Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 6
Varsity Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Kathi Russ
Softball Hosts NIU and WMU In Home Opening Weekend
4/5/2012 11:46:00 AM | Softball
Eagles return home after playing first 32 games on the road
Game Notes.
Live Stats.
Listen to Friday's Games.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — After playing the first 32 games of the 2012 season on the road, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will finally play within the friendly confines of Varsity Field in Ypsilanti, Mich. for its home opener this Friday, April 6 with the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Eagles will then play single games, April 7-8, with in-state rival, Western Michigan University.
A LOOK AT THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois will travel to Ypsilanti bearing a 13-19 overall record this season with a 1-3 mark (Sixth-MAC West) in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies are currently leading the MAC with a .370 batting avereage in conference games and are second with a .295 in all games. Stephanie Tofft leads all NIU hitters with a .434 average in 32 starts and leads her squad with 46 hits.
As a pitching staff, the Huskies have posted a 4.27 ERA in 32 games, holding opponents to a .269 average. Against MAC opponents, they have a 6.30 ERA and have allowed hitters a .315 mark at the plate. Megan Dortch has seen the most time on the mound this season, hurling 110.0 innings with a 9-11 record and team-best 3.31 ERA.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: Western Michigan University currently sits in first in the MAC West Division after going 2-0 last weekend with a pair of wins over Miami, March 31-April 1.
Overall, the Broncos are 13-10 on the year and have posted a team batting avereage of .271 this season. In MAC games, WMU's offense has hit .227, while its pitching staff has held conference opponents to a .156 clip (second in the conference) behind a 1.50 ERA. Through 23 games, the Broncos' staff has 3.11 ERA in 148.0 innings pitched.
Meredith Whitney leads all WMU hitters in both overall games (.386) and conference contests (.400) this season, and she also leads the Broncos' pitching staff with her 3.06 ERA in 87.0 innings in 2012.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles played eight games last week with doubleheaders at IPFW (March 27) and Oakland (March 28) before opening up its MAC portion of the 2012 campaign with a pair of games against both Buffalo (March 30) and Kent State (March 31-April 1).
In the Eagles' first half of their doubleheader with the Mastodons, EMU matched IPFW's seven hits but failed to plate any runs as the Green and White fell, 5-0.
In game two, Eastern built a 3-0 lead on a three-run homer by McKenna Russ, but miscues allowed a bottom of the seventh comeback by IPFW as the home team bounced back for a 4-3 win.
EMU's bats found life at Oakland, however, driving in a combined 23 runs in two games with the Grizzlies. Katy Blaharski paced the Eagles' offense with a 3-for-4 effort in the Green and White's 10-2, five-inning victory in game one. Jenna Ignowski earned the win, tossing five innings and holding OU to four hits while striking out five.
In game two, Eastern tied a season high 13 runs thanks to eight hits and two Oakland errors. Russ tallied three hits and drove in three runs for the Green and White, while Sarah Gerber chipped in with two hits and two RBI in the contest. Lindsay Rich threw her first career complete game shutout and allowed just one hit while striking out five.
On Friday, March 30, EMU swept Buffalo taking games by scores of 13-4 and 6-5.
The Eagles tallied runs in each inning through game one, tying a season-high 13 against the Bulls' pitching staff. EMU's bats hammered out 10 hits in the contest, three of which exited the ballpark as Nellie Coquillard, Amanda Herron and Lindsay Smith all collected homeruns in the game. Not only are the three longballs a season best for the Eagles, but it also ties the third-most in a single contest in program history, as the Green and White last hit three in a single contest against Detroit on March 29, 2011.
EMU outlasted the Bulls in their second contest of the afternoon, sneaking by with a 6-5 victory to complete the sweep.
Ignowski (8-4) would be the winning pitcher for EMU, throwing four innings in relief while striking three and allowing just one earned run.
Stanton showcased one her best offensive outings of the season with 2-for-3 mark at the plate that included two homeruns and four RBI, while Jessica Richards also picked up a pair of hits for the Eagles with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
After falling to Kent State, 6-1, on March 31, the Green and White came back to win game two on April 1, 7-4. as they matched KSU's six hits, but the Eagles made the most of the home team's two errors in the contest that attributed to four unearned runs. Herron drove in three in the contest in a 2-for-4 performance which included a homerun and a two-RBI double, while Richards also had a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-2 at the plate and scoring three times for the Eagles. Rich earned the win in her third complete game effort of her young career. The freshman struck out five and held the Golden Flashes to four runs on six hits en route to improving her overall record in the circle to 4-6 this season.
RICH NAMED MAC WEST PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Freshman pitcher Lindsay Rich was named the MAC West Pitcher of the Week by the league office on April 3 for her first weekly award in the pitcher's young career. Rich went 3-0 in seven appearances including two complete games for the Eagles last week, hurling 25.0 innings while maintaining a 2.52 ERA. The freshman struck out 18 while walking just five and held opposing hitters to a .216 batting average while posting a 1.04 WHIP. Against Oakland on March 28, the Perrysburg, Ohio native threw a one-hit, complete game shutout with five strikeouts. She earned her first MAC victory against Buffalo on March 30, tossing three innings of shutout work in the circle while striking out two and allowing just two hits. Rich also picked up a win against Kent State in a complete game effort where she struck out five and held the Golden Flashes to three earned runs on six hits.
