2007-08 RECAP

The 2008 season marked the 10th year of Emory softball as an intercollegiate sport and the squad did not disappoint as the Eagles battled to the program's ninth consecutive winning campaign. For the record, Head Coach Penny Siqueiros saw her club finish with an overall record of 29-12 that included the following accomplishments:

** The program's third straight and seventh bid to the NCAA Tournament.

** School seasonal records in on-base percentage (.419), base-on-balls (132), stolen bases (90), and most opposing batters struck out (337).

** Leading the UAA in a number of categories including batting average (.346), ERA (1.49), fielding (.973), on-base percentage (.419) and stolen bases (90).

** Ranking nationally in a number of statistical categories including batting average (t-14th, .346), ERA (15th, 1.49), fielding percentage (7th, .973), and stolen bases per game (12th, 2.20).

** Final national ranking of 27th by the NFCA.

As was the case in 2007, this year's edition of the Eagles used a strong second half of the regular season, capturing 16 of their last 20 games, en route to earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  Seeded No. 5 in the Fayetteville Region, Emory dropped its opening game by a 2-1 margin to LaGrange College, a team that it had defeated four times earlier in the season.  Emory battled back the next day and remained alive in the double-elimination format, topping Christopher Newport, 4-3 in eight innings.  However, the Eagles saw their run in the postseason come to an end later on in the day when Ursinus notched a 3-0 victory, the first time that Emory had been blanked all season.

Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen emerged as a dynamic performer in her first season with the program and established herself as one of the top hurlers in the nation.  A transfer from Pima Community College (AZ), Andersen fashioned a won-lost mark of 21-6 with her victory total an Emory seasonal record.  In addition, Andersen, who completed 16 of her 22 starts, established another school standard when she fanned 230 opposing batters, also leading all UAA players in that category.  Andersen whiffed 10 or more batters on 12 occasions including a school-record 17 against Wesleyan College (Apr. 15).  She finished 22nd among all D-III hurlers with a 9.0 strikeouts per game effort.  A durable performer, she tossed 178 innings, the second-highest school seasonal mark, and fashioned an ERA of 1.10 that paced all UAA pitchers and ranked 17th nationally.  She was recognized for her outstanding season by earning a second-team berth to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team.

After recording just 34 plate appearances and hitting .147 in 2007, junior first baseman Carey Smith-Marchi exploded with a big-time year offensively, finishing with a classy .396 average which placed her seventh among UAA players.  A starter in 38 of the 39 games she played in, Smith-Marchi tied for the team lead with 10 doubles and her .632 slugging percentage ranked second on the club and seventh on the league's ladder.  The Mill Valley, Calif., native registered 10 multi-hit games en route to First Team All-UAA honors, and she was Emory's lone representative on the NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region Team.  Smith-Marchi proved to be a solid presence at her first base post, handling all 145 of her chances without a miscue.

Junior Kim Bandy used a late-season surge at the plate to end the year with an impressive average of .411, sixth among UAA players and her second straight year of .400 or better.  One of three Eagles to land a spot on the All-UAA First Team (her second straight nod to that team), Bandy drew starting assignments in all 40 of the contests she saw action in.  The third baseman led the team and figured prominently among conference performers in numerous categories including hits with 51 (4th in UAA),  a .677 slugging percentage (5h in UAA), a .486 on-base percentage (6th in UAA) and with 39 runs scored (4th in the UAA).  Bandy knocked in 34 runs, second on the team, and her four homers topped the squad and boosted her career total to nine, good for a fifth-place tie on the school's all-time ladder.  She earned her third consecutive berth to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team, landing a third-team berth.

After receiving a bevy of accolades as a freshman that included UAA Rookie of the Year acclaim, centerfielder Cassie Walsh showed no signs of a "sophomore jinx" with a fine 2008 season.  Walsh was tabbed as a First Team All-UAA pick for the second straight year while being selected to the second team of the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team.  Walsh, the only Eagle to start all 41 games, batted .333 and led the team and UAA in runs scored (44) and stolen bases with a school seasonal record of 26 thefts.  Walsh posted 17 multi-hit games and her 50 safeties placed her second on the team and sixth on the UAA list.

Sophomore second baseman Caitlin Fitzgerald was the model of consistency and was a Second Team All-Atlantic Region Team pick.  Fitzgerald, who started all 40 of the games she played in, hit a hefty .358 and tied for the team high with 10 doubles.  Her 35 RBIs topped the club and ranked fourth among UAA players.  Fitzgerald finished with 13 multi-hit games and chalked up nine contests of two or more RBIs including a five-ribbies effort against LaGrange College (Apr. 20) that tied as the squad's high-water mark of the season. Caitlin was one of Emory's more selective players at the plate, drawing a club-high 16 base-on-balls that placed her among the top 10 among league performers.

Filling the void at shortstop following the graduation of Laren Haag, freshman Nikki Perez firmly established herself at the position.  Perez played in all 41 games, 39 as a starter, and hit at a .371 clip, good for ninth place on the UAA list.  Perez tied for third on team with 43 hits and was third with 14 stolen bases.  The rifle-armed infielder was dependable in moving runners along and topped all Eagles with 14 sacrifice bunts.  Nikki was one the team's top hitters down the stretch with hits in 10 of the last 11 contests, hitting .410 with 16 hits in 39 trips to the plate.

Pitchers Ashley Tobar and Kathy Gordon, along with outfielder Cassi Witcher, made up the 2008 senior class.  Tobar was slowed by injuries but still managed to compile a 4-1 mark on the mound.  She struck out 38 batters in 35 2/3 innings of action including a season high of 10 in a 4-2 complete-game win against Maryville College.  Career-wise, Ashley compiled a 37-9 won-lost ledger with her win total good for fourth place on Emory's career ladder.  Fourth on the school's all-time list in innings pitched (340 1/3), other career statistics for Tobar include fanning 321 opponents, finishing with a career ERA of 1.38 and tossing 12 shutouts, all fourth on Emory's all-time charts.

Gordon, a Second Team All-UAA pick in 2008, also finished with a 4-1 record with four complete games to her credit in seven starts.  Gordon fanned 43 foes in 36 1/3 innings and chalked up a pair of shutouts.  Kathy,  the Eagles' all-time leader in strikeouts with 430, wound up her career ranked prominently in numerous Emory pitching categories including wins (3rd, 54), ERA (2nd, 1.27), strikeouts per game (1st, 7.29),  games started (3rd, 64), shutouts (3rd, 19) and innings pitched (413).

