Softball Hosts Central Michigan This Weekend

Complete Release (PDF)

Click here for Live Stats

CENTRAL AND EASTERN LOOK TO GET ON THE RIGHT PATH: Both Eastern Michigan (13-22, 1-7 MAC) and Central Michigan (7-19, 1-6 MAC) have struggled to open up MAC play this season. The Eagles come into the contest with a 1-7 MAC mark, while Central travels to Ypsilanti with a 1-6 mark. Both teams have played the same opponents in conference play, but the Chippewas were only able to play one game against Akron. EMU's lone conference win came against Miami (March 27) while Central knocked off Ball State (March 27) in extra innings to record its only MAC win.

A LOOK AT THE CHIPS: Central Michigan comes into this weekend's series off a late-inning, 7-2 loss to the No. 8 University of Michigan (April 8). CMU held a 1-0 advantage in the fifth inning before the Wolverines rallied for the win. Central has lost seven straight, marking the longest losing streak in its 31-year history. Leading CMU at the plate is Tracy Kaatz with a .333 average. Chrstina Novak leads the team in home runs (4), runs scored (12), RBI (11) and stolen bases (8) while batting .243. Pitcher Ali Pettit leads the Chippewas in the circle with a 5-12 record and a 2.74 ERA in 20 appearances. Last year, CMU swept both games in Mount Pleasant, winning 2-0 and 9-5.

DOUBLEHEADER WITH OAKLAND POSTPONED: The doubleheader between Eastern Michigan and Oakland scheduled for April 7 was postponed when Ypsilanti was hit with about four inches of snow earlier this week. The two teams are now scheduled to square off April 28 at Varsity Field.

RUSS SETS A NEW STANDARD: In a 10-2 win over IPFW (April 1), freshman McKenna Russ set a new single-game record for doubles in a game. Russ went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a home run to lead EMU to a doubleheader sweep of the Mastodons. The previous single-game mark was two doubles, accomplished 34 times by 19 different players.

EASTER ACTION: When the Eagles and Chippewas square off on Sunday, it will mark only the sixth game on Easter Sunday in the 28-year history of EMU softball. The Green and White are 0-5 all-time on Easter, losing 0-3 to Eastern Illinois and 0-4 to Michigan, March 30, 1986; dropping both games to Michigan, 1-4, 1-4, April 19, 1987; and falling 1-4 to Louisiana Tech, April 19, 1992. EMU was scheduled to play on Easter last year, but the Buckeye Invitational was changed to a one-day affair.

HELP EMU KNOCK CANCER OUT OF THE PARK: The “Knock Cancer Out of the Park” event is set for April 18 against Buffalo. Immediately following the game, the players will participate in a Home Run Derby to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Donations can be made for home runs per player, for the entire team or by a flat amount. During the contest, balls that will be used during the Home Run Derby can be decorated in honor anyone who has been affected by cancer with a donation of $10.

During all of the 2009 home games, the Eagles will be selling Knock Cancer Out of the Park t-shirts ($10) and bracelets ($5), as well as auctioning off themed baskets that have been donated by EMU softball parents.

EAGLES AMONG MAC BEST: The Eagles have two players who are among the league's best on the offensive side of the ball. Freshman McKenna Russ leads the MAC in hits (42), doubles (14) and total bases (64) while ranking sixth in batting average at .359. Junior Jenny Scherer is the MAC leader in home runs (8) and RBI (25). Sophomore shortstop Stacie Skodinski is not eligible to be among the batting average leaders, as she has played in only 25 games this season. She leads the Eagles with a .456 average at the plate.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos