Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
South Dakota
Eagles Travel South for Tiger Classic
3/14/2018 9:04:00 AM | Softball
EMU will play four teams in a three-day span
| Softball at Tiger Classic | |
| Date | Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 |
| Venue | Memphis, Tenn. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Tournament Central |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUSoftball | @EMUAthletics | |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team treks down south for its final weekend tournament of the season, March 16-18, in Memphis, Tenn. There, the Eagles will take part in the Tiger Classic and square off against South Dakota, SIU Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State, and Tennessee Tech.
Action gets underway with a Friday afternoon clash against South Dakota at 3:45 p.m. before Eastern faces SIU-E under the lights at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, the Eagles duke it out with SEMO at 3:45 p.m., and then rematch with SIU-E in the nightcap at 6 p.m. EMU closes out the weekend Sunday morning against Tennessee Tech at 11:15 a.m.
Live stats will be available for all of EMU's games, while fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.
TALE OF THE TAPE: This weekend, Eastern Michigan will face three new opponents as the Eagles have only previously faced Tennessee Tech.
The Green and White has favored well against the Golden Flashes as EMU has accumulated a 3-1 all-time mark. It has been over two decades since the last meeting between the squads, as Eastern dropped a 2-0 decision to TTU, April 17, 1992. To put that in perspective, no member on the team was born and Head Coach Melissa Gentile was in high school.
THE CENTURY MARK: Amanda Akles used a three-RBI double to record her 100th career hit against Bradley, March 9. Akles became the third Eagle to cross the threshold this season as seniors Brandice Olmos and Haley Hostetler did so against Incarnate Word (March 4) and Marist (Feb. 25), respectively. Olivia Logan is also expected to hit the 100-hit mark this season, as she currently sits at 88 for her career.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS: Eastern Michigan has a trio of players who are batting above the .300 mark. Amanda Akles is pacing the Green and White, hitting a team-best .382, which ranks eighth in the conference. Sam Saporito trails right behind her at .364, while Ariana Chretien is notching a .320.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING: Amanda Akles has a knack for producing doubles, as the junior currently leads the Eagles with seven on the season. The La Habra, Calif. native is tied for first in the MAC, while she sits at 48th nationally. Akles currently ranks outside the top-15 in program history with 22 doubles for her career. The junior needs just six more to crack the top-15, while 35 away from leader, Michelle Kriegshauser.
GOING FOR A WALK: Angel Schilke and Sam Saporito have no problem getting on base as they both lead the Eagles in walks. Schilke, who has earned 13 free bases this season, is tied for third in the MAC and slotted 52nd in the NCAA. Meanwhile, Saporito has tallied 11 walks over 19 games, tying her for eighth in the conference.
ON DECK: The Eagles will open the home portion of the schedule with a midweek doubleheader against Detroit Mercy, March 21. The home opener is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Varsity Field with the second game following at 3 p.m.