Witcher appeared in 33 games, 27 in a starting role in 2008, and hit her first career homer against Case Western in the UAA Tournament.  In her four seasons with the program, she played in 118 games, 80 as a starter.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region (Atlantic Region)
Carey Smith-Marchi                 First Team                    Mill Valley, CA
Shanon Andersen                     Second Team               Sahuarita, AZ
Caitlin Fitzgerald                       Second Team               Warren, NJ
Cassie Walsh                            Second Team               Palm City, FL
Kim Bandy                               Third Team                   Duluth, GA

All-University Athletic Association
Kim Bandy                               First Team                    Duluth, GA
Carey Smith-Marchi                 First Team                    Mill Valley, CA
Cassie Walsh                            First Team                    Palm City, FL
Kathy Gordon                          Second Team               Midland, GA
Amanda Kerns              Second Team               Knoxville, TN

All-Tournament - NCAA Fayetteville Regional
Caitlin Fitzgerald                       (one team)                    Warren, NJ
Alyson Moler                           (one team)                    Purcellville, VA

UAA Player of the Week
Shanon Andersen                     (Feb. 19, 2008)            Sahuarita, AZ
Caitlin Fitzgerald                       (Mar. 3, 2008)             Warren, NJ
Caitlin Fitzgerald                       (Mar. 24, 2008)           Warren, NJ
Kim Bandy                               (Apr. 21, 2008)            Duluth, GA

EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS NCAA TOURNEY OPENER


(May 8) - The Emory University softball team opened NCAA Tournament action on Thursday with a 2-1 setback to LaGrange College.  The Eagles are participating in the Fayetteville Regional that is hosted by Methodist University.   The loss dropped Emory's record to 28-11 while the Panthers boosted their record to 25-18.

LaGrange erased a 1-0 deficit in its half in the fifth inning, scoring two runs after the first two batters were retired.  Right fielder Katie Hein came through with the deciding blow, a two-run single that scored Allison Gordon and Leah Flowers.  LaGrange pitcher Amanda Daniel made the lead stand up and raised her record to 16-13 after going the distance and allowing just four hits to the Eagles who entered the Tournament hitting .354 as a team.

Emory notched its lone run of the game in the bottom of the first when freshman shortstop Nikki Perez doubled with one out.  After advancing to third base following a fly out, Perez came home to score when junior Kim Bandy delivered a triple, her sixth three-bagger of the season. Bandy finished the contest with a pair of hits.

Emory junior pitcher Shanon Andersen was saddled with the loss, just her fifth in 25 decisions, despite striking out 12 batters and allowing just five hits.  It represented Andersen's 12th outing of double-digit strikeouts this season.

Emory's loss puts its back against the wall in the double-elimination format.  The Eagles will look to stay alive on Friday at 10:00 a.m. when it battles the loser of the Christopher Newport vs. Neumann College contest.

EMORY LANDS FIVE ON ALL-REGION TEAM

2008 Lousville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region Teams

(May 7) - The Emory University softball team has placed a total of five players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's All-Atlantic Region Team. 

Highlighting the Emory honorees is junior Carey Smith-Marchi (Mill Valley, CA) who garnered the program's lone first-team berth.  The first baseman enjoyed a breakout year, with her .417 batting average tying her for the top spot on the team and ranking sixth among University Athletic Association players.  Heading into NCAA Regional play later this week, she is second on the squad in doubles (9), triples (3) and homers (3).  She has 30 RBIs to her credit, good for third on the squad, and her .667 slugging percentage is second.  Smith-Marchi has registered 10 multi-hit contests and has knocked in three or more runs in six games.  Earlier this season, she was named as a First Team pick to the All-UAA Team.

The Eagles landed three players on the second team including junior pitcher Shanon Andersen (Sahuarita, AZ), sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh (Palm City, FL) and sophomore second baseman Caitlin Fitzgerald (Warren, NJ).

Andersen has turned in one of the most memorable first-year campaigns in school history, fashioning a 20-4 won-lost record with her victory total tying the Emory single-season mark.  Andersen has fanned a school record 210 batters this season and she leads the UAA in strikeouts while tying for 16th nationally in strikeouts per game (9.4).  She has completed 13 of 19 starts and her UAA-leading ERA of 0.94 is good for a 12th-place on the national scene.

Walsh, the only Emory player to have started all 38 games, posts a batting average of .350, good for 15th place in the UAA.  She has produced a team-leading 49 safeties, good for third position on the UAA chart and has chalked up 17 multi-hit contests this year. Walsh leads the team and UAA in runs scored (42) and stolen bases with her 26 thefts representing a school record.  Walsh garnered First Team All-UAA kudos earlier this season.

A starter in 37 games, Fitzgerald is hitting at a .360 clip, good for 12th place on the UAA ladder.  Her nine doubles ties her with Smith-Marchi for second on the squad while her 35 RBIs leads all Eagles and ties for second in the UAA.  Fitzgerald has 12 games of two or more hits.

Rounding out the contingent of players to receive recognition was junior Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA) who was selected to the third team.  Bandy, a starter in all 37 of the games she has seen action in, is tied with Smith-Marchi with a .417 average and her 48 hits is second on the team and fourth among UAA performers.  Her 78 total bases top the club as do her five triples and four homers.  A 2008 First Team All-UAA choice, Bandy has a team-best .678 slugging percentage that ranks her fifth on the UAA chart.

Emory, 28-10, opens NCAA Region play on Thursday (May 8) at 10 a.m. when it battles LaGrange College in Fayetteville, NC.

EMORY SOFTBALL GEARS UP FOR NCAA TOURNEY ACTION


(May 6) - NCAA TOURNEY FACTS - The Emory softball team makes it third straight and seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament in the 10-year history of the program on Thursday when it battles LaGrange in an opening-round game. Emory is one of 59 teams in the field looking to take home the national crown and part of a seven-team regional that will play in Fayetteville and be hosted by Methodist University. 

