBIs. Reed was named to the preseason SWAC All Conference team after scoring 46 runs in the 2010 season.

The JSU softball program started in 1996 and the lady tigers would love to build on last season's success. Reed will have to play just as well this season or even better for JSU to repeat as SWAC champions.

On defense, Reed had a .941 fielding percentage with eight double plays. Reed had 21 strikeouts and 12 errors in the field, which is something she could improve.

The team started slowly before catching fire late into last season. JSU went 14-3 in conference play and beat Mississippi Valley State 6-2 to win the SWAC Championship.

The Lady Tigers will play at home today, and then go to play in the SE Louisiana Tournament this weekend. JSU will face Troy, Northern Colorado, Southern, Kansas and Nicholls State in the tournament this weekend.