Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball Idle After Busy Week
3/5/2007 2:16:40 PM | Softball
Complete release
EAGLES IDLE AFTER LONG TRIP: The Eastern Michigan University softball team will be idle this week and will not return to the diamond until Saturday, March 17, for a doubleheader at Louisville. The Eagles recently wrapped up a 10 day tour of Florida where they played 14 games posting a 3-11 record, including winning the final two games of the trip.
STREAKING STRAUSS: Ashley Strauss had a breakthrough week for the Eagles picking up 12 hits. The junior first baseman is currently in the midst of a seven game hit streak and is hitting .480 over that span. Strauss posted multi-hit performances in four of those games, including a 3-for-4 showing at the plate in EMU’s 6-5 extra-innings win against the University of South Alabama, March 2.
CRANKING IT OUT: The EMU softball team cranked out a season-high 12 hits during its 6-1 victory over Virginia Tech, March 4. Four players posted multi-hit games with junior Jessica Grant registering a perfect 3-for-3 game at the plate. Juniors Stephanie Sabo and Ashley Strauss along with senior Lindsay Schmid each posted two hits.
NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR A HIT: Freshman Jill Jozefowicz chose a clutch time to record her first collegiate hit. With the score tied and bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Jozefowicz lined a shot that dropped in right field scoring the game-winning hit, giving the Eagles a 6-5 extra-innings win against USA, March 2.
DOWN AFTER TWO: The EMU softball team has been outscored a combined 35-3 in the first two innings of games this season. When trailing after two innings the team has yet to win a game, posting an 0-10 mark. However, the Eagles have outscored opponents 33-26 after the first three frames.
SLOW STARTS: The 1-11 start to the 2007 season tied a school record for worst 12 game start to any season in the program’s history. The 1998 team started the season 1-11, including an 0-10 start. The ’98 squad finished the season 12-45 overall and 6-22 in the Mid-American Conference. EMU’s 2003 team also started 1-11 through 12, and finished up 6-38 overall and 4-17 in league action.
PITCHING UP THE CAREER LISTS: Seniors Aimee Woodrum and Michelle Lloyd continue to log innings and strikeouts, moving up the EMU career pitching record list in each category. Woodrum (301 and 1/3) became the seventh player in school history to log over 300 innings, while Lloyd (294) needs just six more innings for 300. The tandem currently ranks sixth and seventh on the EMU career strikeout list with Lloyd leading with 222, while Woodrum has 217. The EMU career leader in each category is Marci Kelly who threw 780 innings and registered 484 strikeouts from 1994-96.
CENTURY MARK: Senior Lauren Clark has drove in four runs this year, giving her 82 career RBI, leaving her 18 shy of 100. Only two players in EMU history have drove in more than 100 runs, Melissa Droullard who holds the record with 124 and Kristie Berry knocked in 118.
ALL-TIME HOME RUN RACE: Senior Lauren Clark’s 13 home runs during the 2006 season, an EMU single-season record, put her in a three-way tie for the EMU career home run mark. Clark sits tied atop the list with Melissa Drouillard and Nikki Denman who all cranked out 19 career homers. Senior Lindsay Schmid blasted her 11th career home run against South Alabama, March 2, a two-run shot that sent the game into extra-innings. Schmid sits at fifth on the all-time list, six behind Liz Flack who hit 17 in her Green and White career.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles will hit the road hard to start the 2007 season. EMU will play its first 27 scheduled games on the road including playing in tournaments at USF, Altamonte Springs and Indiana. The Eagles’ home opener, a doubleheader with the University at Buffalo, is slated for Friday, April 6, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
WOODRUM AT HOME: Senior Aimee Woodrum has excelled at Varsity Field, posting an 11-1 record with a 1.48 ERA over three seasons. Last year, she was a perfect 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA, two complete game shutouts and a save while pitching at home.
THE COACHING STAFF: Head coach Karen Baird returns for her fifth season at the helm for the Eagles. She holds a 70-120 all-time record at Eastern Michigan. Jennifer Teague returns for her second season as an assistant coach, with Eric Oakley joining the coaching ranks for the first time this season.
EAGLES NEST: Last season, the EMU softball team posted a stellar 11-3 record at Varsity Field. The Eagles sport a combined record of 24-6 at home over the past two seasons. The 2007 home opener, a doubleheader with Buffalo, is slated for Friday, April 6, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. From April 6 through April 25 the Eagles will play 13 of 15 games at the friendly confines of Varsity Field.