Emory drew the No. 4 seed while the Panthers enter as the No. 5 seed.  The Eagles and LaGrange are slated to get their contest started at 10:00 am with the winner proceeding on to a 4:00 p.m. affair with No. 1 seed Lynchburg on Thursday.  Other first-round offerings include No. 3 seed Methodist against No. 6 seed Ursinus at noon and No. 2 seed Christopher Newport vs. No. 7 seed Neumann at 2:00 p.m. All action this weekend will be double elimination.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering this week's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 312-103.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship. In her six previous to the NCAA Tournament, which includes World Series trips in 2002, 2003 and 2007, Siqueiros has compiled a NCAA Tournament record of 24-13.

Jennifer Claybrook (LaGrange) is in her fifth season as LaGrange head coach.  During her tenure with the Panthers, she has compiled a 128-87 won-lost ledger.

In her 10th season leading the Lynchburg College program is Dawn Simmons (Lynchburg, '97).  Heading into the tournament, Simmons has a school and career record of  279-122-1.  She has guided the program to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Methodist College is led by tenth-year head coach Ron Simpson (Texas Tech) who has a 322-125-2 record. Simpson has directed the Monarchs to six straight campaigns of 30 or more wins.

The Lady Captains of Christopher Newport University are coached by Keith Parr  (Christopher Newport, '99).  In five seasons, Parr has manufactured a 150-60-1 record. 

Bill Saar is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Neumann College softball program and posts a school and career effort of 115-76. 

 Terry McGowan directs the fortunes of the Ursinus College program.  McGowan, who is in his eighth season, checks in with a won-lost effort of 242-87-2.

RECORDS - The Eagles take an overall record of 28-10 into the NCAA Tournament.  Emory will be playing its first games since April 22 when it split a doubleheader at Piedmont College, winning the opener by a 9-0 margin before coming out on the short end of a 3-2 decision in the finale.  The Eagles closed out the regular season by winning seven of their last eight and 13 of the final 15 games.

LaGrange College lays claim to a 24-18 record prior to its encounter with Emory.  The Panthers earned their bid to the NCAA Tournament by capturing the Great South Athletic Conference Tournament for the second straight season.

Lynchburg, ranked No. 6 nationally, stands 36-5.  The Hornets brought home their second consecutive Old Dominion Athletic Conference title on Apr. 27, defeating Virginia Wesleyan in the championship game.

Christopher Newport, winners of the USA South Tournament Championship, registers a 33-8-1 record.  The Captains are ranked 18th nationally and own a nine-game winning streak.

Methodist, an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament, has a record of 34-10.

Neumann College landed an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament following its championship performance in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Tournament.  The Knights stand 27-12 heading into the postseason.

Ursinus sports a record of 31-9 and gained an automatic bid to the NCAA's after nailing down the Centennial Conference Tournament title.

SERIES RECORDS - Emory and LaGrange have met 37 times with the Eagles showing an all-time mark of 31-6 against the Panthers.  Emory has won all four meetings between the schools this season. Thursday's game will represent the first-ever EU-LC confrontation in postseason play.

In a series that has its origins in 2001, Emory has won six of seven meetings against Lynchburg.  The teams met twice during the Greensboro Invitational earlier this season with each squad picking up a win.  Last year, Emory topped the Hornets twice in the NCAA Regionals that were hosted by Methodist College.

Emory shows a series record of 3-2 against the Monarchs of Methodist with all of its wins coming in NCAA Tournament play (2 wins in 2003, 1 win in 2007).

If Emory meets Christopher Newport, Neumann College or Ursinus, it will be the initial meetings in softball.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emory - (Kim Bandy, Jr., 3B, .417, 8 2B, 5 3B,  4 HR, 32 RBIs)
(Carey Smith-Marchi, Jr., 1B, .417, 9 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBIs)
(Nicole Perez, Fr., SS, .380, 16 RBIs, 14 SB)
(Caitlin Fitzgerald, So., 2B, .360, 9 2B, 2 HR, 35 RBIs)
(Cassie Walsh, So., CF, .350, 49 HITS,  26 SB)
(Rachel Blume, Jr., C, .337, 10 2B, 3 HR, 29 RBIs)
(Shanon Andersen, Jr., P, 20-4, 0.94 ERA, 19GS, 13CG, 157IP, 210Ks)

LaGrange - (Katie Hein, Fr., RF, .368, 3 2B, 11 RBIs)
(Holly Hazelwood, So., CF, .361, 8 SB)
(Valeree Williams, So., SS, .350, 12 2B,  20 RBIs)
(Amanda Daniel, Jr., P, 15-13, 2.18 ERA, 27GS, 19CG, 177 IP, 120Ks)

Lynchburg - (Elizabeth Perkins, Sr., 3B, .441, 6 2B, 11 HR, 46 RBIs)
(Brittany Allsop, Jr., CF, .381, 7 2B, 3 3B, 24 RBIs)
(Tara Campbell, Jr., 1B, .368, 6 2B, 7 HR, 30 RBIs)
(Katie Bruce, Fr., P, 18-3, 1.73 ERA, 18GS, 14CG, 142IP, 82 Ks)

Methodist College - (Kayla Talbert, Jr., 3B, .434, 9 2B, 4 HR, 44 RBIs) 
(Rebekah Kelly, Sr., CF, .418, 2 2B, 10 3B, 2 HR, 28 RBIs)
(Crystal Metzger, So., 1B, .342, 2 2B, 30 RBIs)
(Lesley Hewitt, Jr., P, .15-7, 2.21 ERA, 21GS, 12 GC, 130IP, 83Ks)

Christopher Newport -- (Margret Severin, Sr., C, .435, 8 2B, 7 HR, 23 RBIs)
(Mary Kennedy, So., SS, .407, 42 runs, 26 SB)
(Taylor Morgan, So., 1B, . 386, 9 2B, 23 RBIs)
(Katie Moyers, Jr., 2B, .362, 7 2B, 4 HR, 43 RBIs)
(Janet Fairchild, Sr., P, 9-4, 2.57 ERA, 18GS, 5CG, 95.1 IP, 45 Ks)

Ursinus - (Jennie Moore, Jr., SS, .370, 34 runs, 12 2B, 32 RBIs)
(Erin McHugh, Sr., RF, .395, 7 2B, 16 RBIs)
(Kaitlyn Sutherland, Jr., C, .342, 5 2B, 2 HR, 23 RBIs)
(Lauren Davis, So., P, 26-4, 0.55 ERA, 30 GS, 28 CG, 204.1IP, 286 Ks)

EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT PIEDMONT

(Apr. 23) - The Emory softball team closed out the regular season with a split of a doubleheader at Piedmont College Tuesday night.  The Eagles posted a 9-0 triumph in the opener before Piedmont held on to claim a 3-2 decision in the nightcap.  The split leaves Emory's overall record at 28-10.

