GREENVILLE, NC -- The University of Delaware softball team will open its 2008 season this weekend when the Blue Hens participate in the East Carolina Pirate Clash.

The Blue Hens, who were picked seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll, kick off their season on Friday when Delaware faces UNC Greensboro at 12 noon and Liberty at 2 p.m. On Saturday Delaware will take on Radford at 10 a.m. and East Carolina at 2 p.m., while the Blue Hens will play one or two games on Sunday in the playoff round in times to be determined.

Delaware, which will be led by 28th-year head coach B.J. Ferguson, returns eight starters and welcomes four newcomers for the 2008 season. The Blue Hens went 16-26-3 last year and finished in a tie for sixth place in the CAA with a 7-13 league record.

Junior shortstop Kim Ovittore will pace the Delaware offense after leading the Blue Hens with a .369 batting average, 52 hits, 24 runs scored, 14 doubles, four triples, 29 RBI, 80 total bases and 16 walks a year ago. A second team All-CAA selection, Ovittore started all 45 games at shortstop, ranked third in the conference in batting average, and was 22nd in Division I in doubles per game. Senior Allison Borchers, who batted .278 with 35 hits and 21 runs scored, is expected to start at second base while senior Katie Lee (at right), who hit .294 while tying Borchers for second on the team in hits and runs scored, should start in centerfield for the Blue Hens.

Sophomore pitchers Samantha Shawn, who went 4-8 as a freshman with a 3.36 earned run average, and Michelle Kenney, who went 2-2 with a 2.52 ERA, will lead the Delaware pitching staff.

Delaware is scheduled to make its home debut on Tuesday, March 4 when the Blue Hens host Pennsylvania in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Delaware Field.