CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team will open the 2025 season with its first of three home tournaments that will take place at St. John Stadium. The Chanticleers will welcome Purdue Ft. Wayne and Creighton the beach for the Kickin' Chicken Classic on Feb. 6-9.

PRESEASON POLL AND ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS

• Coastal was picked to finish sixth in the 2025 Sun Belt Conference coaches' preseason poll. Texas State topped the poll for the first time since 2018, with reigning Sun Belt champions Louisiana following shortly behind in the No. 2 spot.
• Junior Delaney Keith was named to the All-Sun Belt preseason team for the second straight year. Keith played an essential role in Coastal's lineup, leading the team with 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 46 runs, 99 total bases, and 14 multi-hit games.
• Georgia Hood was also selected to the All-Sun Belt preseason team after being named to the 2024 NFCA All-Region Second Team and the All-Sun Belt First Team. Hood led the team in batting average (.402), slugging percentage (.750), and on-base percentage (.521).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Creighton

• In 2024, Creighton posted a 36-22 record, finishing second in the Big East regular season and as runners-up in the conference tournament, falling to Villanova in the title game.
• Last year marked the first time the Bluejays had recorded a 35-win season since 2010.
• The Bluejays return two 2024 All-Big East selections, Ella Dalton and Sydra Seville, along with Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ashten Pierson.

Purdue Fort Wayne

• The Mastodons finished 2024 with a 14-33 record and a 9-15 mark in Horizon League action.
• Purdue Fort Wayne will return its top offensive performers, Grace Hollopeter and Aglaia Rudd, who batted .357 and .341 on the season, respectively.
• Notably, Rudd was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, while Hollopeter and Alanah Jones picked up All-Horizon League honors.

HISTORY AGAINST

Creighton

• CCU owns a 1-0 record versus Creighton.
• The teams first met in March 2023 at The Spring Games, where Coastal claimed a 3-0 victory.

Purdue Fort Wayne

• The Chants own a 0-1 record versus the Mastodons.
• Their lone meeting came in February 2012, when the Chants suffered a 1-0 loss in eight innings.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.