Softball Set for Midweek Clash Against Notre Dame

Softball at Notre Dame
Date	Tuesday, March 27
Venue	Notre Dame, Ind. \| Melissa Cook Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	U ND.com/gametracker
Live Stream	ACC Network Extra
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) - Taking a quick break from Mid-American Conference play, the Eastern Michigan University softball team travels to Melissa Cook Stadium Tuesday, March 27, for a midweek tilt against the University of Notre Dame. First pitch between the Eagles and Fighting Irish is set for 4:30 p.m.
Live stats will be available for EMU's games against ND, and can be found on EMUEagles.com. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

TALE OF THE TAPE: After dropping three to the University at Buffalo to open #MACtion, the Green and White look to get back on track with a non-conference bout against Notre Dame. Tuesday's meeting between the Eagles and the Fighting Irish marks the 22nd meeting between the two programs. Notre Dame has racked up a 19-2 all-time tally against the Eagles, after ND topped EMU, 1-0, in last season's lone meeting. Eastern Michigan's last win over ND occurred during the 2007 campaign, when the Green and White escaped Melissa Cook Stadium with a 2-1 win, April 10.

THE GAME OF FIRSTS: In the second game against Buffalo, March 24, freshmen Lauren Holdsworth and Sophia Holland had a day of firsts at the dish. Trailing 5-0, Holdsworth belted her first career home run in the second frame. In the late-inning rally, Holland, who had been hitless at the plate, dished out her first career hit and RBI as her single plated Sam Isaly from third. Furthermore, that run marked the first time Isaly has crossed the plate in her two-year career.

CROSSING THE 200 THRESHOLD: Fanning four against Buffalo, March 24, Nicolle Miranda became just the 12th Eagle in program history to toss 200 career strikeouts. Miranda is the first EMU hurler to cross the milestone threshold since Lauren Wells against Ball State, March 2, 2013.

SLOW START: In the opening conference series, Eastern Michigan was swept by Buffalo, March 23-24, in Buffalo, N.Y. The last time the Eagles were swept in the opening conference series was in 2015 when Miami handed EMU a 9-7 loss before upending the Green and White, 9-4.

HOMECOMING OF SORTS: For Haley Hostetler, this week's trip to the Hoosier State will serve as a homecoming of sorts for the senior outfielder. Hostetler, a native of New Haven, Ind., grew up less than two hours southeast of Notre Dame.

SOMETHING ABOUT CONFERENCE PLAY: Lauren Holdsworth entered Mid-American Conference play with a batting average hovering at .189. After just one series of league play, Holdsworth is now hitting .400 at the plate with a pair of hits, one homer, and two RBIs. The Howell, Mich. native is one of three Eagles to hit a home run this season.

THE 100 CLUB: Junior Olivia Logan is eying membership into the 100-hit club. Logan, who has produced 20 hits so far this season, is just eight away from cracking the 100 career hits milestone. If the junior surpasses the mark, she will become the fourth Eagle to do so this season, joining Amanda Akles, Brandice Olmos, and Haley Hostetler.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING: After lacing a pair of doubles against Buffalo, March 23-24, Amanda Akles paces the Eagles with 10 for the season. If Akles notches three more, she will tie Michelle Kriegshauser, Stacie Skodinski, and Sherry Harper for eighth-most doubles in a single-season. The La Habra, Calif. also ranks outside the top-15 in program history with 25 doubles for her career. The junior needs just three more to crack the top-15, while 32 away from leader, Kriegshauser.

ON DECK: The Eagles return to #MACtion when they open the home portion of their slate this weekend, March 30-31, with a three-game series against Mid-American Conference East Division foe, Ohio University. The MAC rivals start with a Friday tilt at 3 p.m., before wrapping the series up with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Lauren Holdsworth

Sophia Holland

Haley Hostetler

Sam Isaly

Olivia Logan

Nicolle Miranda

Brandice Olmos

Eastern Michigan Athletics