In the first game, the Eagles pounded out 16 hits and received a gem on the mound from junior Shanon Andersen, who allowed just three hits and fanned 11 in picking up her 20th win of the year in 24 decisions. Andersen's 20 wins ties the school seasonal record previous held by Nicole Kovski (2002). Junior Carey Smith-Marchi paced the offensive fireworks, going 4-for-4 at the plate, including a double and triple, while registering three RBIs.  Freshman Zara Louy aided in the win, rapping out a pair of hits and driving in two runs. Emory got on the board in the first inning when freshman Cassie Walsh singled to open the game and then came around to score on a double by Smith-Marchi.  The Eagles added a pair of runs in the second with a triple by junior Amanda Kerns and a groundout by Walsh accounting for the RBIs.  Emory blew the game wide open with a four-run outburst in the fifth that was keyed by a two-run triple by Smith-Marchi. 

In the finale, Emory out hit Piedmont, 10-5, but left a total of 10 runners on base.  Piedmont scored three unearned runs in its half of the third to jump out to a 3-0 advantage and then fought off the Emory comeback attempt.  The Eagles got one run back in the fourth when a single by junior Alyson Moler scored Kim Bandy from third base.  Emory scratched out another run in the fifth when sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald singled home Bandy.  However, that was as close as the Eagles would get as they would put a runner on in both the sixth and seventh innings but were not able to tie the game.

Emory will now wait to hear its fate in regards to a possible NCAA Tournament bid.

EMORY SOFTBALL TAKES TWO FROM LaGRANGE

(Apr. 20) - The Emory softball team pounded out 22 runs and 30 hits as it posted a doubleheader sweep at LaGrange College.  The Eagles captured the first game by an 11-2 margin before claiming the finale by an 11-5 count.  The wins were the fifth and sixth consecutive for Emory and raised its record to 27-9.

In the opener, five Eagles came through with two or more hits including freshman Nikki Perez who went 4-for-4 while scoring three runs.  Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald knocked in five runs, three coming on a double in the seventh inning.  Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen picked up her 19th win of the year, tying her for the second-highest win total in school history, in 23 decisions, allowing just three hits and striking out three in six innings of work.   

In the second game, Emory trailed by a 3-1 margin before rallying for five runs in the fourth frame.  Perez knocked in a pair of runs with a single in the explosion while junior Carey Smith-Marchi produced an RBI single.  Smith-Marchi went 3-for-5 with three RBIs while Kim Bandy was a perfect 4-for-4.  Smith-Marchi raised her hitting streak 15 games and is now hitting .404 on the year.  After adding an unearned run in its half of the sixth, Emory put the game out of reach with four runs in the seventh, with Smith-Marchi knocking in a pair of runs.  Senior Ashley Tobar came on in relief of Andersen to earn the victory, her fourth of the campaign, hurling 3 2/3 innings and holding the Panthers scoreless while allowing just three hits.

Emory will close out the regular season on Tuesday (Apr. 22) with a doubleheader at Piedmont College starting at 5:00 p.m.

EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER vs. LAGRANGE

(Apr. 16) - The Emory softball team continued its winning ways Wednesday afternoon, taking both games of a doubleheader against LaGrange College.  The Eagles posted a 5-1 victory in the opener before finishing off the sweep with a five-inning, 8-0 win in the nightcap.  The two wins boost Emory's record to 25-9 while LaGrange slipped to 17-15.

In the first game, junior pitcher Shanon Andersen kept the LaGrange bats in check, allowing just three hits while fanning 10, her 10th performance of double digits in that category this year.  Junior Rachel Blume picked up a pair of hits including a three-run double in the bottom of the fifth frame that gave the Eagles a 5-0 advantage.  Emory scored a pair of runs in the third with a sacrifice fly by junior Carey Smith-Marchi and a triple by junior Kim Bandy accounting for the RBIs. Meanwhile, Andersen retired the first 10 batters she faced before LaGrange broke through with a fourth-inning single by Holly Hazelwood.

In the nightcap, a six-run, second-inning explosion was all the scoring Emory would need in notching its 10th win in its last 11 outings.  Bandy opened with a triple and scored when sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald doubled. A two-bagger by Smith-Marchi also pushed across a pair of runs that helped staked Andersen to the big lead. The Eagles closed out the contest in the fifth when Bandy doubled and scored on a single by Fitzgerald.  Fitzgerald then advanced on a wild pitch and then on an error by the Panthers' third baseman and was sitting on third when sophomore Jenna Lamoreaux knocked her home with the run that closed out the game.  Andersen upped her record to 18-4 after surrendering three hits and striking out five.

Emory returns to action on Sunday, Apr. 20, when it plays a doubleheader at LaGrange.

EMORY SOFTBALL TAKES DOUBLEHEADER vs. WESLEYAN - POSTS WIN IN RESUMPTION OF SUSPENDED GAME

(Apr. 16) - Emory junior pitcher Shanon Andersen set a pair of school records Tuesday evening as the Eagles drubbed Wesleyan College, 11-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.  The Eagles capped off a sweep with a five-inning, 12-0 decision in the nightcap.  In addition, Emory posted a 13-0 verdict over the Pioneers in a game that was resumed from Feb. 17. The three wins boosted Emory's record to 23-9.

Andersen fanned a school record 17 batters in the opening contest, bettering the previous mark of 14 held by Kathy Gordon, and represented her ninth performance this season of double digits in that category. Andersen allowed just one hit in registering her 10th complete game of the season.   She was the beneficiary of a 17-hit attack, led by sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald, who went four-of-five from the plate with three RBIs, and junior Kim Bandy who totaled three hits and a pair of RBIs.  Junior Rachel Blume chipped in a pair of safeties, one of five Emory players to record two or more hits, and two RBIs.

Emory continued its hot hitting in the second game, rapping out 14 hits, its 15th outing of 10 or more hits this year.  Sophomore Cassie Walsh accounted for three hits while junior Carey Smith-Marchi chalked up two safeties and three RBIs.  Freshman Nicole Perez and junior Amanda Kerns also finished with a pair of RBIs.  Andersen picked up the win on the mound, tossing four innings and fanning five while allowing just two hits.

