NEW ORLEANS —
Xavier University of Louisiana softball will open its 2024 schedule
Saturday in a 1 p.m. exhibition road doubleheader against John Melvin University.
Tony Robichaux Sports Complex in Crowley,
La., will be the site of the games, which will not count in the Gold Nuggets'
record or statistics.
Crowley's weather forecast is for
clearing skies, breezy conditions and a high of 67 degrees. Robichaux's softball fields
feature artificial surfaces.
XULA's returning players include
three of its top four in batting average from 2023: senior outfielder
Chenai Keyes
(.402, 24 RBIs), sophomore infielder
Kadence Means (.347, 31 RBIs) and junior outfielder
Madison Winston (.320).
XULA's coaching staff is full of newcomers.
Kailey Anderson — the head coach at NCAA Division III Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas,
the past two seasons — will lead the Gold Nuggets. Her assistant coaches
are
Ambria Dorsey and
A.D. Brown, and
Gavon Clemons is the graduate assistant.
Brown also is the recruiting coordinator.
The Gold Nuggets will open their regular season Feb. 10
against NCAA Division I opponents in the River City Classic at Jackson, Miss. —
noon against Grambling, 4 p.m. against Alcorn State — then play their home opener
at noon Feb. 17 against NCAA Division II LeMoyne-Owen.
XULA no longer uses Wesley Barrow Stadium
for softball or baseball home games. All XULA softball home games will start at noon at Regala Park
in Reserve, La., 34 miles west of the XULA campus.
This is XULA's fourth softball season
and its third as a member of the NAIA's Red River Athletic Conference.
