Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball Concludes Regular Season
4/30/2007 6:24:53 PM | Softball
Complete release
SOFTBALL CONCLUDES REGULAR SEASON: In search of its first Mid-American Conference divisional title, the Eastern Michigan University softball team concludes the 2007 regular season this week with five scheduled games. The Eagles will travel down the road for a non-conference mid-week contest with No. 9 University of Michigan, May 2. EMU will resume MAC play with a twinbill at the University of Akron, May 4, and back-to-back single games with Ohio University, May 5-6.
THE MAC WEST CROWN: The Eagles are currently atop the MAC West standings with a 9-5 mark, ahead of instate rivals Central Michigan University (8-6) and Western Michigan University (10-8). If EMU wins three or more of its four MAC games this weekend, the Eagles will clinch a share of their first ever MAC West championship.
LAST YEAR VS. MICHIGAN: Michigan posted a 2-0 record against the Eagles in 2006, however senior Michelle Lloyd threw EMU’s first no-hitter since 2002 in a 1-0 extra-innings setback to the defending national champions, March 24, 2006. Later in the season, Michigan registered a 4-2 victory, May 3, 2006.
ABOUT THE MAC TOURNAMENT: The top three teams from each the East and the West division plus the next two teams with the best overall MAC winning percentage regardless of division will qualify for the MAC Tournament. For the second consecutive season, the MAC Tournament will be held at Currie Stadium in Midland, Mich., May 9-12.
SCHERER NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman Jenny Scherer was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week. Scherer cranked out four extra base hits including two home runs helping the MAC West Division leading Eagles to a 2-2 record for the week. Scherer batted .417 (5-for-12) with four RBI, three runs, three walks, a double, a triple and a 1.167 slugging percentage. The freshman outfielder went 4-for-7 at the plate with three RBI and a home run to lead EMU to a doubleheader sweep over Ball State, April 27. She also accounted for the Eagles’ lone run in a 3-1 setback to Miami, April 29, with a solo home run.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: The Wolverines are ranked No. 9 according to the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll. U-M has posted a stellar 40-9 mark on the season. Akron is 16-21 with an even 7-7 league mark, while Ohio is 22-26 and 9-9 in MAC action.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING, AGAIN: Senior Lauren Clark pieced together a 12 game hit streak from March 24 April 19, the next day Clark start the streak again and has now strung together a six game hit streak. In the six game stretch, the 2006 MAC Player of the Year has posted at least two hits in five of the six contests. Over the 19 game run Clark has totaled a .456 batting average with four home runs and eight doubles, while leading the Eagles to a 14-5 record.
SCHERER EXCELLENCE: Recently named MAC West Player of the Week, freshman Jenny Scherer has made a huge impact for the Eagles thus far this season. Scherer is currently leading EMU in home runs (eight), RBI (28) and extra-base hits (19). The eight home runs is the fifth most by any Eagle in a single-season. Only three players have ever hit double digit homers, with senior Lauren Clark hitting a record-setting 13 during the 2006 season.
MAC TEAM RANKINGS: EMU currently ranks second in the MAC in team batting with a .279 team average. The Eagles are tied for fifth in team fielding with a .959 fielding percentage and eighth in pitching with a 3.10 ERA.
MAC INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS: Junior Ashley Strauss ranks ninth in batting average with a .347 clip. Seniors Lauren Clark and Lindsay Schmid ranks eighth and ninth in on base percentage with a .421 and .406 mark, respectively. Freshman Jenny Scherer is fourth in slugging percentage .649 and Clark ranks sixth (.551).
EAGLES NEST: The Eagles posted a 6-2 record at home this year. Over the past three season, The Green and White have posted a 31-8 record at Varsity Field. Due to snowed out games, the Eagles played just eight games at home this season.
CENTURY MARK: Senior Lauren Clark has drove in 14 runs this year, giving her 91 career RBI, leaving her nine 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.
CENTURY MARK, TAKE 2: Sixth year head coach Karen Baird is just 11 wins shy of the 100 win mark at EMU. Baird is currently 89-139 at the helm for the Eagles, increasing the Green and White’s winning percentage in each of her first five seasons. Only two coaches in school history have registered more wins then Baird with Nancy Oestrike (106) and Connie Miller (270) totaling the most victories.
CLARK SETS ALL-TIME HOME RUN: Senior Lauren Clark blasted her 20th career home run against Northern Illinois, March 30, to give her sole possession of the EMU career home run record. Clark entered the season in a three-way tie atop the list with Melissa Drouillard and Nikki Denman who each cranked out 19 career homers. Clark has hit four homers this season, extending her lead to 23 career home runs. Senior Lindsay Schmid sits at fifth on the all-time list with 13, four behind Liz Flack who hit 17 in her Green and White career.
THERE’S NO E IN SABO: Junior outfielder Stephanie Sabo has been perfect in the field since earning an every day starter role in 2006. In 83 games, Sabo has registered a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. In 2006, she totaled 38 putouts and one assist. Thus far in the 2007 campaign, she has 39 putouts with two assists and is the lone Eagle starter who has not recorded an error.
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 ranks sixth in innings pitched with 380, while Lloyd has thrown 351 innings (ninth all-time). The tandem currently ranks fourth and fifth on the EMU career strikeout list with Lloyd leading with 287, while Woodrum has 273. The EMU career leader in each category is Marci Kelly who threw 780 innings and registered 484 strikeouts from 1994-96.
