Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, March 27
Varsity Field
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Oakland
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Open Home Slate with Oakland and Central Michigan
3/25/2013 5:14:00 PM | Softball
Eastern will welcome in their in-state rivals this week for four games
Complete Release
Interview with Head Coach Karen Baird
Listen Live vs. Oakland
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team completed its first 20 games of the season, compiling an 8-12 record before returning home to take on a pair of in-state rivals at Varsity Field this week.
First, EMU will welcome former EMU head coach, Connie Miner, who is now the head coach at Oakland University back to Ypsilanti for a twinbill Wednesday, March 27.
Next, the Eagles will begin the grueling 22-game Mid-American Conference schedule Saturday, March 30, when Central Michigan University makes the 135-mile trek from Mount Pleasant to faceoff with the Green and White. Eastern will complete the two game set with the Chippewas Sunday, March 31, with a 1 p.m. tilt at Varsity Field.
WELCOME BACK CONNIE: Connie Miner was the head coach of the Eastern Michigan softball squad from 1988-1996 over which time she compiled a record of 270-254-2 while leading the Green and White. Miner led EMU to a 143-142 Mid-American Conference record and is EMU's all-time winningest coach. It will be the first time she returns to Ypsilanti since departing for San Jose State University before the 1997 season. Miner started her head coaching career at Eastern and has made coaching stops at SJSU, the University of North Carolina and the University of California-Riverside before returning to Michigan to take over the Oakland program this season.
A GLANCE AT THE COMPETITION: EMU holds a 14-3 all-time record against Oakland. The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies squared off last season for a doubleheader played in Rochester, Mich. The Green and White dominated that twinbill, run-ruling the Golden Grizzlies 10-2 and 13-0, March 28, 2012. Lindsay Rich tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout in the final game of that doubleheader, picking up just the second win of her young career.
The Chippewas and Eagles have a much more storied history as this weekend will bring the 96th and 97th games in the series. Central holds a 65-29-1 edge over the Green and White. Last season, the Chippewas knocked off the Eagles in both of their games. Eastern first dropped a 5-1 decision at Margo Jonker Stadium in Mount Pleasant, May 5, 2012. The Eagles followed up by being run-ruled, 10-2, in six innings the following day, May 6, 2012, at Central Michigan. Margo Jonker is one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA history, as she has accumulated 1,067 wins, the seventh-most all-time.
Information Current as of March 25, 2013
LOUISVILLE BLUES: The Eagle softball team dropped four-straight at the 2013 Louisville Softball Classic, March 15-16. Eastern had a team earned run average of 8.40 after going 0-4, while allowing 26 earned runs in 21.2 innings of work. Opponents hit .393 against the Eagles including a blistering .481 against senior Jenna Ignowski and .476 against junior Lauren Wells.
Offensively, the Eagles hit just .236, scoring five runs and reaching base at just a .306 clip. EMU struck out 30 times in four games, while opposing pitchers held a 1.46 ERA against the Green and White.
11-DAYS AWAY: Eastern will have had 11 days away from the softball field before competing again Wednesday, March 27. Eastern's last game came against No. 24-ranked North Carolina Saturday, March 16, where the Eagles fell, 10-2, at the 2013 Louisville Softball Classic.
LIGHTING IT UP IN LOUISVILLE: Sophomore infielder Amanda Herron was locked-in during the four-game stretch in Louisville, Ky. The Columbus, Ohio native hit at a .462 clip, while slugging at an impressive .615. She was 6-for-13 on the weekend with a pair of doubles and drove in two runs.
TROUBLE SHUTTING THE DOOR: Eastern has had issues closing out innings this season, allowing opponents to hit .335 with two outs. Conversely, the Eagles have hit just .275 with two outs this season. Jenna Ignowski has been the best in the circle for EMU this season with two outs, allowing a .250 average, while Lauren Wells has struggled as opponents have hit at a .452 clip with two outs in an inning.