Emory returns to action on Wednesday (Apr. 16) when it hosts LaGrange College in a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.

NOTES - In addition to Andersen fanning a school-record 17 opponents in the opening game, she finished the day with an Emory season-record 171 strikeouts, besting the previous standard of 161 set by Kathy Gordon during the 2006 season ... Andersen's 16 wins ties her for seventh on the Emory seasonal ladder ... In her last 30 2/3 innings, Andersen has whiffed 44 opponents while giving up just four walks ...  Smith-Marchi hit safely in each game of the twinbill, increasing her hitting streak to 11 games ... Walsh reached the 100 career-hit plateau on Tuesday.

EMORY SOFTBALL FACES BUSY WEEK OF ACTION

GAME FACTS - The Emory softball team faces a busy week of action beginning with action at Georgia Wesleyan College on Tuesday (Apr. 15).  Before meeting the Pioneers in a scheduled doubleheader, Emory and Wesleyan will resume a game that was suspended back on Feb. 17 with the Eagles holding an 11-0 edge in the bottom of the third.  After meeting Wesleyan, Emory returns home to entertain LaGrange College on Wednesday in a double dip that was cancelled back on April 1.  Action at Cooper Field begins at 2:30 p.m. The teams will meet again on Sunday (Apr. 20) at LaGrange in a twinbill that is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering the week, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 304-102.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Wesleyan College is directed by Head Coach Hayley Henry.

LaGrange College is directed by fifth-year Head Coach Jennifer Claybrook (LaGrange). During her tenure with the Panthers, Claybrook has directed the program to a fine 121-83 won-lost ledger.

RECORDS - The Eagles begin the week with an overall record of 20-9.  In its most recent outing, Emory split a doubleheader at Huntingdon on Sunday, winning the opener by a 6-0 margin before coming out on the short end of a 4-3 nine-inning decision in the finale.  The setback snapped an Emory six-game winning streak.

Wesleyan College stands 4-26.  

LaGrange College is riding a hot streak that has seen it post victories in five of its last six affairs.  The Panthers are coming off a doubleheader sweep against Maryville last Saturday, registering 2-0 and 8-7 victories.

SERIES RECORDS -Emory holds a 17-0 advantage in the all-time series against Wesleyan College.

Emory holds a 27-6 advantage in the all-time series against LaGrange. Last year, the Eagles won all four meetings between the schools.  In games hosted by Emory, the Eagles stand 14-2 against the Panthers.

ANDERSEN SOLID ON THE MOUND - Junior Shanon Andersen earned her 14th win of the campaign in the 6-0 win over Huntingdon, hurling a complete game that saw her allow just five hits while striking out five and not surrendering any walks.  Andersen's control has been outstanding as she has fanned 22 batters and walked just three in her last 19 innings of work.

At the start of the week, Andersen has whiffed 149 opposing batters and is No. 2 on the school's seasonal list behind only Kathy Gordon's No. 1 mark of 161 set during the 2006 campaign.  Her 14 victories lead all UAA pitchers as does her 0.93 ERA.

WALSH GETS HITTING EYE BACK  -  After going hitless in eight trips to the plate against Huntingdon on April 6, sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh bounced back with a solid effort against the Lady Hawks one week later, picking up four hits in nine plate appearances.  Walsh recorded a pair of hits and scored two runs in each game of the doubleheader and picked up one stolen base in each contest.

Walsh's performance represented her 12th and 13th multiple-hit games of the season and boosted her season batting average to .356.  She is the team leader in hits (37), runs (29) and stolen bases with a school season record of 19 thefts. In addition, she is approaching the 100 career-hit plateau with 96 safeties to her credit.

SMITH-MARCHI CONTINUES HOT STREAK --  Junior Carey Smith-Marchi
picked up a base hit in each game of the Huntingdon doubleheader on Sunday, giving her a nine-game hitting streak.  Over the course of the last nine contests, Smith-March is hitting a blazing .545 with 12 hits in 22 plate appearances. She has at least one RBI to her credit in seven of the nine games and has totaled 13 during the stretch.  Her average of .377 ranks her eighth among UAA players through games played Apr. 13.

EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS TWINBILL WITH HUNTINGDON

(Apr. 13) - The Emory softball team took to the road on Sunday and split a doubleheader against Huntingdon College.  The Eagles claimed the opener by a 6-0 margin before Huntingdon rallied for a nine-inning, 4-3 victory in the finale.  The split leaves Emory's record at 20-9 while Huntingdon stands at 10-22.

In the first game, Emory rapped out 12 hits and received a sterling performance on the mound by junior Shanon Andersen.  Juniors Kim Bandy, Rachel Blume and Elizabeth White each registered two hits and one RBI while Andersen tossed a complete-game five hitter in raising her record to 14-3, allowing five hits and striking out five.  The Eagles struck early with a run in the top of the first inning when a double by junior Carey Smith-Marchi scored Cassie Walsh.  Emory added to its advantage with a single run in the fifth following back-to-back doubles by sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald and Blume. Emory put the game out of reach when it scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh frames.

Huntingdon earned the split when a two-out single in the ninth inning by Ashley Blocker scored Jessica Reeves with the winning run.  The finale shaped up as a pitching duel with both teams generating just nine hits.  Walsh picked up a pair of hits and scored twice while Fitzgerald knocked in a pair of runs to lead the Emory attack.   Huntingdon sophomore pitcher Kayla Bratcher notched the win after tossing all nine innings and surrendering just four hits.  Andersen came on in relief for Emory and was saddled with the loss, going 3 2/3 innings and giving up one run while striking out four.  Sophomore Marion Holland gave up three runs and four hits in five innings of work as the starter.  After seeing the Lady Hawks score first, the Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the third when a ground out by Fitzgerald scored Walsh.   Emory surged ahead in the fifth thanks to RBIs by Bandy and Fitzgerald.  However, Huntingdon fought back in the bottom of the sixth when Fe Gulledge doubled home a run and later scored on a passed ball.

Emory returns to action on Tuesday (Apr. 15) at Wesleyan College.

EMORY SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO HUNTINGDON COLLEGE FOR DOUBLEHEADER

(Apr. 10) - GAME FACTS - Looking to continue the momentum generated by a five-game winning streak, the Emory softball team travels to Huntingdon College for doubleheader action on Sunday, April 13, starting at 1:00 p.m. (CDT). 

