With a new coach, several key transfers and losing five key starters, Georgia Southern softball is going to be seeing some changes.

Out of the team, there will be 13 letter winners returning, and 6 newcomers, along with new head coach Kim Dean who holds a single season career record of 38-14.

GS had a pretty even record of 24-29 overall and 12-15 in the conference and finished 6th in the Sun Belt.

The Eagles had an overall of 94.5 field percentage for the season, and a 26.2 batting average.

A new head

Kim Dean was recently announced head coach following her one successful season as head coach with the former Armstrong Pirates, where she led ASU to a 38-14 record and a NCAA championship appearance.

Dean and her staff were also named 2017 NFCA Division II Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the coaches association.

From Pirate to Eagle

Out of the three transfer students, two of them follow Dean from Armstrong to GS.

Junior shortstop Macy Coleman was an NCAA All Tournament team honoree after hitting .333 with five doubles, 15 home runs and 41 RBI.

Another former Pirate is junior catcher Logan Harrell who hit .327 last season with 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 44 RBI. Harrell also earned All-Peach Belt and NFCA All-Region honors.

Key returners to watch for

A player to watch for this season is sophomore outfielder, Mekhia Freeman, who will be returning to the Eagles this year after having the second highest batting average of the previous season at .360, and one home run.

Another Eagle to be on the lookout for is returning senior pitcher, Heather Felt, who’s batting average was .359 percent last season, and also scored a home run.

The Eagles’ season begins this weekend as they host the Eagle Round Robin which includes Austin Peay, ETSU, Murray State and Radford.

McClain Baxley contributed to reporting in this article.