Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 15
Varsity Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Softball Ready for Battle of the Birds This Weekend
4/14/2011 3:27:09 PM | Softball
The Eagles are set to take on both the Cardinals and RedHawks this weekend at Varsity Field
Game Notes.
Live Stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will continue to battle Mid-American Conference opponents this weekend when they host both Ball State and Miami at Varsity Field. The Eagles are slated to take on the West Division Cardinals in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 15, and will face the RedHawks on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 at 2 and 1 p.m., respectively.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eastern Michigan University softball team recently hosted a mid-week doubleheader with Oakland University on Tuesday, April 12, at Varsity Field. The Green and White split with the Golden Grizzlies to push the Eagles' record to 20 wins (20-8) on the year.
In game one, EMU dropped a 6-1 decision to OU, but bounced back to a 10-2 win in the night cap. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) pitched three shutout innings in the Eagles' win to improve her record to 7-1 on the year, while Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) showcased her best offensive performance of the season with her 2-for-3 effort at the dish. The junior blasted a three-run bomb to contribute to her eventual four RBI and scored one run for the Eagles.
Last weekend, EMU played host to both Bowling Green and Toledo in their opening homestand at Varsity Field. Against the Falcons, the Eagles took both in 1-0 and 4-1 wins. Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) tied a career-high 12 strikeouts in game one, while Wells fanned eight in the second game against BGSU.
EMU also recorded the two-game sweep over Toledo on Saturday, April 9. Ignowski was near perfect in game one, facing the minimum and allowing just one hit in the shutout victory. Wells took game two, while the EMU offense drove in 13 runs in the first inning off of 11 hits to complete the sweep.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: Ball State University's softball team currently sits at 25-14 on the year. The Cardinals rank third in pitching for conference only games, with a staff earned run average of 2.45, led by Audra Saunders' 2.33 ERA in 21.0 innings in the circle.
Through 38 games played, BSU holds an overall team batting average of .328 with a league best 349 hits. Allysa Collins leads all hitters with a .408 clip on the season.
In MAC play, the Cardinals are 5-1 after sweeping Ohio and Miami, with their lone loss coming in a doubleheader split with Akron.
SCOUNTING THE REDHAWKS: Preseason favorite, Miami University, will visit Ypsilanti with a 17-15 overall record. In conference play, Miami ranks tenth in team batting with a .252 clip, but leads the league in pitching with a team ERA of just 1.19.
Jessica Simpson leads the pitching staff with 41.1 innings pitched in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 6.89 punch-outs a game. Simpson also leads the conference in strikeouts (36), games started (6), and complete games(6).
Offensively, the RedHawks line up features three batters hitting over the .300 mark on the season in Kayla Ledbetter (.346), Allie Larrabee (.345), and Meghan Mawn (.317).
Miami sits at 2-4 in MAC play, splitting with Akron and Ohio and dropping two to Ball State.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Several members of the Eastern Michigan University softball team have placed themselves in the top-five for a number of categories in conference play.
Junior Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Clearcreek) boasts an incredible .571 batting average against MAC opponents to lead the league, and also owns the second best on-base percentage (.609), while McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) is tied for third with a .520 clip and holds the second best slugging percentage of .880. The Canton, Ohio native also possesses the sole lead in doubles with six, while teammate Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Central Canton Catholic) is tied for third with four two-baggers in conference play.
Jessica Richards' (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) 13 hits in eight games ties her for third place amongst all MAC hitters, and her two triples represents the best in that category. The junior has also scored 10 runs for second-best in the MAC, and ranks fifth in total bases with 19 and second in stolen bases with five.
Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) is tied for fifth with nine RBI, while Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) has eight in seventh place.
As a team, EMU leads the MAC in conference play with a .393 clip through eight games. The Eagles' lineup also leads in slugging percentage (.603), hits (88), total bases (135), and triples (5).
DYNAMIC DUO: EMU pitchers Jenna Ignowski and Lauren Wells have found their way to the top of several conference-only pitching categories. Ignowski currently ranks second in the Mid-American Conference with a 1.28 earned run average, while Wells sits in fifth with an ERA of 1.84 through 19.0 innings pitched in MAC contests.
Their three conference wins tie for third best among all pitchers in the MAC, with Ignowski's three shutouts beating out all other pitchers.
Both hurlers rank in the top-three in strikeouts. Ignowski has fanned 34 batters with a strikeouts per game average of 8.71, while Wells follows in third place with a 10.32 punch outs per game on 28 strikeouts.
Not only has the duo been dominant in terms of strikeouts, but Ignowski and Wells have held opponents to dismal batting averages of .167 and .225, respectively.
THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: For the second consecutive week and third time this season, the Mid-American Conference has named Eastern Michigan University softball pitcher Jenna Ignowski the MAC West Pitcher of the Week.
