Softball Travels to Kentucky for Morehead State Tournament

Softball at Morehead State Tournament
Date	Saturday, March 12
Venue	Morehead, Ky. \| University Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Game 1 \| Game 2
Twitter	@EMUSoftball

MOREHEAD, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team looks to get back on track this weekend, March 12, at the Morehead State Tournament. The Eagles enter the weekend after a 2-3 showing at the USF Tournament, Feb. 26-28, putting their overall record at 6-9. Originally scheduled to play four games over the two-span, Mother Nature has spolied EMU's weekend plans. Instead, the Eagles will face off against Morehead State in a doubleheader, March 12.

DOUBLE MACHINE: More than half of freshman Amanda Akles' hits on the season have been of the extra-base variety. In fact, the La Habra, Calif. native is tied atop the conference with six doubles. Additionally, her half a dozen leaves her 11 short of the EMU record for doubles in a season with 40 games to play.

EXTRA INNINGS STRIKE AGAIN: Eastern fell to 0-3 in extra-inning games with an 11-9 loss to Seton Hall, Feb. 28. The Eagles led nearly the whole way before the Pirates carried a two-run lead into the final frame. EMU then evened the score in the bottom of the seventh to force extras but Seton Hall came away with the victory, 11-9.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Michelle Kriegshauser may just be starting her third season donning the Green and White, but the New Lenox, Ill. product has powered her way into the EMU record books. Coming into the season, Kriegshauser had recorded 25 doubles, tied for 16th in EMU history. With four two-baggers through EMU's first 15 games, Kriegshauser has catapulted herself into 13th place with 29 career doubles. She 's two doubles shy of the top-10 currently.

SOPHOMORES SLUMP, MORE LIKE SOPHOMORE BUMP: Eastern's middle infield duo has provided the Green and White with a substantial increase in production at the plate from a season ago. The sophomore tandem of Haley Hostetler and Brandice Olmos have combined to hit .324 through the first 15 games after boasting a combined average of .202 in 2015. Through 15 games, the sophomores have totaled 25 hits and 13 RBIs, helping offset the loss of Jenn Lucas and Lindsay Rich's contributions in the lineup.

TALE OF THE TAPE: The Eagles hold a 2-4 all-time record against this weekend's opponents, with all six meetings coming before Head Coach Melissa Gentile's tenure.
   The Green and White most recently squared off with Morehead State back in 2008, while Eastern has not played St. Bonaventure since the 2000 campaign. EMU holds a 1-3 record against MSU following a 2-0 loss just over eight years ago. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan sits level at 1-1 versus the Bonnies. St. Bonaventure got the best of EMU, 4-2, when the teams met 16 years ago.

SCOUTING THE BONNIES: Owners of a 3-11 record, the Bonnies will look to snap a three-game losing skid at the Morehead State Tournament this weekend. After losing six consecutive games to open the season, St. Bonaventure won three of five contests before dropping its last three contests in Clearwater, Fla. this past weekend.
   Run production has been a struggle for the Bonnies this season, as the squad has pushed more than four runs across the plate on just four occasions this season. Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure has been the victim of a shutout four times through its first 14 games. As a team, the Bonnies hit .239 at the plate, while they allow opponents to hit a blistering .342 at the dish. With a team earned run average north of six, the Bonnies pitching staff has allowed 17 homers on the season while fanning just 25.

MASTERING MOREHEAD STATE: On the heels of a 3-1 weekend at the Buccaneer Classic, Morehead State welcomes EMU and St. Bonaventure to Kentucky for the Morehead State Tournament. The Eagles scored at least nine runs in three of their four games over the weekend, topping Alabama A&M twice as well as Siena.
   Robyn Leighton leads a Morehead State offense that produced 35 runs over the course of two days. Leighton's .412 batting average leads the team, while she's also belted a team-best five homers. Of Leighton's 14 hits on the season, 10 have been extra-base hits (5 doubles, 5 homers).
   Mackenzie Grossmann has shouldered a brunt of the work in the circle, compiling a 3-3 record in a team-high seven starts. Grossman leads the team with a 5.06 earned run average, whole MSU boasts a team era of 6.44.

DUFFY DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH: Down to their final three outs, the Eagles headed to the bottom of the seventh inning trailing Seton Hall 11-10, Feb. 26. Senior Abi Clark drew a leadoff walk before being relieved by senior pinch runner Myranda Barnes. With Barnes on second after a sacrifice bunt, sophomore Haley Hostetler tripled to score Barnes and even the score at 11. Stepping to the plate as a pinch hitter, senior Aoife Duffy ripped a single to left field to drive in Hostetler from third and give EMU a 12-11 walk-off win. Duffy's clutch hit marked the second time this season the Eagles have won via walk-off.

ON DECK: Following a four-game weekend in Morehead, Ky., the Eagles will make the short trip to Ann Arbor to square off against Head Coach Melissa Gentile's alma mater, the University of Michigan. The midweek clash with No. 2 Michigan is set to take place March 16, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Myranda Barnes

Abi Clark

Aoife Duffy

Haley Hostetler

Michelle Kriegshauser

Jenn Lucas

Brandice Olmos

Lindsay Rich

Eastern Michigan Athletics