Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 18
Bloomington, Ind.
1:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Wright State
Softball Set for Hoosier Classic
3/16/2011 4:52:35 PM | Softball
The Eagles return to Bloomington, Ind. for the first time since the 2007 campaign
Click HERE for Game Notes.
Click HERE for live stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will travel to Bloomington, Ind. for Hoosier Classic hosted by Indiana University this Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20. The Eagles will compete in five games in three days and look to surpass the best start in program history. Currently, EMU is 7-2, tying the best start since the 1982 campaign under then Head Coach Ann Johnson.
OFF TO A HOT START: After nine days of action in Fort Myers, Fla., the Eastern Michigan University softball team posted a 7-2 record to kick off the 2011 campaign to tie the best start in program history. The last time the Eagles opened the year with a 7-2 mark dates back to the 1982 campaign, when Head Coach Ann Johnson led her squad to an overall mark of 27-20 while going 10-8 in the Mid-American Conference.
EMU opened the season at Florida Gulf Coast University's Moe's Blue and Green Invitational and later took part in two doubleheader matchups with both St. Francis (Pa.) and FGCU. The Eagles began the five-game invite with a 6-1 win over UMBC. From there, the Green and White dropped two straight with a 7-0 setback to Iowa and a 5-4 extra-innings loss to Albany. The Eagles would bounce back in dominant fashion, outscoring their opponents 35-10 through six consecutive victories.
IGNOWSKI EARNS MAC HONORS: After posting career numbers, sophomore pitcher Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) of the Eastern Michigan University softball team was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office on March 1. It is first time she has received this honor in her career.
Ignowski went 2-1 in the circle at the Moe's Blue and Green Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. where she posted a 0.79 ERA while holding her opponents to just a .169 batting average. In 17.2 innings of work, the sophomore struck out 18, which includes her 12-strikeout performance against Albany on Feb. 25. The feat tied her for third all-time in EMU single-game records and has not been accomplished since the 2002 season. Ignowski also earned her second career shutout in an 8-0 win over UMBC on Feb. 27, holding the Retrievers to just four hits in the contest. In the Eagles extra-inning victory over St. Francis, Ignowski was clutch for the EMU pitching staff, throwing a scoreless inning for the save en route to a 7-6 win over the Red Flash.
Ignowski finished her stay in the Sunshine State with a 0.51 ERA through six appearances. She currently holds the lowest ERA in the MAC of any pitcher with at least two appearances in the circle this season. She held her opponents to just a .173 batting average and registered 29 strikeouts over 98 batters faced. With a 4-1 record, opposing teams have struggled to produce runs against the righty hurler, scoring just two times in her 27.1 innings of work.
A GLANCE AT THE COMPETITION: This weekend, the Eagles will face four opponents through five games at the Hoosier Classic. The Green and White last competed at the classic in the 2007 season. EMU went 3-2, picking up wins over Indiana, Buffalo, and Illinois-Chicago.
This year, the Eagles will kick off the classic against Wright State (9-8) on Friday, March 18. EMU has not faced the Raiders since the 2009 season and sit at an even 2-2 mark in the all-time series. In the second contest of the day, the Green and White will see the Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago (8-5) for the first meeting between the two squads.
Indiana (12-12) is slated for Saturday, while the Eagles will take on the Michigan State Spartans (14-10) and Loyola-Chicago to finish out the weekend.
ON THE HORIZON: After taking 16 days off after the team's trip to Florida, the Eastern Michigan University softball team has a busy schedule in the coming weeks.
Following the Hoosier Classic this weekend, the Eagles will make the 180-mile trek to South Bend, Ind. for a midweek doubleheader against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 23.
After a three day rest, EMU is slated for the Austin Peay State Lady Gov Classic in Clarksville, Tenn on March 26-27. The Eagles will take on Austin Peat State and meet with Southern University for the first time in program history.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through nine games, they have posted a 2.27 ERA in 61.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a meager .211 batting average while fanning 54 and walking just 32. The Green and White also shut out three of its opponents and have held them to just 23 runs compared to EMU's 45.
WELCOME BACK: Head Coach Karen Baird returns to the helm of the softball program after taking the 2010 season off on maternity leave.
In her absence, Assistant Coach Eric Oakley filled in as the interim head coach in 2010 as the Eagles posted a 19-30-1 record. The Green and White narrowly missed their MAC tournament berth despite sweeping Northern Illinois in exciting come-from-behind victories in the final two contests of the year. EMU needed losses by both Buffalo and Bowling Green on the final day of the regular season to secure a postseason appearance, but each squad managed victories to steal the remaining spots for the conference championship tournament.
