SHU Softball Achieves High Marks on Field, In Classroom During Fall Season
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 16, 2007
Fairfield, CT - The Sacred Heart softball team wrapped up a successful fall season with impressive achievements both on the field and in the classroom. The Pioneers posted a 6-3 record in fall tournaments, inlcuding two wins over cross-town rival Fairield University. In the classroom, five players were named NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes.
Senior Megan Spehar (Thousand Oaks, CA) and freshman Jen Russell (Seymour, CT) each posted two wins in the circle for the Pioneers during the fall. In her victories over Fairfield and Iona, Spehar, SHU's top pitcher last season, struck out a total of 13 hitters while not allowing a run and giving up just four hits. Russell was tremendous in her start against Fairfield, tossing a two-hit shutout while striking out nine.
Offensively, freshman Taylor Froelich (Garden Grove, CA) was the Pioneers leading hitter, posting a .400 batting average with five runs scored and three RBI. Junior Betsy Harvey (Unionville, CT) provided the power, blasting two home runs and driving in five runs while hitting .300. Sophomore Adrian Fitzsimon (Sacramento, CA) hit .290 with three RBI.
Five Pioneers were named All-America Scholar Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Recent SHU graduates Bethany Lemenager (New Bedford, MA), Caitlin Carroll (Los Alamitos, CA) and Jacqui Riley (Burlington, MA) along with current players Melissa Mezzanotte (North Haven, CT) and Amanda Bradley (Langley, BC) all surpassed the 3.5 GPA requirement to be eligible for the award.
The Pioneers placed 43rd amongst all Division I teams in team GPA. Sacred Heart had the second best team GPA of Northeast Conference teams and were fourth amongst teams from New England. SHU was 11th in the Northeast Region in team GPA.
Sacred Heart will open the 2008 spring season at the Rebel Games in Florida during the first week of March.
