EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Softball Team is set to kick off the 2012 season on Friday afternoon when it travels to King College. The Wasps will take on the Lady Tornado in a cross-division doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. The contests will be the first for first-year Head Coach Sara Schoenhoft, who takes over a program that is picked to finish ninth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this year.

E&H returns senior Jenae Morrissey (Utica, N.Y.), who was selected All-ODAC Honorable Mention a year ago. Morrissey batted .346 in 2010 and led the team in hits (27) and doubles (five).

Also returning is junior Ashley Ebersole (Maurertown, Va.), who hit .264 and led the team in walks (nine). Ebersole is the team's leading returning run scorer, crossing the plate 15 times last season. Back for their senior seasons with the Wasps are Nicole Holdaway (Blacksburg, Va.) and Sam Hammer (Elkton, Va.).

Emory & Henry welcomes two freshmen pitchers in Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) and Katie Grimm (Staunton, Va.). They will join sophomore Jennifer True (Utica, N.Y.) in the circle in 2012.

Assisting Schoenhoft with the coaching duties is Robin Phelps, a 2008 E&H graduate and former member of the Wasps' softball team.

Next weekend, Emory & Henry will travel to Fayetteville, N.C. to compete in Methodist University's Early Bird Tournament. The Wasps will open at home on Saturday, March 10 as they host the Cougars of Averett University and will begin ODAC play at home on Sunday, March 11 against Virginia Wesleyan College.

E&H plans to offer Live Stats for all home games. Visit www.GoWasps.com for more information.