WALTHAM, Mass. – With all but one key contributor back from last year's team, the Bentley University softball team will launch its 2016 season Saturday with the first two of a 10-game trip to the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.

Bentley will play Ohio Dominican at 9 am Saturday and Walsh University (Ohio) immediately after.

Interim head coach Terry Prouty, an assistant last year, likes what she's seen from her team during the preseason. "They've all been working hard and have shown increased discipline, which you need to be successful. Our fielding is a strength and hitting and pitch selection have been primary focuses of ours."

Prouty, who saw her team forecast for sixth of eight in the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division preseason coaches' poll, expects the Falcons to be strong up the middle with senior shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic HS), sophomore second baseman Catie Noons (North Dighton/Dighton-Rehoboth HS) and junior center fielder Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS).

Borrelli, who'll be a second-year captain along with senior catcher Jill Raia (Montville, N.J./ Morristown-Beard School), has been a constant at short for the Falcons over the past three seasons. She has a .238 career batting average and made only six errors last spring, including just one in the final 12 games. Noons had a solid rookie season, batting .333 with a .517 slugging percentage.

Vena is making the shift from right to center, and will be flanked by junior Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS) and sophomore Jordan Ballantyne (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington HS) to give the Falcons a fast outfield. Kennedy hit .258 and scored 18 times during last year's 11-19 season, and Vena followed at .255 with 14 runs scored.

Other returning starters are Raia, senior first baseman Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central HS) and junior third baseman Katelyn Lebreux (Biddeford, Maine/ Biddeford HS). Mazone's .272 average last season is the second-best on the club, trailing only Noons.

From the center circle, Bentley will rely on the same trio as last year with senior lefty Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS) and juniors Kelsey Smith (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS) and Michelle DeVito (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore HS). Ferris has a career 1.98 ERA in 65 appearances with her stat line also including 12 wins in 30 decisions, eight saves and three shutouts. Smith was 6-2 last season with a 3.76 ERA and Devito has a 3.57 ERA in 19 career games.

Newcomers who could contribute are sophomore Stephanie McQuaid (Windham, N.H./Austin Prep), a transfer from Sacred Heart, and freshman Paige Hovsepian (Billerica/Waltham HS).

Bentley will begin the Northeast-10 portion of its schedule Mar. 19-20 with doubleheaders at Le Moyne and Saint Rose, and the home opener is scheduled for Mar. 25 against St. Michael's.