Softball Set for NEC Tournament Matchup Versus #1 Seed Saint Francis U
5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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FAIRFIELD, Conn.- The Sacred Heart University softball team (15-21, 13-15 NEC) heads to Loretto, Pa. to face Saint Francis (Pa.) (27-8, 22-2 NEC) in the semifinals of the NEC Championship. The Pioneers and Red Flash haven't met this season making this the first time the two teams will meet each other.
This year's tournament features three teams that competed in the 2019 NEC Championship with one newcomer to the tournament. LIU and Central Connecticut State will face each other in the opening round and the winner of that game will square off with the winner of the SHU/SFU game. While the two losers will face off in the losers bracket game.
Last Time Out
SHU ended the regular season on a high note sweeping Bryant in a four-game weekend series coming on May 8-9 as the Pioneers took the May 8 games by scores of 11-2 (5), and 2-1 while sweeping the Sunday games by scores of 10-6 and 12-3 (5).
Longing Back for a Tournament Run
The last time the Pioneers made the NEC Tournament was back in the 2018-19 season when the Pioneers were the #2 seed and faced #3 seeded SFU in the opening round. SHU fell by a score of 7-0 and fell in the second elimination game to Mount St. Mary's 4-3. Due to COVID-19, the NEC Tournament did not occur in the 2020 season.
Scouting The Field
The Pioneers went 2-6 against the teams in the tournament as SHU was able to salvage two wins against LIU in the four games faced while dropping all four to Central Connecticut State which came on April 13-14. SHU has yet to play SFU this season marking this the first time the Pioneers will face the Red Flash.
Entering the tournament, the #1 seeded Red Flash tally an overall record of 37-8 and have won their last nine games. They've only lost two NEC games this season coming to FDU and Mount St. Mary's. Leading the Red Flash at the plate is Mekenzie Saban who tallies a batting average of .444 with a whopping 68 hits and 27 RBI's. Meanwhile, in the circle, the Red Flash are led by Grace Vesco who has a record of 20-3 and a 0.85 ERA, allowing just 18 earned runs in her 26 appearances.
Gonzalez At The Top
Junior Alyssa Gonzalez has been tearing up the Northeast Conference as she currently ranks first in the NEC in home-runs, and slugging percentage. She has hit a career-high 16 home runs in the 34 games she's played in this season. She was named NEC Player of the Week once this season and was named to the All-NEC First Team and NEC Player of the Year. She has tallied a total of 41 RBI's which is a career-high while recording 37 hits. She also sits fourth in the NEC in on-base percentage (.475). Just this season, she has had two multi-home run games and eight multi-hit games.
Hitting For Power
SHU has a team batting average of .247 on the season. The Pioneers' slugging percentage is .412. As a team, SHU has 40 home runs and 142 RBIs.
Big-Time Wins
Coming into last weekend's series against Bryant, the Pioneer's future regarding reaching the NEC Tournament was in jeopardy. But thankfully due to a four-game sweep against the Bulldogs, the Pioneers were able to seal up the number four seed and advance for the fourth straight year.
Hold the Other Team to Two Runs
The Pioneers are 7-1 when allowing just 0-2 runs against opponents this season. The Pioneers are also 8-2 when leading after four innings.
Northeast Conference Weekly Honors
So far this season, the Pioneers have picked up four weekly awards this season as junior Alyssa Gonzalez picked up NEC Player of the Week on April 27 while first-year Emily Carroll picked up NEC Player and Rookie of the Week on March 9. Carroll picked up Rookie of the Week honors again on May 12.
March 9 Emily Carroll NEC Player and Rookie of the Week
April 27 Alyssa Gonzalez NEC Player of the Week
May 12 Emily Carroll NEC Rookie of the Week
Fresh Faces
The Pioneers welcomed 11 student-athletes to the team this season. Grace Saad, Kiley Gurysh, Jenna Mowad, Haile Ebert, Julie Moresco, Rachael Kohler, Adriana Reda, Emily Carroll, Meghan Knepper, Jenna Pfister, Sydni Carroll, and Victoria LoPinto make up this year's newcomers.
Carroll has led the way for the young Pioneers as she is currently batting .300 with 6 HR, 7 doubles, 33 hits, and 14 RBI. She is third on the team in hits and third on the team in batting average.
Summarizing The Situation
As a team, SHU is batting .263 against left-handed pitchers this year and .240 against right-handed pitchers. With runners in scoring position, the Pioneers are batting .266. When a runner is on third with less than two outs, SHU is hitting at a .547 clip. The Pioneers have also been very successful when it comes to advancing runners as SHU is batting .470.
