WALTHAM, Mass. – On the eve of opening the season with 11 games in seven days at THE Spring Games in central Florida, Bentley University softball coach Terry M. Prouty is counting on the healthy competition her team enjoyed during the preseason will result in success on the playing field.

Prouty's second season at the helm will launch Saturday with a 2 pm game against Missouri-St. Louis, a team that already has 16 games under its belt, in Leesburg, Fla. The season-opening trip will also include three other teams from the Midwest and seven games against East Region opposition.

"Healthy competition, which we lacked last year, has raised the bar for starting positions," said Prouty, who is carrying 24 players on this year's roster, up from 17 last spring.  Those increased numbers will give the Falcons depth they haven't had in some time.

Prouty is also expecting her senior class to continue the leadership they've displayed throughout the preseason with that group including outfielders Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS) and Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS), infielder Katelyn Lebreux (Biddeford, Maine/ Biddeford HS) and pitchers Kelsey Smith (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS) and Michelle DeVito (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore HS).

Four of the five everyday players who had at least 25 hits last season, are back this spring with the list headed by Kennedy. She's coming off a season that saw her hit a team-best .363 and play errorless ball in the outfield. Vena batted .269, junior infielder Catie Noons (North Dighton/North Dighton HS) owns a .294 career average, and versatile junior Stephanie McQuaid (Windham, N.H./ Austin Prep) hit .263 in 2016 in her first Bentley season.

Prouty is very high on her freshmen class which includes infielder Julia Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HS), who has been very impressive during the preseason, and a pair of slappers that can impact play, outfielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham/Bridgewater Raynham Reg. HS) and Sami Palazzolo (East Williston, N.Y./Wheatley School).

Others who are being counted on include starting catcher Jillian Parinello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial HS), starting center fielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./Smithfield HS), pitcher/first baseman Kayleigh Fitzpatrick (East Hampstead, N.H./Timberlane Reg. HS) and speedy Kaileigh Sefafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS), whose uncle Rocco is a Bentley Athletic Hall of Famer for track.

The pitching staff will be headed by Smith and graduate student Hannah King (Kennebunk, Maine/Kennebunk HS). Smith was the team's number two last year, finishing with a 5-4 record, and has a career record of 14-8. King was a workhorse at Trinity College from 2013-15, pitching in 80 games with a 32-31 record. In 433.1 innings of action, she struck out 372.

Also in the mix to see action from the center circle are DeVito, Fitzpatrick and sophomore Maura Lanza (Winthrop/Winthrop HS).

The opening weekend will also include Sunday games against Ferris State and 2016 NCAA tournament participant LIU Post.