Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 8
Varsity Field
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Bowling Green
Softball Home Opener with BGSU Moved to 2 p.m.
4/6/2011 2:59:44 PM | Softball
The Eagles will play host to both the Falcons and Rockets at Varsity Field this weekend
Click HERE for Game Notes.
Click Here for Live Stats.
Click Here to Listen to Friday's Game.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will play host to both the Bowling Green Falcons and the Toledo Rockets this weekend in the Eagles opening homestand, April 8-10. Friday's doubleheader with Mid-American Conference opponent BGSU is slated for a 2 p.m. start, and single games with UT are set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
HOME SWEET HOME: After playing its first 22 games of the 2011 season on the road, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will finally play within the friendly confines of Varsity Field this weekend as they play host to both Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo for Mid-American Conference action.
The Falcons will head into Friday's doubleheader with a 4-17 record and an 0-4 mark in the MAC. They are led offensively by Hannah Fulk's .295 clip through 21 games this season. She is tied with teammate Paige Butler with a team-high 18 hits.
On the mound, Zada Lines (3-4) leads the BGSU pitching staff with a 3.63 ERA in 46.1 innings of work. She has fanned 37 opposing hitters, while holding opponents to a .272 batting average.
Toledo sits at 5-22 on the year, 1-3 in the MAC. Lindsay Tobias leads all hitters with a .346 batting average with 16 RBI on 28 hits, including five round-trippers and four doubles.
Jen Solanics has seen the most action of any UT hurler with 72.2 innings of work. She currently holds a 5.78 ERA with 31 strike outs and an opposing batting average of .363.
WEEK IN REVIEW: The Eastern Michigan University softball team kicked off Mid-American Conference play last weekend when they traveled to DeKalb, Ill. for a doubleheader with the Huskies and to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a Saturday doubleheader to tangle with the Broncos.
The Eagles split with the Huskies on Friday, dropping the opening matchup 8-6 after giving up five unearned runs. The Green and White would bounce back in game two, plating 10 runs in a convincing 10-1 win over the Huskies.
Against the Broncos, Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) picked up her first career no-hitter in a near-perfect performance. The sophomore hurler was hanging on to a perfect game before giving up a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Eagles pulled away with the 16-0 victory. The Green and White's offensive statistics in game one landed in the ranks of a number of categories in the EMU softball record books.
The Eagles 16 runs ties the second most scored by an EMU squad, which has not been achieved since the 1989 campaign. EMU's 17 hits ties the fourth most ever recorded. The team's 14 RBI matches the second most runs knocked in by an EMU squad, and the offense's five doubles also ties the second most hit in a single contest, while seven EMU extra-base hits is the second most achieved in a game in program history.
Despite both teams reigstering seven hits in game two, the Broncos took advantage of EMU's seven runners left on base to steal game two, 4-3.
BEST IN THE WEST: For the second consecutive week, the Eagles swept the weekly Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher and Player of the Week awards. Jenna Ignowski and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) were announced as pitcher and player of the week on April 5 following last week's sweep which honored Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) and Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington).
Ignowski earns her second MAC West Pitcher of the week honor this season after going 2-2 last week 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.
Russ earns her second career MAC West Player of the Week award after hitting .727 (16-for-22) through six games last week to help the Eagles in wins over Detroit, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan. The junior belted four doubles and blasted five home runs in that span, including back-to-back multi-home run games against Detroit on March 29. In game two of a double header against the Titans, she went 5-for-5 to tie the most hits in a single game by any EMU hitter in program history. Against NIU, Russ registered her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak in the NCAA Division I record books for consecutive hits. Through six games, Russ also posted a 1.591 slugging percentage, with an on base percentage of .750 while knocking in 12 RBI and scoring 10 times for the Eagles.
The After going 2-1 in their series with Austin Peay State University on March 25-27, senior shortstop Skodinski was named the MAC West Player of the Week, while freshman pitcher Wells earned MAC West Pitcher of the Week.
The award was the second of Skodinski's career and is the first she has earned this season. She reached base safely in seven of her 10 plate appearances this past weekend, hitting for an impressive .625 (5-for-8) in the Eagles three-game series with Austin Peay State University. Skodinski cranked out two home runs and a double, while knocking in five RBIs and scoring four times for the Green and White. In EMU's final game of the series, the senior was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish, hammering out two round-trippers to mark her second multi-home run performance in her career. In three games, Skodinski posted a 1.500 slugging percentage with an incredible .700 on-base percentage. The South Bend, Ind. native also proved to be a tough out for the Lady Governors, as APSU pitchers failed to strike her out over the weekend series.
Wells threw 10.1 innings in two appearances against Austin Peay State University this weekend without giving up a single earned run, deflating her season earned run average by over 2.5 runs. The freshman fanned 13 in two appearances in the circle, including a career-high 10 strikeouts in her complete game, eight-inning effort in the Eagles 3-1 win over APSU on March 27. Her performance also ties the sixth most strikeouts by an EMU hurler in the program's history. In 39 batters faced, Wells allowed only five hits to hold her opponents to a meager .147 batting average. The weekly award is the first in the freshman's career.
