New Era of Softball for Furman
Furman Softball opened its fall campaign on Wednesday night in Greenville with plenty of new faces and a whole new energy. Under first-year head coach Mary Beth Dennison, the Paladins took the field for the first time this fall against Anderson University, showing early flashes of potential despite a 5–2 loss in a 10-inning exhibition.
After a 15–38 (5–16 SoCon) campaign last spring, Furman spent the offseason rebuilding not just its roster, but its entire identity. Dennison, who spent the past few years as the pitching coach at Georgia Southern, was brought in to lead the charge and wasted no time shaping her staff and culture.
Joining her are two heavy-hitting assistants: Kristina Burkhardt, a former standout at North Carolina and Michigan, and Clemson softball legend Valerie Cagle, who joined the staff this August. Together, the trio brings an impressive blend of collegiate experience, player development, and championship mindset to a program hungry for a turnaround.
A Veteran Core Meets a Fresh Start
Despite the turnover and new additions, Furman still returns a strong veteran core from last season’s team. Eleven players are back, led by senior Sylvia Burroughs, who was one of the Paladins’ top producers a year ago. Burroughs hit .324 with 14 doubles, 6 home runs, and 29 RBIs, posting a .541 slugging percentage, .436 on-base percentage, and a .997 OPS, these numbers earned her Second Team All-SoCon honors.
Burroughs’ consistency and leadership will be key as Furman integrates its newcomers, including transfers Annabella “AB” Cipalla (St. Francis University) and Meghan Shirey (UMBC), along with seven freshmen. The mix of veteran stability and youthful potential gives the Paladins both depth and versatility heading into the 2026 season.
Playing Free in the Fall Opener
Wednesday night’s fall opener against Anderson wasn’t about the final score, it was about letting the players play. Dennison made that clear from the start.
“We asked the players to just play free tonight,” she said postgame. “We told them we’re not calling signs, I’m not calling plays, we’re not running anything. Just allow them to trust the preparation that we’ve had thus far and to play the game and make decisions.”
With it being just the second day of live at-bats this fall, the game provided valuable experience on both sides of the ball.
“We still have a lot to learn, and tonight was a good opportunity for us to get live at-bats,” Dennison said. “It was a great day for us to have live at-bats and then take defense off of a live ball as well.”
Pitcher Taylor Miller opened the game strong, retiring Anderson in order in the first inning before the Trojans capitalized on a few Furman miscues to take the lead. Jamison Noonan and Lily O’Bryan also got work in the circle, while the Paladin defense showed flashes of promise alongside the typical early fall rust.
Embler Provides the Spark for Furman
The offensive highlight of the night belonged to freshman infielder Kristyn Embler, who drove a triple to the opposite field in the second inning and later blasted a solo home run to left-center in the fourth.
“She’s definitely going to be a spark plug in our lineup for sure,” Dennison said. “She’s a lot of fun to watch at the plate and then to watch even on defense too. I think her approach is just to clear her mind and just swing the bat. It worked in her favor tonight for sure.”
Embler’s performance stood out on a night when offense was limited, and it’s clear she’ll be a key piece in Furman’s lineup moving forward.
Building Chemistry and Confidence
Since taking over the program in June, Dennison has emphasized culture just as much as competition.
“I’ve had the best support system so far here at Furman,” she said. “The girls have been so receptive to Kristina and Valerie and Emme and I. They’ve been excited and enthusiastic to work every single day, and I could not ask for a better group of individuals to be around.”
Her praise extended to her new assistant coaches, who bring elite-level insight from their own playing careers.
“Valerie brings a high level of competition,” Dennison said. “We’ve allowed her to also practice a little bit with the players and push them. She has just a high-level mindset, which clearly, being the player of the year, you have to have that, right? She just elevates people around her for sure.”
Next Up: South Carolina
The Paladins won’t have to wait long for another test. Furman heads to Columbia this Friday for a matchup against South Carolina, a team that will challenge the Paladins’ young lineup and new defensive structure.
“Definitely looking for them to improve the quality at-bats and taking pitches at the plate and aggressive at-bats,” Dennison said. “Also looking forward to just their ability to compete, even at a faster pace and a little bit higher level.”
As the fall slate continues, Dennison’s focus remains on growth and joy, both on and off the field.
“Just allowing them the opportunity to continue to grow in the game,” she said when asked what she’s looking forward to most about the 2026 season. “We’ve learned so much this fall, and they’ve enjoyed softball, which is what we’re here for, right? Enjoy it.”
A Foundation for the Future
The scoreboard didn’t define Wednesday night. What mattered most was the start of something new, a new voice, a new culture, and a new belief within Furman Softball.
With veteran leadership from Burroughs, emerging stars like Embler and others, and the energy of a coaching staff led by Dennison, the Paladins are building a foundation that could pay off in a big way come spring.
Because while it’s still early in the fall, one thing’s already clear: this team is learning how to play free, and to love the game of softball.
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