THE LOWLY LEADOFF: Eastern Michigan pitching has struggled to get the leadoff hitter out to start innings this season. Leadoff batters have reached base on 53-of-122 attempts this season. That is good for 43.4 percent of their attempts. The Eagles have only reached base safely 32.3 percent of the time in 124 leadoff attempts this season.
CLIMBING THE CAREER RANKS: Several players on the EMU squad are making their marks in the program's career records list. Nellie Coquillard sits at fourth in career home runs with 20 round-trippers. In the circle, Jenna Ignowski is slowly climbing the ranks in career wins, as she has posted 34 already, which ranks fourth all-time. Ignowski also holds the sixth most strikeouts in EMU history with 301, while tossing 369.1 innings, good for ninth most in Eastern laurels. Also finding her form in a pair of seasons is pitcher Lauren Wells. She has the 10th most punchouts in a career with 215. Defensively, Katy Blaharski was perfect last season, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage. With a .981 career fielding percentage, Blaharski is tied for 10th all-time in the EMU record book.
TEARING THE COVER OFF: The Eagles' Amanda Herron has started her sophomore campaign on the right foot, hitting .352 to lead the Green and White through the first 20 games of the season. Herron has hit four doubles and driven in 10 runs this season, while reaching base at a .444 clip and slugging .426. With runners on base, Herron has gone 13-for-29, a .448 batting average. In her attempts to advance runners, the Columbus, Ohio native has been successful in 19-of-30 attempts (63.3 percent).
SENIORS START ON A STREAK: After 20 games seniors Katy Blaharski and Courtney Nicholson are posting solid numbers to lead their Eagles.
Blaharski is hitting .333 on the season, with a pair of doubles and six stolen bases. Despite struggling at the Lousiville Softball Classic, the Carleton, Mich. native has successfully advanced runners 65.4 percent,17-of-26, this season, while posting a .455 average with runners on base.
Nicholson is hitting .328 on the campaign with a pair of doubles and two three-baggers. The Navarre, Ohio native has driven in six runs, while also swiping a pair of stolen bases in as many attempts. The senior has excelled against left-handed pitching, hitting .500 againsts southpaws, while also going 7-of-19 with two outs, good for a .368 average.
Interview with Head Coach Karen Baird
Listen Live vs. Oakland
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team completed its first 20 games of the season, compiling an 8-12 record before returning home to take on a pair of in-state rivals at Varsity Field this week.
First, EMU will welcome former EMU head coach, Connie Miner, who is now the head coach at Oakland University back to Ypsilanti for a twinbill Wednesday, March 27.
Next, the Eagles will begin the grueling 22-game Mid-American Conference schedule Saturday, March 30, when Central Michigan University makes the 135-mile trek from Mount Pleasant to faceoff with the Green and White. Eastern will complete the two game set with the Chippewas Sunday, March 31, with a 1 p.m. tilt at Varsity Field.
WELCOME BACK CONNIE: Connie Miner was the head coach of the Eastern Michigan softball squad from 1988-1996 over which time she compiled a record of 270-254-2 while leading the Green and White. Miner led EMU to a 143-142 Mid-American Conference record and is EMU's all-time winningest coach. It will be the first time she returns to Ypsilanti since departing for San Jose State University before the 1997 season. Miner started her head coaching career at Eastern and has made coaching stops at SJSU, the University of North Carolina and the University of California-Riverside before returning to Michigan to take over the Oakland program this season.
A GLANCE AT THE COMPETITION: EMU holds a 14-3 all-time record against Oakland. The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies squared off last season for a doubleheader played in Rochester, Mich. The Green and White dominated that twinbill, run-ruling the Golden Grizzlies 10-2 and 13-0, March 28, 2012. Lindsay Rich tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout in the final game of that doubleheader, picking up just the second win of her young career.
The Chippewas and Eagles have a much more storied history as this weekend will bring the 96th and 97th games in the series. Central holds a 65-29-1 edge over the Green and White. Last season, the Chippewas knocked off the Eagles in both of their games. Eastern first dropped a 5-1 decision at Margo Jonker Stadium in Mount Pleasant, May 5, 2012. The Eagles followed up by being run-ruled, 10-2, in six innings the following day, May 6, 2012, at Central Michigan. Margo Jonker is one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA history, as she has accumulated 1,067 wins, the seventh-most all-time.