SHE'S ON FIRE... STILL: On April 29, McKenna Russ went for an impressive 9-for-9 on after showcasing an outstanding offensive outing in a non-conference doubleheader sweep over the Detroit Titans. The junior belted four home runs on the day, two in each game, to record her first career mulit-home run performance. In her nine at bats, Russ knocked in eight RBI and scored five times for a slugging percentage of 2.444.
Her 5-for-5 effort in the night cap ties the all-time EMU record for most hits in a game, which was last accomplished on April 19, 1996 against Western Michigan when Val Canfield registered five hits against the Broncos.
During EMU's 8-6 loss to Northern Illinois, Russ went 3-for-4 during the contest. In her second at bat, she registered her 11th consecutive hit in as many at bats to tie the third longest streak in the NCAA Division-I record books.
Before the doubleheader with Detroit, Russ claimed a .300 (9-of-30) batting average through ten games. After her 16-for-22 tear, the North Canton, Ohio native boosted her hit total to 25, sending their season batting average to .481. Her on base percentage increased from .323 to .509, while her slugging percentage sky rocketed from a .333 mark to .865.
ROAD WARRIORS: Following last weekend's trips to both DeKalb, Ill. and Kalamazoo, Mich., the Eagles have traveled a total of 4,993 miles so far this season. EMU has already visited Fort Myers, Fla. for a round-trip total of 2,563 miles, in addition to the 676-mile trek to Bloomington, Ind. and back. The Green and White's cruise to Austin Peay State racked up appoximately 1,050 miles round trip. A quick there-and-back to Detroit added another 77 miles, and the hike to DeKalb, Ill. with a pitstop in Kalamazoo on the return will pile on another 626 miles to their tally.
ON THE HORIZON: After this weekend's homestand with Bowling Green and Toledo, the Eagles will host the Oakland Grizzlies (8-17) for a mid-week doubleheader on April 12. On April 15-17, EMU stays home as the Cardinals of Ball State and the Miami RedHawks visit Varsity Field for a set of MAC games.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through 22 games, they have posted a 2.70 ERA in 142.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a .238 batting average while fanning 134 and walking 65. The Green and White also shut out five of its opponents and have held them to just 68 runs compared to EMU's 136.
Click Here for Live Stats.
Click Here to Listen to Friday's Game.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team will play host to both the Bowling Green Falcons and the Toledo Rockets this weekend in the Eagles opening homestand, April 8-10. Friday's doubleheader with Mid-American Conference opponent BGSU is slated for a 2 p.m. start, and single games with UT are set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
HOME SWEET HOME: After playing its first 22 games of the 2011 season on the road, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will finally play within the friendly confines of Varsity Field this weekend as they play host to both Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo for Mid-American Conference action.
The Falcons will head into Friday's doubleheader with a 4-17 record and an 0-4 mark in the MAC. They are led offensively by Hannah Fulk's .295 clip through 21 games this season. She is tied with teammate Paige Butler with a team-high 18 hits.
On the mound, Zada Lines (3-4) leads the BGSU pitching staff with a 3.63 ERA in 46.1 innings of work. She has fanned 37 opposing hitters, while holding opponents to a .272 batting average.
Toledo sits at 5-22 on the year, 1-3 in the MAC. Lindsay Tobias leads all hitters with a .346 batting average with 16 RBI on 28 hits, including five round-trippers and four doubles.
Jen Solanics has seen the most action of any UT hurler with 72.2 innings of work. She currently holds a 5.78 ERA with 31 strike outs and an opposing batting average of .363.
WEEK IN REVIEW: The Eastern Michigan University softball team kicked off Mid-American Conference play last weekend when they traveled to DeKalb, Ill. for a doubleheader with the Huskies and to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a Saturday doubleheader to tangle with the Broncos.
The Eagles split with the Huskies on Friday, dropping the opening matchup 8-6 after giving up five unearned runs. The Green and White would bounce back in game two, plating 10 runs in a convincing 10-1 win over the Huskies.
Against the Broncos, Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) picked up her first career no-hitter in a near-perfect performance. The sophomore hurler was hanging on to a perfect game before giving up a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Eagles pulled away with the 16-0 victory. The Green and White's offensive statistics in game one landed in the ranks of a number of categories in the EMU softball record books.
The Eagles 16 runs ties the second most scored by an EMU squad, which has not been achieved since the 1989 campaign. EMU's 17 hits ties the fourth most ever recorded. The team's 14 RBI matches the second most runs knocked in by an EMU squad, and the offense's five doubles also ties the second most hit in a single contest, while seven EMU extra-base hits is the second most achieved in a game in program history.