EAGLES WELCOME NEW ADDITIONS: The Eagles welcome four newcomers in Kayla Kostich, Shaina Peters, Amanda Stanton and Lauren Wells to the 2011 squad and will be looking to make major contributions this season.
Kostich, a Taylor, Mich. native, hails from Cabrini High School where she helped lead her team to a Division III State Championship in 2007 and runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2010. The Miss Softball Candidate also earned All-Catholic League, All-Downriver Dream Team, All-District, and All-State honors her senior season.
Peters will join the Eagles after posting an impressive senior campaign at East Jordan High School. She was a four-year All-Conference athlete for the Devils and helped them to three disctrict championships during her tenure.
Stanton brings experience as a four-year letterwinner from Rockport High School where she boasted a .400 batting average and .923 fielding percentage during senior season.
Wells will round out the rookie class. The Lowell, Ind. native broke eight school pitching records for Lowell Senior High School including most wins and most strikeouts for the Red Devils.
MAC POLL: The Eastern Michigan University softball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the 2011 MAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll as released by the conference office. Last year's MAC Tournament Champion Ball State was selected by the coaches to win the MAC West Division followed by Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo. In the East, Miami was picked to win the division as well as the MAC Tournament title in 2011. Ohio was picked second followed by Kent State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Akron. The 2011 MAC Softball Tournament will be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio May 11-14.
MAC Preseason Coaches Poll:
East Division
1. Miami
2. Ohio
3. Kent State
4. Bowling Green
5. Buffalo
6. Akron
West Division
1. Ball State
2. Central Michigan
3. Northern Illinois
4. Western Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo
2011 MAC Tournament Champion - Miami
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Jaclyn Caro, Lauren Delapaz, Jamie Melchert, and Stacie Skodinski will compete for the Eagles one last time in 2011. The senior class will seek their first Mid-American Conference tournament appearance since 2007.
As freshman, Caro, Delapaz, and Skodinski came into a team that was fresh off of the program's first MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. The 2008 season ended sooner than hoped as the Eagles narrowly missed a tournament appearance.
The same fate fell upon the Eagles in both the 2009 and 2010 campaigns as the Green and White made late runs in conference play but fell just short as they were edged out for the final spots in the postseason.
Heading into 2011, the solid core of seniors will look to lead a team that is hungry to return to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio to make a run for the MAC Championship once again.
CONFERENCE TOUR: The Eagles will see a slew of representatives from several different conferences this season, taking on opponents from nine different leagues in 2011.
EMU will square off against teams from the Horizon League (Cleveland State, Detroit-Mercy, Wright State), Big East (Notre Dame), Atlantic Sun (Florida Gulf Coast, Loyola-Chicago), Summit (IPFW, Oakland), Big Ten (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State), Northeast (St. Francis Pa.), Southwestern Atlantic (Southern), Ohio Valley (Austin Peay State) and America East (Albany, UMBC). The Eagles will also play an entire slate of MAC foes.
THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY: Five members of the EMU softball team and one member of the coaching staff will celebrate birthdays during the 2011 season.
Jessica Richards (5-2-90) will turn a year older during the season, and Stacie Skodinski (3-31-89) will celebrate her 22nd birthday. Nellie Coquillard will be leaving her teen years behind and turn the big 2-0 (4-13-91), while sophomore Jillian Williamson turns one year older at 21 (4-7-90). EMU freshman Amanda Stanton (4-15-92) will enjoy her 19th birthday this season with a double header against Ball State in March. If the Eagles make it to the NCAA Tournament, assistant coach, Heather Han (5-17-87), will celebrate her birthday during the season as well.
CLIMBING THE RANKS: Stacie Skodinski and Jaclyn Caro are climbing the ladder in the EMU history books.
Skodinski is currently the leader for EMU's all-time career batting average with a .333 career clip (138-for-415). She also appears in seveal other offensive catagories, including a sixth place mark in career doubles with 33. This puts the senior on pace for 40 which would tie her with her predecessor, Lauren Clark ('07), who currently sits in fourth all-time. Skodinski also boasts 16 career home runs, tying for sixth-best on the all-time list.
For Caro, 23 wins in her first three seasons puts her on pace to finish with 31 at the end of her career, which would tie her for fourth place all-time with Heidi Russell ('88) on the EMU list. With 257 strikeouts, she's already seventh on the all-time record, but if she maintains her current pace, she could vault into third with 328 career punchouts by the end of the 2011 campaign.