RICHARDS ON THE RUN: Senior infielder Jessica Richards has been a formidable force on the base paths this season, stealing 23 bases on 27 attempts to give her 67 in her career. In 32 starts, Richards has stolen a base in 15 contests for a per game average of .72--the 11th best average in NCAA Division I. She has also had multiple swipes in five separate games this season. Against Central Florida (Feb. 26), Drake (March 9) and Buffalo (March 30) the Canton, Ohio native took three bases in each contest to tie a career best. Three stolen bases in a single contest also ties the second most in a single game by an EMU softball player in program history and is one short of the program record set by Dawn Godfrey agaisnt Miami on April 6, 1996.
MAC STANDINGS: The Eagles are currently second in the MAC West Division after the Green and White went 3-1 last weekend, sweeping Buffalo and splitting with Kent State on the road. As a team, the Eagles' .274 batting average in conference play is fifth in the MAC, and their .566 slugging percentage bests all teams in the conference. The Green and White are also fifth in on-base percentage (.371), second in runs scored (27), third in hits (29), tied for second in RBI (23) and second in total bases (60). The Eagles lead the conference in home runs (seven) and triples (three).
The EMU pitching staff has struck out 17 in MAC play, good for fifth in the conference, and its five batters fanned looking is fourth-best. The Green and White's 3.92 ERA ranks sixth in the MAC, and EMU hurlers have held opposing hitters to a .291 average in conference games (sixth).
Through four MAC games, Jessica Richards leads the MAC in a slew of offensive catagories. The senior leads the conference in on-base percentage (.733), stolen bases (five), runs scored (eight) and triples (two). Richards' .600 batting average in MAC play is second in the conference, as are her four walks. She is also tied for third in hits with six, and her 1.000 slugging percentage is tied for sixth in the MAC.
Amanda Herron has put together an impressive start to her career in conference games. She currently leads all hitters in the MAC with three homeruns, and her 15 total bases is a conference-best. Herron also ranks second in slugging percentage, owning a remarkable 1.154 mark in four games.
In the circle, Lindsay Rich ranks near the top of several catagories. Her 12 strikeouts is tied for sixth, while her two wins is second of all MAC pitchers. With a 3.00 ERA, Rich sits in 10th in the conference, and her 16.1 innings of work is fifth.
Live Stats.
Listen to Friday's Games.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — After playing the first 32 games of the 2012 season on the road, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will finally play within the friendly confines of Varsity Field in Ypsilanti, Mich. for its home opener this Friday, April 6 with the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Eagles will then play single games, April 7-8, with in-state rival, Western Michigan University.
A LOOK AT THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois will travel to Ypsilanti bearing a 13-19 overall record this season with a 1-3 mark (Sixth-MAC West) in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies are currently leading the MAC with a .370 batting avereage in conference games and are second with a .295 in all games. Stephanie Tofft leads all NIU hitters with a .434 average in 32 starts and leads her squad with 46 hits.
As a pitching staff, the Huskies have posted a 4.27 ERA in 32 games, holding opponents to a .269 average. Against MAC opponents, they have a 6.30 ERA and have allowed hitters a .315 mark at the plate. Megan Dortch has seen the most time on the mound this season, hurling 110.0 innings with a 9-11 record and team-best 3.31 ERA.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: Western Michigan University currently sits in first in the MAC West Division after going 2-0 last weekend with a pair of wins over Miami, March 31-April 1.
Overall, the Broncos are 13-10 on the year and have posted a team batting avereage of .271 this season. In MAC games, WMU's offense has hit .227, while its pitching staff has held conference opponents to a .156 clip (second in the conference) behind a 1.50 ERA. Through 23 games, the Broncos' staff has 3.11 ERA in 148.0 innings pitched.
Meredith Whitney leads all WMU hitters in both overall games (.386) and conference contests (.400) this season, and she also leads the Broncos' pitching staff with her 3.06 ERA in 87.0 innings in 2012.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles played eight games last week with doubleheaders at IPFW (March 27) and Oakland (March 28) before opening up its MAC portion of the 2012 campaign with a pair of games against both Buffalo (March 30) and Kent State (March 31-April 1).
In the Eagles' first half of their doubleheader with the Mastodons, EMU matched IPFW's seven hits but failed to plate any runs as the Green and White fell, 5-0.
In game two, Eastern built a 3-0 lead on a three-run homer by McKenna Russ, but miscues allowed a bottom of the seventh comeback by IPFW as the home team bounced back for a 4-3 win.
EMU's bats found life at Oakland, however, driving in a combined 23 runs in two games with the Grizzlies. Katy Blaharski paced the Eagles' offense with a 3-for-4 effort in the Green and White's 10-2, five-inning victory in game one. Jenna Ignowski earned the win, tossing five innings and holding OU to four hits while striking out five.