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Sunday's contests, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 303-101.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Huntingdon College is directed by Head Coach Angela Cook.

RECORDS - The Eagles have won their last five games and meet the Lady Hawks with an overall record of 19-8.  In its most recent outing, Emory swept a doubleheader against Huntingdon last Sunday, winning the opener by a 5-3 margin before registering a 3-2 nine-inning decision in the finale.  

Huntingdon College currently stands 9-19 and will play Piedmont College on Saturday before meeting Emory.  Most recently, the Lady Hawks swept a doubleheader against Wesleyan College on Monday, winning the first game, 6-0 count, and the second, 5-0.

SERIES RECORDS -Emory holds a 17-7 advantage in the all-time series against Huntingdon College. The Eagles have won the last six meetings between the schools.

WALSH SEES HIT STREAK SNAPPED  -  Sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh saw a 10-game hitting streak come to an end in opener of the Huntingdon twinbill.  During the streak, she turned in three multi-hit contests.  Entering this weekend's action, Walsh is hitting .347 (33-of-95) and is the club leader in hits (33) and runs (25).   Career-wise, she has registered 92 base hits.

SMITH-MARCHI'S BIG WEEK --  Junior Carey Smith-Marchi turned in a big week for the Eagles, hitting a blazing .545 with six hits in 11 trips to the plate.  In addition, she recorded 10 RBIs and scored five times.  Smith-Marchi socked a pair of homers and totaled 5 RBIs in a 17-2 first-game win against Spelman College and followed that performance with a 2-for-3 effort with 3 RBIs in a 16-1 second-game decision against the Jaguars.  She helped the Eagles to a 5-3 triumph over Huntingdon in the first game of a twinbill on Sunday by going 1-2 at the plate with an RBI and one run scored.  In the nightcap, her single in the bottom of the ninth scored Cassie Walsh with the game-winning run in a 3-2 decision.  Through games played April 6, Smith-Marchi is ninth among UAA players with a .368 batting average.

PEREZ FINDS A WAY HOME - Freshman Nikki Perez has scored runs in five straight and in six of the last seven contests and has moved into third place among Emory players with 19 runs scored.  Perez crossed the plate three times in both games of the Spelman doubleheader, and scored twice in the opener against Huntingdon and once in the second contest.  Over the last seven games, she is hitting .523 with 11 hits in 21 plate appearances and has stolen five bases.

ANDERSEN SOLID ON THE MOUND - Junior Shanon Andersen picked up wins in both games of the Huntingdon doubleheader, one as a starter and the other in a relief capacity.  In the team's 5-3 first-game triumph, Andersen tossed her eighth complete game of the campaign, striking out 10 batters, her eighth performance of double digits this year.  In the finale, Andersen did not allow a hit and fanned three over two innings of action. Through games played Apr. 6, Andersen leads UAA pitchers with 13 wins and has a league-leading 1.03 ERA ... She has fanned 140 batters, good for the No. 4 position on the school's seasonal ladder.  Andersen is just four Ks away from moving into the No. 2 spot on that list.

EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS HUNTINGDON COLLEGE

(Apr. 6) - Emory University junior Carey Smith-Marchi's one-out single in the ninth inning scored Cassie Walsh from second base and gave the Eagles a 3-2, second-game victory and a sweep of a doubleheader against Huntingdon College Sunday afternoon.  The Eagles captured the opener by a 5-3 margin.  The two wins boosted Emory's overall record to 19-8 while the Lady Hawks slipped to 7-19.

The nightcap turned out to be a pitching duel between Emory sophomore Marion Holland and Huntingdon's Kayla Bratcher.  The Eagles scored a pair of runs in their half of the fourth when freshman shortstop Nikki Perez led off the frame by being hit by a pitch.  After moving two second following a sacrifice bunt, Perez scampered home when junior Kim Bandy came through with a double and advancing to third on the throw home to the plate.  Bandy eventually scored on an errant throw by the Lady Hawks' catcher on a pick-off attempt.  Meanwhile, Holland kept Huntingdon in check for the first six innings, allowing just one hit while retiring 11 straight batters from the third through sixth inning.  However, Huntingdon managed to rally and tie the score in the top of the seventh when sophomore Sarah Drennan delivered a two-out, two-strike single that pushed across a pair of runs.  Huntingdon loaded the bases in the eighth with nobody out before junior Shanon Andersen came on in relief to quell the uprising without allowing any runs.  In the decisive ninth inning, Walsh was placed on second and moved to third on a Perez sacrifice which set the stage for Smith-Marchi's heroics. Andersen picked up the win, her 13th in 16 decisions.

In the opener, Perez and Bandy each totaled two hits with Bandy contributing a two-run triple that was the key blow in a four-run third inning that gave the Eagles a 5-1 lead.  Andersen went the distance on the mound in earning the victory, striking out 10, her eighth performance of double-digits in that department this season, while surrendering just six hits.

Emory returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 13) when it plays a doubleheader at Huntingdon.

EMORY SOFTBALL HOSTS HUNTINGDON COLLEGE

(Apr. 5) - GAME FACTS - The Emory University softball team will host Huntingdon College in doubleheader action on Sunday, April 6, starting at 1:00 p.m.  The Eagles' next appearance on the field will take place one week later (Apr. 13) when the Eagles travel to Montgomery, Ala., to take on Huntingdon in a twinbill starting at 1:00 p.m. (CDT).

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Sunday's contests, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 301-101.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Huntingdon College is directed by Head Coach Angela Cook.

RECORDS - The Eagles have won their last three games and host Huntingdon with an overall record of 17-8.  In its most recent outing, Emory swept a doubleheader against Spelman College on Thursday, winning the opener by a 17-1 margin before registering a 16-2 decision in the nightcap.  

Huntingdon College comes to town with an overall record of 7-17. Inclement weather has forced the cancellation of the last six contests for the Lady Hawks with their last outings taking place on March 21 when they captured both games of a doubleheader against LaGrange, 2-1 and 4-1.

SERIES RECORDS -Emory holds a 15-7 advantage in the all-time series against Huntingdon College. The Eagles have won the last four meetings between the schools including 2-1 and 7-3 decisions last year.  In games played at Emory, the Eagles stand 8-1 against Huntingdon.

