Softball Visits RMU and SFPA in NEC Opening Weekend
3/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2007
Setting the Scene... The Pioneers travel to Western Pennsylvania to open Northeast Conference play against Robert Morris and Saint Francis (PA). This weekend marks the start of league play for all nine teams in the conference. Game times are set for 1:00 pm Saturday and 12:00 noon on Sunday.
Pioneers Split Pair With Pirates... Sophomore Betsy Harvey hit a two-run home-run and junior Megan Spehar allowed just five hits and two earned runs in seven innings as Sacred Heart rallied for a softball doubleheader spilt with Seton Hall Tuesday at Ivy Hill Park. The Pioneers won the nightcap 5-4 after the Pirates took the opener by a 9-1 score.
Last Year vs Robert Morris... Robert Morris sophomore pitcher Brenna Reed picked up a pair of wins on the mound to lead the Colonials to a Northeast Conference double header sweep, 4-0 and 3-2, over Sacred Heart University last May in Fairfield.
Pioneer Preview... Senior Caitlin Carroll currently is the leading hitter on the Pioneers, with a .277 average and a team leading 12 RBI. For her career she is a .261 hitter with 11 home runs. The Pioneers ace is picther is junior Megan Spehar . The righthander, who is also a good offensive player, is 4-4 on the season in eight starts, pitching 54.2 innings. She is averaging almost one strikeout per inning.
Scouting the Colonials... Robert Morris entered the year as one of the preseason favorites to win the NEC championship, having been picked second in the preseason poll. The Colonials are riding a four game winning streak posting doubleheader sweeps of LaRoche and Youngstown. Brooke Panepinto is the Colonials leading hitter, with a .378 batting average. Ashlee Smith is hitting .300 for the year.
Scouting the Red Flash... Saint Francis starts league play at 8-18 after losing a twinbill to Penn State during the week. Nicole Bender leads the Red Flash offense with a .338 average and 16 RBI. Kara Stroup has posted a team best 3.56 average. On the mound, Laura Caldwell is the Red Flash ace with a 1.87 ERA and 6-6 record in 12 starts.
Up Next... The Pioneers travel upstate in Connecticut to face Hartford in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.
