Softball Closes Out Season Against Iona, Stony Brook
4/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2008
Setting the Scene... The Pioneer softball squad will close out their season with a pair of non-league doubleheaders this week as they visit Iona Tuesday and host Iona on Wednesday. First pitch both days is set for 3:00 pm.
SHU Eliminated From Playoffs... The Pioneers closed out conference play by losing three of four games to Robert Morris and Saint Francis and were eliminated from NEC playoff contention. SHU lost identical 2-1 games to Robert Morris and fell to Saint Francis, 3-0, before rebounding to win 3-1 in the final game of the weekend. The Pioneers went 3-1 in non-league play, sweeping Siena and splitting with Seton Hall. Freshman Jen Russell finished league play with a 7-2 record and 1.56 ERA.
Scouting the Gaels... A powerful Colonial offense is led by freshman Jessica Calderone who is hitting .405 on the season, the fourth best average in the league. Meanwhile, senior Brenna Reed has been the best all-around Colonial, posting a .320 average with 26 RBI, good for fifth in the NEC in that catgeory. Reed also has a staff best 3.85 ERA, although Lindsey Moates has a team high 12 wins out of the circle.
Last Meeting vs Iona... Iona starts the week with a 12-31 after splitting a doubleheader with Rider on Sunday. Erin Kyle leads the Gaels offense, sporting an impressive .313 average with 40 hits and 14 RBI. Ace Pitcher Becy Riccitelli has 17 RBI to go along with six wins and 121 strikeouts in the circle. Jessica Horvath leads the Gaels in RBI with 18 on the year.
Scouting the Seawolves... Stony Brook enters the final week of the regular season with an impressive 26-18-1 record. A heavy hitting Seawolves lineup is led by Marissa Fleury who is hitting .338 with 26 RBI. Meanwhile Vicki Kavitsky is hitting .322 while Kelsi Fanelli has a .314 average with 24 RBI. The Seawolves pitching staff has been just as dominant as Alyssa Struzenberg has won 18 games while posting a 2.12 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 168 innings. Meanwhile Casey Jacobs as a 1.19 ERA and six wins.
Last Meeting vs Stony Brook... Kelly Oberto hit a walk-off home run with one out in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Stony Brook softball team to a 4-3 comeback victory over Sacred Heart in game one of a doubleheader on Thursday. The Seawolves won the nightcap, 5-1.
Spehar in the Circle... The Pioneers are anchored by ace pitcher Megan Spehar who has been SHU's best all-around player the last two years. The right-hander, who is also a good offensive player, has turned in eight wins and has a 2.80 ERA, good for fourth in the NEC in that category. Spehar will finish her carerr second in school history in strikeouts and currently has 412 in her career. At the bat, Spehar leads the team in runs scored with 20.
Senior Swinger... The other senior captain for the Pioneers is shortstop Melissa Mezzanotte. After getting off to a slow start with the bat, Mezzanotte has come on as of late, and is at the top of several offensive categories The senior had a big week last week, bashing three home runs this week, including the game winner against Siena and game-tying homerun in the first game against Seton Hall. Mezzanotte leads the team in RBI (20) and is second in hits (38).
Rookies Key... Freshmen Taylor Froelich and Courtney Lee have made immediate impacts in their season as Pioneers. Froelich has stepped in and become the centerfielder and lead-off hitter for the Pioneers. She is third on the team in hits (36), and RBI (17) Meanwhile Lee has been the best hitter, batting .308 with a team leading 17 RBI and 41 hits.
Record Books... Sacred Heart's 21 wins is a new Division I school record for wins in a season. The Pioneers finished NEC play with a 9-9 record, their best league mark since 2003. Senior Megan Spehar earned her 400th career strikeout against Seton Hall on Thursday and now has 412 strikeouts in her career.
