The Red Flash softball team is excited to get the 2023 season underway and it doesn’t have to wait much longer.

The five-time defending Northeast Conference champions will open the new season Feb. 10-12, traveling to Atlanta to compete in the Georgia Tech Tournament.

SFU will open the tournament with a game against nationally ranked North Texas, followed by two games against Illinois-Chicago and then a match-up with the host Yellow Jackets. The Flash will close the tourney with a game against Connecticut.

The 2023 schedule includes 54 games. Thirty-three of these games are out-of-conference match-ups. SFU will open NEC action, as well as its home schedule, with a doubleheader against Stonehill on March 18.

Last year’s team posted a 37-18 record and a 20-4 mark in the NEC. SFU swept three games to win the 2022 NEC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Regional.

This year’s roster includes 13 returnees, among them 2022 NEC Pitcher-of-the-Year selections Rachel Marsden and Grace Vesco.

Six freshmen join the team in 2023.

Outfielder Sydney Baker said it will take time for the first-year group to get comfortable competing at the college level.

“It will be new to them, adjusting to how long the season is,” said the junior Occupational Therapy major.

Baker started 28 games last spring and saw action in 39, batting .200 with two home runs.

“We have played well in the preseason and in the fall season and we want to make it back to regionals this year to win a game.”

The Red Flash have all three of their pitchers back from last year’s team. Marsden was 20-9 in 2022 with 144 strikeouts and a 2.28 earned run average. Vesco posted a 16-9 mark with a 2.03 ERA. She fanned 162 batters in 155 innings pitched.