April 4, 2008

Setting the Scene... The Pioneer softball squad looks to continue their strong start in NEC play as they visit in-state rivals Qunnipiac and Central Connecticut this weekend. SHU will take on the Bobcats in Hamden on Saturday at 3:00 pm with Sunday's twinbill against Central Connecticut set to get underway at 1:00pm at St. Joseph's College in West Hartford.

SHU Sweeps Hawks... Senior Megan Spehar hrew a complete game, three hit shutout and scored the only run of the game and freshmen Courtney Lee and Taylor Froelich each had three hits in game two as Sacred Heart posted 1-0 and 8-0 wins over Hartford in softball action Wednesday at Pioneer Park

Scouting the Bobcats... Quinnipiac starts the weekend with an 11-20 record and a 1-3 mark in league playing after splitting with Wagner and dropping two to LIU. A balanced Bobcat line-up features Christi Bourdeau hitting .270 while Emily Bellush has a team high average of .286 and Danielle Davidson is hitting .278. Carolyn Schmolz has been the Bobcats best pitcher, going 5-5 with a 2.89 ER. Jamie Iaquinto has 74 strikeouts in 86.2 innings pitched, both team highs.

Scouting the Blue Devils... The Blue Devils from Central are 6-9 and 1-3 in league play, also splitting a twinbill with Wagner and being swept by LIU. A solid lineup is anchored by Jaclyn Logan who is hitting .341 with 13 RBI on the year. Melissa Pelletier is hitting .378 while Erin Kelley has an average of .375. The Blue Devil pitching staff is led by Elissa Montemurro who has a 2.47 ERA in three starts.

Last Meeting vs Quinnipiac... Kristin Sheriff went 3-for-6 with and RBI and tossed a three hit complete game and Krista Seeman was 4-for-7 with an RBI and allowed only three hits over eight innings to earn her team leading eighth win of the year in game two as Quinnipiac swept Sacred Heart, 3-1 and 3-2 in an NEC softball doubleheader last year at Pioneer Park.

Last Meeting vs Central CT... Sam Keltos and Rachel Brennaman combined to allow just five hits and strikeout 17 Pioneers and Pam Shifrin added three hits and two RBI as Central Connecticut shut down Sacred Heart for a doubleheader sweep, 5-0 and 2-0, in NEC softball action Sunday at Pioneer Park.

Rookies Key... Freshmen Taylor Froelich and Courtney Lee have made immediate impacts in their first month as Pioneers. Froelich has stepped in and become the centerfielder and lead-off hitter for the Pioneers. Meanwhile Lee has been the best hitter, batting .386 with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored. Lee was named the NEC Player of the Week for March 10.

New Face on the Mound... Thirteen new faces appear on the Pioneers roster this spring. The group is made up of 11 freshmen. Among the highly-touted recruits is new pitcher Jen Russell. A Seymour, CT native Russell has gotten off to a good start at SHU, winning her last three starts. Russell was named the NEC Pitcher of the Week for March 31 after turning in two wins and 15 strikeouts in two starts in the first weekeend of league play.

Up Next... SHU will host Yale in a non-league doubleheader on Thursday at 3:00 pm.