Softball Readies for Midweek Matchup with No. 2 Michigan

Softball at No. 2 Michigan
Date	Wednesday, March 16 \| 4 p.m.
Venue	Ann Arbor, Mich. \| Alumni Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	M GOBlueTV
Listen	N/A
Twitter	@EMU Softball \| @EMUAthletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Coming off a split with Morehead State University, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will make the short drive up the road to take on the University of Michigan for a single game midweek matchup, March 16. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Alumni Field at the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex in Ann Arbor.

NO SHORTAGE OF OFFENSE: The Eagles have scored a total of 22 runs in the past three games, providing a young pitching staff with 7.33 runs per contest. EMU's offense has pieced together its best three-game stretch of the season, hitting .355 at the plate over the time-frame. The Green and White have recorded 33 hits, nine of which have been two-baggers, to go along with 20 RBIs and 11 walks.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Wednesday's midweek clash with the Wolverines marks the 64th meeting between the Washtenaw County rivals all-time. Eastern trails in the series 55-8, most recently falling 11-1 in last season's meeting. The last time the Green and White topped UM came during the 1982 campaign when the two squads split a doubleheader in Ann Arbor.

EMU AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED: Coming in at No. 2 in this week's polls, the University of Michigan is the first nationally ranked opponent the Eagles will face this season. As of the most current rankings, the Green and White will face off against one other nationally-ranked opponent this season when it battles No. 23 Notre Dame, March 22, before opening Mid-American Conference play against Akron, March 25-26.

RECAPPING THE WEEKEND: Eastern escaped Kentucky with a split against the Eagles of Morehead State, March 12. MSU took game one 13-5 before the Green and White claimed game two by a final score of 8-5.
   Junior Abbie Minsker notched her second win of the season, going the distance and tying a career-high with 7.0 innings of work. Senior Mady Hostetler, sophomore Brandice Olmos, and freshman Amanda Akles fueled the effort at the plate, driving in two runs each.

RETURNING TO THE OLD STOMPING GROUNDS: Head Coach Melissa Gentile will lead the Eagles against her alma mater Wednesday when the Green and White tangle with No. 2 Michigan. A NFCA Second Team All-America selection in 1998, Gentile is one of 11 players in UM's history to be named to the NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team. Gentile suited up for the Maize and Blue from 1997-2000. A four-year letterwinner for the University of Michigan, Gentile finished her tenure as the career (28) and single-season (13) home run record holder which stood until 2004. Additionally, she played on the USA Women's National Team from 1996-2000 before graduating from UM with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2000.
   Wednesday's game marks the second time Gentile's EMU squad will take on UM since she took over the program in 2014. The Eagles lost the lone meeting, 11-1, in five innings last season.

SCOUTING REPORT: MICHIGAN: Michigan enters Wednesday's game against Eastern with a 20-2 overall record and a nine-game winning streak. The Wolverines last loss came to No. 9 Washington, Feb. 28.
   Pitching and defense has fueled the Maize and Blue's current run, registering shutouts in five of its past nine contests. While the pitching has allowed just two runs per game over the past nine contests, the UM offense has averaged 8.2 runs over that same stretch.
   Offensively, the UM roster boasts five players hitting above. .400 at the plate, led by Sierra Romero's team-best .470 batting average. Romero leads the team with seven homers and 41 RBIs.
   As a team, UM's pitching staff has compiled a 2.39 earned run average over 137.2 innings of work. Led by Megan Betsa's 87 strikeouts, the Maize and Blue have fanned 149 batters through 22 games while holding opponents to a .200 batting average.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Through the first 17 games on the season, several things have proven to be indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Green and White hold a 4-0 record when scoring in the first inning and sit at 6-1 on the year when outhitting its opponent. Additionally, the Eagles are 4-0 when leading after six innings and 5-2 when scoring six or more runs.

LATE INNING BREAKDOWN: Late innings have proven to be a thorn in the side of the Green and White this season. While the Eagles have outscored opponents 55-42 in innings two through four, EMU has been outscored 43-18 in the final three frames.

GROWING PAINS: The young Eagles squad committed 33 errors through the first 17 games of the season.

LIFE ON THE ROAD: Living life on the road has become the norm for the Eagles, and most northern schools in the early part of the season. EMU will spend 10 of the next 12 days on the road, taking on eight different opponents, heading into the stretch with a 7-10 record away from Ypsilanti.

TAKING ON THE MITTEN: The Eagles have squared off against schools hailing from the state of Michigan 390 times ahead of this week's tilt with No. 2 Michigan. The Green and White have been most successful against Detroit, holding a 46-7 lead in the all-time series while clashing with Western Michigan most often. In 106 all-time meetings, the Broncos hold a 42-63-1 edge over the Eagles. EMU owns winning records against Grand Valley (2-0) and Oakland (17-5-1) but trail in the all-time series with Michigan (8-55), Michigan State (14-28), and Central Michigan (30-70-1).
   In her two seasons in charge of the Eagles, Head Coach Melissa Gentile has compiled a 4-13 record against in-state competition, highlighted by a win over Michigan State last year. This season's slate includes 12 games against teams that also call Michigan home - Michigan, Michigan State, Detroit, Central Michigan, Oakland, and Western Michigan.

ON DECK: The Green and White will close out tournament play at the College of Charleston Tournament, March 18-20, after a midweek clash with Michigan. Playing five games over the three-day span, EMU will take on Brown, Central Connecticut, Connecticut, College of Charleston, and Miami.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Mady Hostetler

Abbie Minsker

Brandice Olmos

Eastern Michigan Athletics