Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 7
Spartanburg, S.C.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Virginia
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Softball Ready to Kick Off 2014 Season at USC Upstate Tournament
2/6/2014 1:48:00 PM | Softball
EMU softball starts the 2014 seaon, Friday, Feb. 7 in Spartanburg, S.C.
USC Upstate Notes
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Head Coach Melissa Gentile enters her first season at the helm of the Eastern Michigan University softball team and is looking to improve upon the team's 17-33-1 overall record and its fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference West Division a season ago.
INFIELD
The Green and White return Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) as the only constant starter in the EMU defense after losing four senior starters from the 2013 campaign. Stanton's .321 batting average ranked third on the team last year as she had 45 hits and a team-best eight home runs. The senior infielder led EMU in eight offensive categories and ranked in the top five in all 19 in 2013. The Homer Glen, Ill. native boasted a team-high .586 slugging percentage to go along with a team-best .398 on-base percentage. On the field, Stanton ranked third in both putouts (86) and assists (78) in her 172 chances which ranked fourth on the team. Stanton was a first team All-MAC selection after boasting a .407 batting average in conference play with 10 doubles, which led the league, while her 23 RBI tied for second in the conference.
Eastern also sees the return of Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) who saw action in 24 games, starting 18 behind the plate. Duffy notched seven hits in her freshman campaign, knocking in six runs for the Eagles with one double and one home run.
OUTFIELD
Junior Jenn Lucas (Pinckney, Mich.-Pinckney) will lead the outfield in the 2014 campaign having started 78 games in her two year career as an Eagle. Lucas tied for second in RBI with 27 last season and ranked third on the team in home runs as she drove five over the fence. The Pinckney, Mich. native proved that she can hit both the long ball and play small ball as she notched seven sacrifice bunts, which ranked second for EMU.
Sophomore Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) saw action in 45 games in her freshman season, seeing time in the outfield as well as third base and the designated player. Davidson posted 20 hits and scored 11 times for EMU, while tying for sixth on the team with 12 walks.
Sophomores Myranda Barnes (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), Mady Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) and Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) will each look to contribute in the outfield this season as the trio started a combined 52 games in their freshman campaigns. Barnes came in 14 times as a pinch runner, while Hostetler recorded 10 hits and Whitbeck scored eight times for Eastern.
PITCHERS
After losing No. 1 starter, Jenna Ignowski, EMU will look to senior Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) and junior Lindsay Rich (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg) to lead the pitching staff in 2014 as well as two newcomers. Wells made 16 starts in the circle last season, throwing 101.3 innings with 90 strikeouts, while Rich made 34 appearances with 48 strikeouts in 88.1 innings of work.
NEWCOMERS
Gentile brings in eight newcomers for the 2014 season which includes six freshmen, one transfer and one graduate student. Senior Lindsay Smith (Seville, Ohio-Cloverleaf) will look to make an impact to the EMU outfield in her only year of eligibility as she was a two-time honorable mention all-conference honoree at Cloverleaf High School and was a member of the EMU team for two years during her undergraduate career.
Sophomore transfer Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)) looks to fill a gap in the infield after earning Rookie of the Year honors at Alma College in her only season with the Scots. The freshman class is composed of two pitchers; Alyssa Huntley (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) and Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland), one infielder; Meagan Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), one outfielder Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central), and one catcher; Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa.-Marshalltown).
The Eastern Michigan University softball team will kick off its 34th season and a new era as Head Coach Melissa Gentile will take the field for her first contests since being hired in August, 2013. The Eagles head to Spartanburg, S.C. to participate in the USC Upstate Tournament, Friday, Feb. 7 – Saturday, Feb. 8. The Green and White will play four games in its first tournament as it will first take on Virginia at 1 p.m. before taking on host USC Upstate at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7. EMU concludes the USC Upstate Tournament, Saturday, Feb. 8 when it plays Towson at 10:30 a.m. and North Carolina Central at 4:30 p.m.