Ignowski maintained a flawless 0.00 ERA after going 2-0 this weekend in the Eagles' doubleheader sweeps over both Bowling Green and Toledo to improve her overall mark to 11-3 on the year. The righty hurler was nearly perfect in EMU's 7-0 win over Toledo on April 9, throwing a complete game shutout while fanning seven in the circle. Ignowski allowed a leadoff double to start the game, but then retired the next 20 batters and faced the minimum in the seven-inning shutout. Against BGSU, the Niles, Mich. native added yet another complete game shutout to her already-impressive résumé and tied a career-high 12 strikeouts in EMU's 1-0 win over the Falcons. Over 15.0 innings in the circle, the sophomore gave up just four hits and held her opponents to a meager .083 batting average while striking out 20.
Last week, she went 2-2 while earning her first career no-hitter in the Eagles 16-0 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, April 2. The sophomore entered the bottom of the fifth with a perfect game on her hands, but a walk knocked it down to a still-impressive no-hit performance where she managed to fan seven WMU batters in the contest. Ignowski threw 19.1 innings in the circle with a 2.17 ERA in five appearances, racking up 22 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .211 clip. In the Eagles opening game of a doubleheader with Detroit, Ignowski went six innings on the mound, allowing just two UDM hits and striking out six for her third shut out this season.
Her first weekly MAC honor dates back to March 1 when she earned the award for going 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-strikout 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.
ON THE HORIZON: After this weekend's homestand with Ball State and Miami, the Eagles will venture to the Buckeye State for Mid-American Conference games at both Akron and Ohio University over Easter weekend. Before heading to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. on April 30 and May 1, the Green and White will travel to Cleveland State for a rescheduled doubleheader that was originally slated for April 6.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through 28 games, they have posted a 2.36 ERA in 180.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a .224 batting average while fanning 179 and walking 71. The Green and White also shutout seven of its opponents and have held them to just 78 runs compared to EMU's 172.
ATTACK ON THE MAC: Four different members of the Eastern Michigan University softball team have been honored with weekly awards from the Mid-American Conference head office so far this season. Jenna Ignowski has been named MAC West Pitcher of the Week three times during the 2011 campaign, while freshman pitcher Lauren Wells earned her first career award on March 29. She was joined by MAC West Player of the Week Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washinton). McKenna Russ was tabbed MAC West Player of the Week alongside Ignowski on April 5, for the second consecutive week that the EMU softball team has swept the weekly awards.
Live Stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will continue to battle Mid-American Conference opponents this weekend when they host both Ball State and Miami at Varsity Field. The Eagles are slated to take on the West Division Cardinals in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 15, and will face the RedHawks on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 at 2 and 1 p.m., respectively.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eastern Michigan University softball team recently hosted a mid-week doubleheader with Oakland University on Tuesday, April 12, at Varsity Field. The Green and White split with the Golden Grizzlies to push the Eagles' record to 20 wins (20-8) on the year.
In game one, EMU dropped a 6-1 decision to OU, but bounced back to a 10-2 win in the night cap. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) pitched three shutout innings in the Eagles' win to improve her record to 7-1 on the year, while Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) showcased her best offensive performance of the season with her 2-for-3 effort at the dish. The junior blasted a three-run bomb to contribute to her eventual four RBI and scored one run for the Eagles.
Last weekend, EMU played host to both Bowling Green and Toledo in their opening homestand at Varsity Field. Against the Falcons, the Eagles took both in 1-0 and 4-1 wins. Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) tied a career-high 12 strikeouts in game one, while Wells fanned eight in the second game against BGSU.
EMU also recorded the two-game sweep over Toledo on Saturday, April 9. Ignowski was near perfect in game one, facing the minimum and allowing just one hit in the shutout victory. Wells took game two, while the EMU offense drove in 13 runs in the first inning off of 11 hits to complete the sweep.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: Ball State University's softball team currently sits at 25-14 on the year. The Cardinals rank third in pitching for conference only games, with a staff earned run average of 2.45, led by Audra Saunders' 2.33 ERA in 21.0 innings in the circle.
Through 38 games played, BSU holds an overall team batting average of .328 with a league best 349 hits. Allysa Collins leads all hitters with a .408 clip on the season.
In MAC play, the Cardinals are 5-1 after sweeping Ohio and Miami, with their lone loss coming in a doubleheader split with Akron.
SCOUNTING THE REDHAWKS: Preseason favorite, Miami University, will visit Ypsilanti with a 17-15 overall record. In conference play, Miami ranks tenth in team batting with a .252 clip, but leads the league in pitching with a team ERA of just 1.19.
Jessica Simpson leads the pitching staff with 41.1 innings pitched in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 6.89 punch-outs a game. Simpson also leads the conference in strikeouts (36), games started (6), and complete games(6).