Despite both teams reigstering seven hits in game two, the Broncos took advantage of EMU's seven runners left on base to steal game two, 4-3.
BEST IN THE WEST: For the second consecutive week, the Eagles swept the weekly Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher and Player of the Week awards. Jenna Ignowski and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) were announced as pitcher and player of the week on April 5 following last week's sweep which honored Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) and Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington).
Ignowski earns her second MAC West Pitcher of the week honor this season after going 2-2 last week 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.
Russ earns her second career MAC West Player of the Week award after hitting .727 (16-for-22) through six games last week to help the Eagles in wins over Detroit, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan. The junior belted four doubles and blasted five home runs in that span, including back-to-back multi-home run games against Detroit on March 29. In game two of a double header against the Titans, she went 5-for-5 to tie the most hits in a single game by any EMU hitter in program history. Against NIU, Russ registered her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak in the NCAA Division I record books for consecutive hits. Through six games, Russ also posted a 1.591 slugging percentage, with an on base percentage of .750 while knocking in 12 RBI and scoring 10 times for the Eagles.
The After going 2-1 in their series with Austin Peay State University on March 25-27, senior shortstop Skodinski was named the MAC West Player of the Week, while freshman pitcher Wells earned MAC West Pitcher of the Week.
The award was the second of Skodinski's career and is the first she has earned this season. She reached base safely in seven of her 10 plate appearances this past weekend, hitting for an impressive .625 (5-for-8) in the Eagles three-game series with Austin Peay State University. Skodinski cranked out two home runs and a double, while knocking in five RBIs and scoring four times for the Green and White. In EMU's final game of the series, the senior was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish, hammering out two round-trippers to mark her second multi-home run performance in her career. In three games, Skodinski posted a 1.500 slugging percentage with an incredible .700 on-base percentage. The South Bend, Ind. native also proved to be a tough out for the Lady Governors, as APSU pitchers failed to strike her out over the weekend series.
Wells threw 10.1 innings in two appearances against Austin Peay State University this weekend without giving up a single earned run, deflating her season earned run average by over 2.5 runs. The freshman fanned 13 in two appearances in the circle, including a career-high 10 strikeouts in her complete game, eight-inning effort in the Eagles 3-1 win over APSU on March 27. Her performance also ties the sixth most strikeouts by an EMU hurler in the program's history. In 39 batters faced, Wells allowed only five hits to hold her opponents to a meager .147 batting average. The weekly award is the first in the freshman's career.
SHE'S ON FIRE... STILL: On April 29, McKenna Russ went for an impressive 9-for-9 on after showcasing an outstanding offensive outing in a non-conference doubleheader sweep over the Detroit Titans. The junior belted four home runs on the day, two in each game, to record her first career mulit-home run performance. In her nine at bats, Russ knocked in eight RBI and scored five times for a slugging percentage of 2.444.
Her 5-for-5 effort in the night cap ties the all-time EMU record for most hits in a game, which was last accomplished on April 19, 1996 against Western Michigan when Val Canfield registered five hits against the Broncos.
During EMU's 8-6 loss to Northern Illinois, Russ went 3-for-4 during the contest. In her second at bat, she registered her 11th consecutive hit in as many at bats to tie the third longest streak in the NCAA Division-I record books.
Before the doubleheader with Detroit, Russ claimed a .300 (9-of-30) batting average through ten games. After her 16-for-22 tear, the North Canton, Ohio native boosted her hit total to 25, sending their season batting average to .481. Her on base percentage increased from .323 to .509, while her slugging percentage sky rocketed from a .333 mark to .865.
ROAD WARRIORS: Following last weekend's trips to both DeKalb, Ill. and Kalamazoo, Mich., the Eagles have traveled a total of 4,993 miles so far this season. EMU has already visited Fort Myers, Fla. for a round-trip total of 2,563 miles, in addition to the 676-mile trek to Bloomington, Ind. and back. The Green and White's cruise to Austin Peay State racked up appoximately 1,050 miles round trip. A quick there-and-back to Detroit added another 77 miles, and the hike to DeKalb, Ill. with a pitstop in Kalamazoo on the return will pile on another 626 miles to their tally.
ON THE HORIZON: After this weekend's homestand with Bowling Green and Toledo, the Eagles will host the Oakland Grizzlies (8-17) for a mid-week doubleheader on April 12. On April 15-17, EMU stays home as the Cardinals of Ball State and the Miami RedHawks visit Varsity Field for a set of MAC games.
THE WINNER'S CIRCLE: The EMU pitching staff has showcased an impressive performance in the circle so far this season. Through 22 games, they have posted a 2.70 ERA in 142.2 innings of work. The Eagle hurlers have held opponents to a .238 batting average while fanning 134 and walking 65. The Green and White also shut out five of its opponents and have held them to just 68 runs compared to EMU's 136.
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