Heading into this season, the Southwestern University Pirates softball senior class of Kaitlynn Copher, Andrea Hern, Lindsey Longuet, and Sydney Scott have advanced to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship game every year of their collegiate careers.

In each of the previous three seasons, the Pirates' NCAA Regional bids were stopped short by a nationally-ranked Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs.

It is the only ending to a season this quartet has ever known.

Over the summer, the softball team moved away from the familiar, bringing in new head coach Emeral Doria, who hopes to help the program break through.

"I'm stepping into a program that has been successful for quite a few years now," Doria said. "It has been on the cusp of being a national contender for some time, so that's our vision; that's what we're looking to become."

The team returns some of the best talent from around the conference, including Longuet, the reigning SCAC Pitcher of the Year. In her junior season, Longuet compiled a 16-3 record, throwing 100 strikeouts (5.38 per seven innings) in 130 innings with a 1.67 ERA.

"Everything starts in the pitcher's circle with Lindsey. With her experience, she's going to have an opportunity to carry and lead the team," Doria said. "We're going to have to build everything around her."

Relying too heavily on one player can make a player more crutch than foundation, however, propping a team up rather than building from. To raise the ceiling of the team, the Pirates need other pillars.

"[Longuet] is obviously going to play a huge role in our success but the true test is what the team does when she's facing adversity," Doria said. "We're going to need a lot of key players step up this year."

Junior Lexi Shafer moves into the No. 2 role behind Longuet, compiling a 4.98 ERA in a limited sample size of 19.2 innings pitched through her first two seasons with 17 strikeouts.

"Right now, she's going to have to be our strong No. 2 pitcher," Doria said. "With some of the injuries we have, she's going to get a lot of innings this season."

Shoring up the pitching depth is Tori Montemayor, a junior All-SCAC Honorable Mention outfielder getting a look in the pitcher's circle.

"Obviously, she gets a lot of innings in the outfield but I think she's going to have a key role pitching too," Doria said. "She throws a different kind of ball with its own crazy spin that can keep hitters off balance for a few innings. She's going to have to take some of the load off Lexi and Lindsey. And then, honestly, we're going to have to support them offensively and defensively."

The return of Scott helps after the Pirates' First Team All-SCAC centerfielder missed the end of last season with an injury. In 30 games last season, Scott hit .363 from the leadoff spot with 24 runs scored, 11 RBIs, and four doubles to go with a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage.

Seniors Copher and Hern provide leadership at first and third base with Copher a three-time All-SCAC selection, hitting .388 last season with 33 RBIs, four home runs, and 36 runs scored.

"When you look across the board, we have a lot of senior experience and they're going to play huge roles with their leadership," Doria said. "Sydney Scott is going to demand a lot from the outfielders and our corner infielders have a lot of wins, so they'll be teaching the underclassmen what it's going to take to be successful."

That leadership will be needed with a new starter at shortstop in Jessey Nunez, a first year from Kingwood, Texas.

"We've thrown her into a lot of situations and I've been pleasantly surprised with how she's handled things," Doria said. "She has a really calm demeanor, which is really important for that position. I think with some experience, she's really going to be able to command the field."

The Pirates also have talented returners in All-SCAC Second Team sophomore second baseman, Maddie Mefford, and All-SCAC Second Team junior outfielder Jordan Farber.

"Players like Maddie and Jordan, they're just an absolute constant," Doria said. "They're not going to be your superstar players but they get the job done day in and day out. There's no rollercoaster with them, they're just steady and always find ways to contribute."

The ability to be resilient, to find new ways to contribute when another isn't working, is an identity Doria hopes to instill in the group.

"We're going to have to score in different ways. We're not necessarily just a power hitting team, not just a running team, I want to be good at all aspects of the game," Doria said. "I want to be able to, when our power numbers aren't there, to score with speed and the short game. It's going to take all aspects of the game and an entire team effort to be successful."

There is talent there for the Pirates but it will have to find a way to work differently because, as history has shown, the defending national champion TLU Bulldogs aren't going anywhere.

"First of all, what an opportunity to be in the same conference as a national champion. That in itself should put us on a path to being better," Doria said. "It's about expecting greatness and we've made it a point this year to understand if you want to be great, you're going to have to put the work in.

"We're focusing on having a better work ethic, having a better attitude, and controlling the things we can control. If we can do that, at the end of the year, I think we'll be right where we want to be."