Information Current as of March 25, 2013
LOUISVILLE BLUES: The Eagle softball team dropped four-straight at the 2013 Louisville Softball Classic, March 15-16. Eastern had a team earned run average of 8.40 after going 0-4, while allowing 26 earned runs in 21.2 innings of work. Opponents hit .393 against the Eagles including a blistering .481 against senior Jenna Ignowski and .476 against junior Lauren Wells.
Offensively, the Eagles hit just .236, scoring five runs and reaching base at just a .306 clip. EMU struck out 30 times in four games, while opposing pitchers held a 1.46 ERA against the Green and White.
11-DAYS AWAY: Eastern will have had 11 days away from the softball field before competing again Wednesday, March 27. Eastern's last game came against No. 24-ranked North Carolina Saturday, March 16, where the Eagles fell, 10-2, at the 2013 Louisville Softball Classic.
LIGHTING IT UP IN LOUISVILLE: Sophomore infielder Amanda Herron was locked-in during the four-game stretch in Louisville, Ky. The Columbus, Ohio native hit at a .462 clip, while slugging at an impressive .615. She was 6-for-13 on the weekend with a pair of doubles and drove in two runs.
TROUBLE SHUTTING THE DOOR: Eastern has had issues closing out innings this season, allowing opponents to hit .335 with two outs. Conversely, the Eagles have hit just .275 with two outs this season. Jenna Ignowski has been the best in the circle for EMU this season with two outs, allowing a .250 average, while Lauren Wells has struggled as opponents have hit at a .452 clip with two outs in an inning.
THE LOWLY LEADOFF: Eastern Michigan pitching has struggled to get the leadoff hitter out to start innings this season. Leadoff batters have reached base on 53-of-122 attempts this season. That is good for 43.4 percent of their attempts. The Eagles have only reached base safely 32.3 percent of the time in 124 leadoff attempts this season.
CLIMBING THE CAREER RANKS: Several players on the EMU squad are making their marks in the program's career records list. Nellie Coquillard sits at fourth in career home runs with 20 round-trippers. In the circle, Jenna Ignowski is slowly climbing the ranks in career wins, as she has posted 34 already, which ranks fourth all-time. Ignowski also holds the sixth most strikeouts in EMU history with 301, while tossing 369.1 innings, good for ninth most in Eastern laurels. Also finding her form in a pair of seasons is pitcher Lauren Wells. She has the 10th most punchouts in a career with 215. Defensively, Katy Blaharski was perfect last season, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage. With a .981 career fielding percentage, Blaharski is tied for 10th all-time in the EMU record book.
TEARING THE COVER OFF: The Eagles' Amanda Herron has started her sophomore campaign on the right foot, hitting .352 to lead the Green and White through the first 20 games of the season. Herron has hit four doubles and driven in 10 runs this season, while reaching base at a .444 clip and slugging .426. With runners on base, Herron has gone 13-for-29, a .448 batting average. In her attempts to advance runners, the Columbus, Ohio native has been successful in 19-of-30 attempts (63.3 percent).
SENIORS START ON A STREAK: After 20 games seniors Katy Blaharski and Courtney Nicholson are posting solid numbers to lead their Eagles.
Blaharski is hitting .333 on the season, with a pair of doubles and six stolen bases. Despite struggling at the Lousiville Softball Classic, the Carleton, Mich. native has successfully advanced runners 65.4 percent,17-of-26, this season, while posting a .455 average with runners on base.
Nicholson is hitting .328 on the campaign with a pair of doubles and two three-baggers. The Navarre, Ohio native has driven in six runs, while also swiping a pair of stolen bases in as many attempts. The senior has excelled against left-handed pitching, hitting .500 againsts southpaws, while also going 7-of-19 with two outs, good for a .368 average.
Thank You, Team 38
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