Offensively, the RedHawks line up features three batters hitting over the .300 mark on the season in Kayla Ledbetter (.346), Allie Larrabee (.345), and Meghan Mawn (.317).
Miami sits at 2-4 in MAC play, splitting with Akron and Ohio and dropping two to Ball State.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Several members of the Eastern Michigan University softball team have placed themselves in the top-five for a number of categories in conference play.
Junior Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Clearcreek) boasts an incredible .571 batting average against MAC opponents to lead the league, and also owns the second best on-base percentage (.609), while McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) is tied for third with a .520 clip and holds the second best slugging percentage of .880. The Canton, Ohio native also possesses the sole lead in doubles with six, while teammate Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Central Canton Catholic) is tied for third with four two-baggers in conference play.
Jessica Richards' (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) 13 hits in eight games ties her for third place amongst all MAC hitters, and her two triples represents the best in that category. The junior has also scored 10 runs for second-best in the MAC, and ranks fifth in total bases with 19 and second in stolen bases with five.
Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) is tied for fifth with nine RBI, while Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) has eight in seventh place.
As a team, EMU leads the MAC in conference play with a .393 clip through eight games. The Eagles' lineup also leads in slugging percentage (.603), hits (88), total bases (135), and triples (5).
DYNAMIC DUO: EMU pitchers Jenna Ignowski and Lauren Wells have found their way to the top of several conference-only pitching categories. Ignowski currently ranks second in the Mid-American Conference with a 1.28 earned run average, while Wells sits in fifth with an ERA of 1.84 through 19.0 innings pitched in MAC contests.
Their three conference wins tie for third best among all pitchers in the MAC, with Ignowski's three shutouts beating out all other pitchers.
Both hurlers rank in the top-three in strikeouts. Ignowski has fanned 34 batters with a strikeouts per game average of 8.71, while Wells follows in third place with a 10.32 punch outs per game on 28 strikeouts.
Not only has the duo been dominant in terms of strikeouts, but Ignowski and Wells have held opponents to dismal batting averages of .167 and .225, respectively.
THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: For the second consecutive week and third time this season, the Mid-American Conference has named Eastern Michigan University softball pitcher Jenna Ignowski the MAC West Pitcher of the Week.
Ignowski maintained a flawless 0.00 ERA after going 2-0 this weekend in the Eagles' doubleheader sweeps over both Bowling Green and Toledo to improve her overall mark to 11-3 on the year. The righty hurler was nearly perfect in EMU's 7-0 win over Toledo on April 9, throwing a complete game shutout while fanning seven in the circle. Ignowski allowed a leadoff double to start the game, but then retired the next 20 batters and faced the minimum in the seven-inning shutout. Against BGSU, the Niles, Mich. native added yet another complete game shutout to her already-impressive résumé and tied a career-high 12 strikeouts in EMU's 1-0 win over the Falcons. Over 15.0 innings in the circle, the sophomore gave up just four hits and held her opponents to a meager .083 batting average while striking out 20.
Last week, she went 2-2 while earning her first career no-hitter in the Eagles 16-0 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, April 2. The sophomore entered the bottom of the fifth with a perfect game on her hands, but a walk knocked it down to a still-impressive no-hit performance where she managed to fan seven WMU batters in the contest. Ignowski threw 19.1 innings in the circle with a 2.17 ERA in five appearances, racking up 22 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .211 clip. In the Eagles opening game of a doubleheader with Detroit, Ignowski went six innings on the mound, allowing just two UDM hits and striking out six for her third shut out this season.
Her first weekly MAC honor dates back to March 1 when she earned the award for going 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-strikout 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.
ON THE HORIZON: After this weekend's homestand with Ball State and Miami, the Eagles will venture to the Buckeye State for Mid-American Conference games at both Akron and Ohio University over Easter weekend. Before heading to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. on April 30 and May 1, the Green and White will travel to Cleveland State for a rescheduled doubleheader that was originally slated for April 6.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through 28 games, they have posted a 2.36 ERA in 180.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a .224 batting average while fanning 179 and walking 71. The Green and White also shutout seven of its opponents and have held them to just 78 runs compared to EMU's 172.
ATTACK ON THE MAC: Four different members of the Eastern Michigan University softball team have been honored with weekly awards from the Mid-American Conference head office so far this season. Jenna Ignowski has been named MAC West Pitcher of the Week three times during the 2011 campaign, while freshman pitcher Lauren Wells earned her first career award on March 29. She was joined by MAC West Player of the Week Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washinton). McKenna Russ was tabbed MAC West Player of the Week alongside Ignowski on April 5, for the second consecutive week that the EMU softball team has swept the weekly awards.
Thank You, Team 38
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