Fans can catch all the action of the USC Upstate Tournament by clicking here and following along on Twitter (@EMUSB).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Head Coach Melissa Gentile enters her first season at the helm of the Eastern Michigan University softball team and is looking to improve upon the team's 17-33-1 overall record and its fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference West Division a season ago.
INFIELD
The Green and White return Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) as the only constant starter in the EMU defense after losing four senior starters from the 2013 campaign. Stanton's .321 batting average ranked third on the team last year as she had 45 hits and a team-best eight home runs. The senior infielder led EMU in eight offensive categories and ranked in the top five in all 19 in 2013. The Homer Glen, Ill. native boasted a team-high .586 slugging percentage to go along with a team-best .398 on-base percentage. On the field, Stanton ranked third in both putouts (86) and assists (78) in her 172 chances which ranked fourth on the team. Stanton was a first team All-MAC selection after boasting a .407 batting average in conference play with 10 doubles, which led the league, while her 23 RBI tied for second in the conference.
Eastern also sees the return of Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) who saw action in 24 games, starting 18 behind the plate. Duffy notched seven hits in her freshman campaign, knocking in six runs for the Eagles with one double and one home run.
OUTFIELD
Junior Jenn Lucas (Pinckney, Mich.-Pinckney) will lead the outfield in the 2014 campaign having started 78 games in her two year career as an Eagle. Lucas tied for second in RBI with 27 last season and ranked third on the team in home runs as she drove five over the fence. The Pinckney, Mich. native proved that she can hit both the long ball and play small ball as she notched seven sacrifice bunts, which ranked second for EMU.
Sophomore Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) saw action in 45 games in her freshman season, seeing time in the outfield as well as third base and the designated player. Davidson posted 20 hits and scored 11 times for EMU, while tying for sixth on the team with 12 walks.
Sophomores Myranda Barnes (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), Mady Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) and Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) will each look to contribute in the outfield this season as the trio started a combined 52 games in their freshman campaigns. Barnes came in 14 times as a pinch runner, while Hostetler recorded 10 hits and Whitbeck scored eight times for Eastern.
PITCHERS
After losing No. 1 starter, Jenna Ignowski, EMU will look to senior Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) and junior Lindsay Rich (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg) to lead the pitching staff in 2014 as well as two newcomers. Wells made 16 starts in the circle last season, throwing 101.3 innings with 90 strikeouts, while Rich made 34 appearances with 48 strikeouts in 88.1 innings of work.
NEWCOMERS
Gentile brings in eight newcomers for the 2014 season which includes six freshmen, one transfer and one graduate student. Senior Lindsay Smith (Seville, Ohio-Cloverleaf) will look to make an impact to the EMU outfield in her only year of eligibility as she was a two-time honorable mention all-conference honoree at Cloverleaf High School and was a member of the EMU team for two years during her undergraduate career.
Sophomore transfer Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton (Alma)) looks to fill a gap in the infield after earning Rookie of the Year honors at Alma College in her only season with the Scots. The freshman class is composed of two pitchers; Alyssa Huntley (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) and Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland), one infielder; Meagan Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville), one outfielder Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central), and one catcher; Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa.-Marshalltown).
The Eastern Michigan University softball team will kick off its 34th season and a new era as Head Coach Melissa Gentile will take the field for her first contests since being hired in August, 2013. The Eagles head to Spartanburg, S.C. to participate in the USC Upstate Tournament, Friday, Feb. 7 – Saturday, Feb. 8. The Green and White will play four games in its first tournament as it will first take on Virginia at 1 p.m. before taking on host USC Upstate at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7. EMU concludes the USC Upstate Tournament, Saturday, Feb. 8 when it plays Towson at 10:30 a.m. and North Carolina Central at 4:30 p.m.
Fans can catch all the action of the USC Upstate Tournament by clicking here and following along on Twitter (@EMUSB).
Thank You, Team 38
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