Click HERE for live stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will travel to Bloomington, Ind. for Hoosier Classic hosted by Indiana University this Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20. The Eagles will compete in five games in three days and look to surpass the best start in program history. Currently, EMU is 7-2, tying the best start since the 1982 campaign under then Head Coach Ann Johnson.
OFF TO A HOT START: After nine days of action in Fort Myers, Fla., the Eastern Michigan University softball team posted a 7-2 record to kick off the 2011 campaign to tie the best start in program history. The last time the Eagles opened the year with a 7-2 mark dates back to the 1982 campaign, when Head Coach Ann Johnson led her squad to an overall mark of 27-20 while going 10-8 in the Mid-American Conference.
EMU opened the season at Florida Gulf Coast University's Moe's Blue and Green Invitational and later took part in two doubleheader matchups with both St. Francis (Pa.) and FGCU. The Eagles began the five-game invite with a 6-1 win over UMBC. From there, the Green and White dropped two straight with a 7-0 setback to Iowa and a 5-4 extra-innings loss to Albany. The Eagles would bounce back in dominant fashion, outscoring their opponents 35-10 through six consecutive victories.
IGNOWSKI EARNS MAC HONORS: After posting career numbers, sophomore pitcher Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) of the Eastern Michigan University softball team was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office on March 1. It is first time she has received this honor in her career.
Ignowski went 2-1 in the circle at the Moe's Blue and Green Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. where she posted a 0.79 ERA while holding her opponents to just a .169 batting average. In 17.2 innings of work, the sophomore struck out 18, which includes her 12-strikeout performance against Albany on Feb. 25. The feat tied her for third all-time in EMU single-game records and has not been accomplished since the 2002 season. Ignowski also earned her second career shutout in an 8-0 win over UMBC on Feb. 27, holding the Retrievers to just four hits in the contest. In the Eagles extra-inning victory over St. Francis, Ignowski was clutch for the EMU pitching staff, throwing a scoreless inning for the save en route to a 7-6 win over the Red Flash.
Ignowski finished her stay in the Sunshine State with a 0.51 ERA through six appearances. She currently holds the lowest ERA in the MAC of any pitcher with at least two appearances in the circle this season. She held her opponents to just a .173 batting average and registered 29 strikeouts over 98 batters faced. With a 4-1 record, opposing teams have struggled to produce runs against the righty hurler, scoring just two times in her 27.1 innings of work.
A GLANCE AT THE COMPETITION: This weekend, the Eagles will face four opponents through five games at the Hoosier Classic. The Green and White last competed at the classic in the 2007 season. EMU went 3-2, picking up wins over Indiana, Buffalo, and Illinois-Chicago.
This year, the Eagles will kick off the classic against Wright State (9-8) on Friday, March 18. EMU has not faced the Raiders since the 2009 season and sit at an even 2-2 mark in the all-time series. In the second contest of the day, the Green and White will see the Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago (8-5) for the first meeting between the two squads.
Indiana (12-12) is slated for Saturday, while the Eagles will take on the Michigan State Spartans (14-10) and Loyola-Chicago to finish out the weekend.
ON THE HORIZON: After taking 16 days off after the team's trip to Florida, the Eastern Michigan University softball team has a busy schedule in the coming weeks.
Following the Hoosier Classic this weekend, the Eagles will make the 180-mile trek to South Bend, Ind. for a midweek doubleheader against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 23.
After a three day rest, EMU is slated for the Austin Peay State Lady Gov Classic in Clarksville, Tenn on March 26-27. The Eagles will take on Austin Peat State and meet with Southern University for the first time in program history.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through nine games, they have posted a 2.27 ERA in 61.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a meager .211 batting average while fanning 54 and walking just 32. The Green and White also shut out three of its opponents and have held them to just 23 runs compared to EMU's 45.
WELCOME BACK: Head Coach Karen Baird returns to the helm of the softball program after taking the 2010 season off on maternity leave.
In her absence, Assistant Coach Eric Oakley filled in as the interim head coach in 2010 as the Eagles posted a 19-30-1 record. The Green and White narrowly missed their MAC tournament berth despite sweeping Northern Illinois in exciting come-from-behind victories in the final two contests of the year. EMU needed losses by both Buffalo and Bowling Green on the final day of the regular season to secure a postseason appearance, but each squad managed victories to steal the remaining spots for the conference championship tournament.