In game two, Eastern tied a season high 13 runs thanks to eight hits and two Oakland errors. Russ tallied three hits and drove in three runs for the Green and White, while Sarah Gerber chipped in with two hits and two RBI in the contest. Lindsay Rich threw her first career complete game shutout and allowed just one hit while striking out five.
On Friday, March 30, EMU swept Buffalo taking games by scores of 13-4 and 6-5.
The Eagles tallied runs in each inning through game one, tying a season-high 13 against the Bulls' pitching staff. EMU's bats hammered out 10 hits in the contest, three of which exited the ballpark as Nellie Coquillard, Amanda Herron and Lindsay Smith all collected homeruns in the game. Not only are the three longballs a season best for the Eagles, but it also ties the third-most in a single contest in program history, as the Green and White last hit three in a single contest against Detroit on March 29, 2011.
EMU outlasted the Bulls in their second contest of the afternoon, sneaking by with a 6-5 victory to complete the sweep.
Ignowski (8-4) would be the winning pitcher for EMU, throwing four innings in relief while striking three and allowing just one earned run.
Stanton showcased one her best offensive outings of the season with 2-for-3 mark at the plate that included two homeruns and four RBI, while Jessica Richards also picked up a pair of hits for the Eagles with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
After falling to Kent State, 6-1, on March 31, the Green and White came back to win game two on April 1, 7-4. as they matched KSU's six hits, but the Eagles made the most of the home team's two errors in the contest that attributed to four unearned runs. Herron drove in three in the contest in a 2-for-4 performance which included a homerun and a two-RBI double, while Richards also had a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-2 at the plate and scoring three times for the Eagles. Rich earned the win in her third complete game effort of her young career. The freshman struck out five and held the Golden Flashes to four runs on six hits en route to improving her overall record in the circle to 4-6 this season.
RICH NAMED MAC WEST PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Freshman pitcher Lindsay Rich was named the MAC West Pitcher of the Week by the league office on April 3 for her first weekly award in the pitcher's young career. Rich went 3-0 in seven appearances including two complete games for the Eagles last week, hurling 25.0 innings while maintaining a 2.52 ERA. The freshman struck out 18 while walking just five and held opposing hitters to a .216 batting average while posting a 1.04 WHIP. Against Oakland on March 28, the Perrysburg, Ohio native threw a one-hit, complete game shutout with five strikeouts. She earned her first MAC victory against Buffalo on March 30, tossing three innings of shutout work in the circle while striking out two and allowing just two hits. Rich also picked up a win against Kent State in a complete game effort where she struck out five and held the Golden Flashes to three earned runs on six hits.
RICHARDS ON THE RUN: Senior infielder Jessica Richards has been a formidable force on the base paths this season, stealing 23 bases on 27 attempts to give her 67 in her career. In 32 starts, Richards has stolen a base in 15 contests for a per game average of .72--the 11th best average in NCAA Division I. She has also had multiple swipes in five separate games this season. Against Central Florida (Feb. 26), Drake (March 9) and Buffalo (March 30) the Canton, Ohio native took three bases in each contest to tie a career best. Three stolen bases in a single contest also ties the second most in a single game by an EMU softball player in program history and is one short of the program record set by Dawn Godfrey agaisnt Miami on April 6, 1996.
MAC STANDINGS: The Eagles are currently second in the MAC West Division after the Green and White went 3-1 last weekend, sweeping Buffalo and splitting with Kent State on the road. As a team, the Eagles' .274 batting average in conference play is fifth in the MAC, and their .566 slugging percentage bests all teams in the conference. The Green and White are also fifth in on-base percentage (.371), second in runs scored (27), third in hits (29), tied for second in RBI (23) and second in total bases (60). The Eagles lead the conference in home runs (seven) and triples (three).
The EMU pitching staff has struck out 17 in MAC play, good for fifth in the conference, and its five batters fanned looking is fourth-best. The Green and White's 3.92 ERA ranks sixth in the MAC, and EMU hurlers have held opposing hitters to a .291 average in conference games (sixth).
Through four MAC games, Jessica Richards leads the MAC in a slew of offensive catagories. The senior leads the conference in on-base percentage (.733), stolen bases (five), runs scored (eight) and triples (two). Richards' .600 batting average in MAC play is second in the conference, as are her four walks. She is also tied for third in hits with six, and her 1.000 slugging percentage is tied for sixth in the MAC.
Amanda Herron has put together an impressive start to her career in conference games. She currently leads all hitters in the MAC with three homeruns, and her 15 total bases is a conference-best. Herron also ranks second in slugging percentage, owning a remarkable 1.154 mark in four games.
In the circle, Lindsay Rich ranks near the top of several catagories. Her 12 strikeouts is tied for sixth, while her two wins is second of all MAC pitchers. With a 3.00 ERA, Rich sits in 10th in the conference, and her 16.1 innings of work is fifth.
Thank You, Team 38
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Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25