WALSH SETS EMORY STOLEN BASE RECORD --  Sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh stole three bases in the Spelman College doubleheader and became the school's seasonal record holder in that category.  Walsh now has 17 stolen bases this year and moved ahead of the previous mark of 15 held by Allison Bouknight (2003).  

Career-wise, Walsh holds down the No. 6 spot on the school's all-time chart with 27 stolen bases.

MORE ON WALSH  - Walsh registered hits in each game of the Spelman twinbill, raising her hitting streak to 10 straight contests.  On the year, she posts a solid .379 average at the plate and paces the squad in both runs scored (24) and safeties (33).  She is quickly approaching the 100 career-hit plateau with 92 heading into Sunday's action against Huntingdon.

EMORY NOTES - Junior Shanon Andersen picked up her 11th win in 14 decisions in the second Spelman game, fanning six batters in 3 1/3 innings of work.  She has struck out 127 batters this year and is fifth on the school's seasonal ladder ... Junior Carey Smith-Marchi enjoyed  a career game with a pair of homers and 5RBIs in the 17-2 triumph over Spelman.  All totaled, she went 4-for-6 at the plate with eight RBIs in the two games against the Jaguars.  Smith-Marchi's effort boosted her season batting average to .365 (19-for-52) ... Senior pitcher Ashley Tobar earned the win in the Spelman opener, her 36th career win at Emory,  good for fourth place on the school's all-time list ... The Eagles are hitting .335 as a team vs. .201 for the opposition ... In addition, Emory has outscored its opponents by a 149-63 margin and have 13 homers vs. three for the opposition.

EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS SPELMAN COLLEGE - SIQUEIROS NOTCHES 300th CAREER WIN

(Apr. 4) - The Emory University softball team recorded a sweep of a doubleheader against Spelman College Thursday evening.  The Eagles captured the opener, 17-2, in six innings before registering a five-inning, 16-1 triumph in the finale.  The two victories raised Emory's overall record to 17-8 and enabled Head Coach Penny Siqueiros to chalk up her 300th and 301st career wins.

In the first game, junior Carey Smith-Marchi came through with three hits, including a pair of solo home runs, while sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald posted four RBIs, including a three-run homer, to spark the offensive attack. Juniors Kim Bandy and Rachel Blume each finished the contest with two hits and a pair of RBIs. Senior pitcher Ashley Tobar earned the win, tossing four innings and striking out 10 batters.

The Eagles' hot bats continued into the nightcap, pounding out 19 hits.  Sophomore centerfielder Cassie Walsh totaled three hits and scored three times while freshman shortstop Nikki Perez went 4-for-4 at the plate.  Walsh also established a school seasonal record for stolen bases with her two thefts boosting her total to 17, topping the previous standard of 15 held by Allison Bouknight (2003).  Others figuring prominently in the offensive explosion were freshman catcher Zara Louy with three doubles and three RBIs and senior right fielder Cassi Witcher with three safeties.  Junior Shanon Andersen got the win on the mound, hurling 3 1/3 innings and striking out six.

Emory returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 6) when it hosts Huntingdon College in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.

EMORY SOFTBALL FACES BUSY WEEK

(Mar. 31) - GAME FACTS - The Emory University softball team faces a busy week of action starting with a home doubleheader against LaGrange College on Tuesday (Apr. 1) starting at 2:00 p.m.  Following the twinbill against the Panthers, the Eagles venture cross town to battle Spelman College on Thursday in a pair of contests starting at 5:00 p.m. 

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Tuesday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 299-101.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

LaGrange College is directed by fifth-year Head Coach Jennifer Claybrook (LaGrange). During his tenure with the Panthers, Claybrook has directed the program to a fine 116-81 won-lost ledger.

Serving as the head coach at Spelman College is Joe Brown.

RECORDS - The Eagles start the week with an overall record of 15-8.  Last Saturday, Emory recorded a 7-2 win against Piedmont College in the first game of a doubleheader.  The second contest was cancelled due to inclement weather.

LaGrange comes to town with an overall slate of 12-12.  The Panthers have dropped their last four games included a pair to Reinhardt College last Sunday, 6-3 and 10-1.

Spelman will meet Emory with an overall effort of 4-4.  The Jaguars had doubleheaders against Huntingdon and Dallas cancelled last weekend due to bad weather.

SERIES RECORDS -Emory holds a 27-6 advantage in the all-time series against Piedmont College. Last year, the Eagles won all four meetings between the schools.  In games hosted by Emory, the Eagles stand 14-2 against LaGrange.

Thursday's games between Emory and Spelman will mark the first-ever meetings in softball between the schools.

BLUME SWINGS A BIG BAT - Junior catcher Rachel Blume socked a three-run homer in the 7-2 win against Piedmont with her blast accounting for the team's winning runs.  It was her third homer of the season and ninth of her career, good for fifth place on the school's all-time chart.

WALSH HIT STREAK CONTINUES  - Sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh registered a pair of hits against Piedmont and will take an eight-game hitting streak into the LaGrange game. Walsh has 10 contests of two of more hits and she starts the week with a fine .385 average, tops among Emory regulars and eighth on the UAA chart.  In addition, Walsh's 30 safeties are second among UAA performers.

EMORY NOTES - Junior Shanon Andersen picked up her 10th win in 13 decisions in the Piedmont game following a solid effort in relief that saw her not allow any runs and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings of work.  Andersen checks in with an UAA-leading ERA of 0.94 and paces the league's hurlers with 121 strikeouts (sixth on Emory's seasonal ladder) ... Junior Kim Bandy also blasted a home run in the Piedmont contest, her third of the season ... Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald owns a six-game hitting streak (10-of-19, .526) and has posted four outings of two hits in that stretch ... The Eagles are hitting .326 as a team vs. .206 for the opposition ... In addition, Emory has outscored its opponents by a 116-60 margin and have 10 homers vs. three for the opposition.

EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS PIEDMONT

(Mar. 29) - The Emory softball team scored six runs in the opening two innings en route to a 7-2 win against Piedmont College in the opening game of a scheduled doubleheader.  The second game of the twinbill was cancelled due to inclement weather.  The win boosts Emory's record to 15-8. 

Emory received two hits apiece by sophomores Cassie Walsh and Caitlin Fitzgerald and freshman Nikki Perez, while junior Shanon Andersen helped cement the win with a strong effort on the mound in a relief role.  In addition, the Eagles were the recipients of a three-run homer by junior catcher Rachel Blume and a solo blast by junior Kim Bandy.

