GULF SHORES, Ala. | The two-time defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) champion Tuskegee University softball program opens the 2016 season here on Friday in the D2 Gulf Coast Invitational, hosted by Spring Hill College.
 
Tuskegee will face five opponents in three days, beginning with the University of West Florida on Friday at 12:45 pm. They will play a doubleheader on Saturday (Young Harris at 12:15 pm, followed by North Alabama at 4:45 pm), and another doubleheader on Sunday (Lee at 11:15 am, followed by Flagler at 1:30 pm).
 
The tournament features some of the best teams from around the south, including defending national champion and top-ranked North Georgia.
 
Tuskegee returns nine seniors from last year's tournament championship team, including pitcher/shortstop Karisa Foye who was granted an exemption and an extra year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The senior was named preseason All-SIAC early this week as a shortstop after hitting .390 with six homeruns. The senior is also the team's best pitcher, but will not see action as she is sitting out the tournament this weekend.
 
The Lady Golden Tigers return six starters (including Foye) including Kenyah Smith (catcher) an All-SIAC Tournament selection. The other returning starters include Haley Plato (first base), Cari Driver (second base), Chante Warner (left field) and Adrienne Eaddy (centerfield).
 
This year's version of Tuskegee softball includes five freshmen and seven total players who are new to the program. It also includes 13 players who are within a 45-minute drive of campus – up from nine a season ago.
 
The weekend tournament is just part of the tough schedule put together by head coach Edward Colvin for the 2016 season, as Tuskegee will face two teams ranked in the top 25, as well as perennial challenger for the SWAC (Division I) championship in Alabama A&M.
 
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