EAGLES WELCOME NEW ADDITIONS: The Eagles welcome four newcomers in Kayla Kostich, Shaina Peters, Amanda Stanton and Lauren Wells to the 2011 squad and will be looking to make major contributions this season.
Kostich, a Taylor, Mich. native, hails from Cabrini High School where she helped lead her team to a Division III State Championship in 2007 and runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2010. The Miss Softball Candidate also earned All-Catholic League, All-Downriver Dream Team, All-District, and All-State honors her senior season.
Peters will join the Eagles after posting an impressive senior campaign at East Jordan High School. She was a four-year All-Conference athlete for the Devils and helped them to three disctrict championships during her tenure.
Stanton brings experience as a four-year letterwinner from Rockport High School where she boasted a .400 batting average and .923 fielding percentage during senior season.
Wells will round out the rookie class. The Lowell, Ind. native broke eight school pitching records for Lowell Senior High School including most wins and most strikeouts for the Red Devils.
MAC POLL: The Eastern Michigan University softball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the 2011 MAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll as released by the conference office. Last year's MAC Tournament Champion Ball State was selected by the coaches to win the MAC West Division followed by Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo. In the East, Miami was picked to win the division as well as the MAC Tournament title in 2011. Ohio was picked second followed by Kent State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Akron. The 2011 MAC Softball Tournament will be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio May 11-14.
MAC Preseason Coaches Poll:
East Division
1. Miami
2. Ohio
3. Kent State
4. Bowling Green
5. Buffalo
6. Akron
West Division
1. Ball State
2. Central Michigan
3. Northern Illinois
4. Western Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Toledo
2011 MAC Tournament Champion - Miami
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Jaclyn Caro, Lauren Delapaz, Jamie Melchert, and Stacie Skodinski will compete for the Eagles one last time in 2011. The senior class will seek their first Mid-American Conference tournament appearance since 2007.
As freshman, Caro, Delapaz, and Skodinski came into a team that was fresh off of the program's first MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. The 2008 season ended sooner than hoped as the Eagles narrowly missed a tournament appearance.
The same fate fell upon the Eagles in both the 2009 and 2010 campaigns as the Green and White made late runs in conference play but fell just short as they were edged out for the final spots in the postseason.
Heading into 2011, the solid core of seniors will look to lead a team that is hungry to return to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio to make a run for the MAC Championship once again.
CONFERENCE TOUR: The Eagles will see a slew of representatives from several different conferences this season, taking on opponents from nine different leagues in 2011.
EMU will square off against teams from the Horizon League (Cleveland State, Detroit-Mercy, Wright State), Big East (Notre Dame), Atlantic Sun (Florida Gulf Coast, Loyola-Chicago), Summit (IPFW, Oakland), Big Ten (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State), Northeast (St. Francis Pa.), Southwestern Atlantic (Southern), Ohio Valley (Austin Peay State) and America East (Albany, UMBC). The Eagles will also play an entire slate of MAC foes.
THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY: Five members of the EMU softball team and one member of the coaching staff will celebrate birthdays during the 2011 season.
Jessica Richards (5-2-90) will turn a year older during the season, and Stacie Skodinski (3-31-89) will celebrate her 22nd birthday. Nellie Coquillard will be leaving her teen years behind and turn the big 2-0 (4-13-91), while sophomore Jillian Williamson turns one year older at 21 (4-7-90). EMU freshman Amanda Stanton (4-15-92) will enjoy her 19th birthday this season with a double header against Ball State in March. If the Eagles make it to the NCAA Tournament, assistant coach, Heather Han (5-17-87), will celebrate her birthday during the season as well.
CLIMBING THE RANKS: Stacie Skodinski and Jaclyn Caro are climbing the ladder in the EMU history books.
Skodinski is currently the leader for EMU's all-time career batting average with a .333 career clip (138-for-415). She also appears in seveal other offensive catagories, including a sixth place mark in career doubles with 33. This puts the senior on pace for 40 which would tie her with her predecessor, Lauren Clark ('07), who currently sits in fourth all-time. Skodinski also boasts 16 career home runs, tying for sixth-best on the all-time list.
For Caro, 23 wins in her first three seasons puts her on pace to finish with 31 at the end of her career, which would tie her for fourth place all-time with Heidi Russell ('88) on the EMU list. With 257 strikeouts, she's already seventh on the all-time record, but if she maintains her current pace, she could vault into third with 328 career punchouts by the end of the 2011 campaign.
Thank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25