Softball Opens 2023 Campaign at Cougar Classic

Games 1-7
Canisius (0-0) vs Tennessee Tech (0-2), College of Charleston (0-1) and Boston University (3-1)
Dates: Friday, Feb. 17 | Saturday. Feb. 18 | Sunday Feb. 19 | Tuesday Feb. 21
Times: 12:30/5:30 p.m. | 10 a.m./12:30 p.m. | 9a.m. | 1 p.m.
Location: Charleston, S.C. | Patriot's Point
Video Broadcast: FloSoftball (Feb. 21 doubleheader)
Live Stats: Through cofcsports.com
Twitter: @GriffsSoftball | #Griffs | #MAACSoftball

• First Pitch
The Canisius softball program begins the 2023 campaign at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. The Golden Griffins will face host College of Charleston, Boston University and Tennessee Tech, Feb. 17-19. The Griffs then square off with the Cougars in a doubleheader on Feb. 21 with first pitch of game one slated for 1 p.m. Both of those contests will be available on FloSoftball.

• Unfamiliar Foes
Canisius will participate in the College of Charleston Cougar Classic for the first time since the 2011 season. The Blue and Gold opened up the campaign with a 4-3 victory over the Cougars, the team's lone win against the school.

The Griffs will open the 2023 season against Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles hold a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, with the teams last facing one another during the 1995 campaign.

Canisius will face Boston University for just the second and third time in program history during the weekend. The Griffs' only contest against the Terriers came on May 14, 1993 in the NCAA postseason. The 2-1 season-ending defeat was just Canisius' third loss all year after the team began the campaign with a then-record 35 straight victories.

• Welcome Back
Canisius returns 14 players from last year's MAAC Championship roster. The roster features reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year Megan Giese and Co-Rookie of the Year Saige Alfaro. The Griffs return 71.7 pct. of the team's hits (273) and 72.4 pct. of the innings pitched (232.1).

• New Faces
Canisius has nine freshmen on the 2023 roster. There are four infielders, two outfielders and one catcher, pitcher and utility player. This marks the second straight season the Griffs have had at least nine first years (11 in 2022). This is the first time since 1993 and 1994 that there have been at least nine freshmen in consecutive seasons (11 and 10).

The Blue and Gold's roster will also feature a trio of transfers this season in Alyssa Cloutier, Madysen Burkey and graduate Nicole Rivait. This marks the first time there have been multiple transfers that have joined the program in the same season since 2006 when Ashley Bonetto and Brittany Bonetto came to Main Street after spending a year at St. Bonaventure.

• Continuing in the Carolinas
Following the seven-game trip in South Carolina, the Blue and Gold will have the week off before traveling to Buies Creek, N.C., to take part in the Camel Stampede. The Griffs will face North Carolina Central, host Campbell, Furman and Lehigh, beginning on March 3 against the Eagles and Camels.

For complete coverage of Canisius softball, please follow @griffssoftball on Instagram and Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Saige Alfaro: INF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R

#17 Megan Giese: P/INF; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#10 Nicole Rivait: INF/C; 5' 6"; Graduate Student; R/R

#3 Alyssa Cloutier: OF; 5' 1"; Sophomore

#1 Madysen Burkey: OF; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/L

Players Mentioned

#15 Saige Alfaro
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/R
: INF

#17 Megan Giese
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P/INF

#10 Nicole Rivait
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student; R/R
: INF/C

#3 Alyssa Cloutier
: 5' 1"; Sophomore
: OF

#1 Madysen Burkey
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/L
: OF