Emory scored four times in its half of the first with Blume's third round tripper of the year, a three-run blast, being the key blow in the frame.

After Piedmont cut Emory's advantage in half in the top of the second, the Eagles responded with a two-out, two-run rally with a single by Andersen pushing across Walsh and Perez.

Andersen tossed 5 2/3 innings in picking up the victory, her 10th in 13 decisions, allowing just five hits and striking out eight.

Emory returns to action on Tuesday, April 1, when it hosts LaGrange College in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.

EAGLES SEE FIVE CAPTURE ALL-UAA ACCLAIM

(Mar. 26) - Five members of the 2008 Emory University softball squad have been selected to the All-University Athletic Association Team.  The all-league honorees were chosen by the conference coaches.  Emory finished the UAA Tournament in a tie for third place with a 3-5 record.

The Eagles of Head Coach Penny Siqueiros placed three players on the All-UAA First Team and two on the second team.  Junior third baseman Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA) and
sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh (Palm City, FL) each landed their second consecutive first-team nods while junior first baseman Carey Smith-Marchi (Mill Valley, CA) rounded out the trio on the first team. 

Senior pitcher Kathy Gordon (Midland, GA) and junior outfielder Amanda Kerns (Knoxville, TN) were second-team honorees with Gordon's selection marking the second time in her career that she has been a second-team pick.

Bandy was second among Emory players and third on the UAA chart with a .455 batting average that saw her rap out 10 hits in 22 trips to the plate during the eight-game tournament.  She blasted a UAA-leading two home runs, each coming in games vs. Washington University, and her five RBIs tied her for third among UAA performers. 

Walsh led the squad and tied for second among UAA players with 11 hits and fashioned a batting average of .379 (11-for-29).  She scored a team-best eight runs (second in the UAA) and was successful on all three of her base-stealing opportunities. She enjoyed four multi-hit outings including a 3-for-4 performance against Case Western in a 9-0 win.

Smith-Marchi turned in a break-out effort at the UAA Tournament, finishing eighth among all players with a solid .368 average.  She chalked up seven hits, including a three-run homer against Rochester (Mar. 12), in 19 plate appearances and drew five base on balls.  Her .500 on-base percentage tied her for second on the UAA chart for players who had 15 or more trips to the plate.

Gordon picked up two of the team's three wins on the mound and completed all three of the games she started.  She allowed just three earned runs in 19 innings of work for an ERA of 1.11, tops among conference pitchers, and fanned 20 batters while walking six. 

Kerns started six of seven games and hit a hefty .471 at the plate, good for the No. 1 position among UAA players.  She hit safely in five games and turned in a pair of multi-hit games including a 3-for-3 performance against Brandies in the tourney opener.

Emory, 14-8 on the year, returns to action this Saturday (Mar. 29) with a home doubleheader against Piedmont College starting at 1:00 p.m..

EMORY SOFTBALL SQUAD ENTERTAINS PIEDMONT COLLEGE

(Mar. 24) - GAME FACTS - After registering a 3-2 record last week that included a split of four games at the Greensboro Invitational, the Emory softball team returns home for a doubleheader against Piedmont College on Saturday (Mar. 29).  Action at Cooper Field begins at 1:00 p.m.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Saturday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 298-101.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Piedmont College is directed by tenth-year Head Coach Terry Martin (Nyack College). During his tenure with the Lions, Martin has directed the program to one NCAA Tournament and three Great South Athletic Conference regular-season crowns.  

RECORDS - The Eagles start the week with an overall record of 14-8.  Last week, Emory won three of five outings, topping Colorado College at home, 4-0, before splitting four games at the Greensboro Invitational.  

Piedmont College currently stands 10-6 and will play four games before taking on Emory.  The Lions will play a twinbill at Wesleyan College on Tuesday (Mar. 25) before hosting North Greenville University on Thursday.

SERIES RECORDS -Emory holds a 12-5 edge in the all-time series against Piedmont College. Last year, the Eagles won all three meetings between the schools.  In games hosted by Emory, the Eagles stand 9-2 against Piedmont.

FITZGERALD HOT AT THE PLATE  - Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald was on fire at the plate last week, compiling a .500 batting average over five games.  The second baseman went 8-for-16 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs.  She picked up two hits in each game against Greensboro and Lynchburg on Friday and recorded the game-winning RBI in the 3-0 win against the Pride. 

So far this season, Fitzgerald is batting at a .323 clip and is second on the club with 15 RBIs.  She has chalked six outings of two or more hits.

WALSH HIT STREAK CONTINUES  - Sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh came through with base hits in all five games last week and heads into the Piedmont College doubleheader with a seven-game hitting streak.  Walsh, who posts a keen .378 average, is the club leader in both runs (17) and base hits (28).   She has totaled nine contests of two or more hits and has a pair of three-hit outings to his credit. Career-wise, she is quickly approaching the 100-hit plateau with 87 safeties.

EMORY PITCHERS POST Ks - The Emory pitching staff fanned 51 batters in last week's five games while Emory struck out on 14 occasions.  The tandem of senior Kathy Gordon and junior Shanon Andersen fanned 11 Colorado College batters before Andersen whiffed a dozen Greensboro batters on Friday.  Andersen repeated that number against Lynchburg on the same day, marking her seventh performance of double digits in that category.  

SENIOR DAY ON TAP FOR SATURDAY - A trio of Emory players will be recognized on Saturday as part of Senior Day festivities. Pitchers Ashley Tobar and Kathy Gordon, along with outfielder Cassi Witcher, comprise this year's senior class and will be honored for their contributions to the softball program during their careers.

EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS PAIR AT GREENSBORO INVITATIONAL

(Mar. 22) - The Emory softball team closed out its participation at the Greensboro College Invitational on Saturday by suffering a pair of losses.  The Eagles dropped their opening game of the day, 5-4, to No. 2-ranked Lynchburg College before coming out on the short end of a 7-4 decision to Greensboro.  The two setbacks leave Emory's record at 14-8.

Emory held a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh against Lynchburg but saw the Hornets score four runs after two were out to escape with the win.  The loss negated a four-for-four effort at the plate by Emory freshman Nikki Perez while junior catcher Rachel Blume picked up two hits and two RBIs.

The Eagles scored a pair of runs in their half of the second with Blume picking up a two-run double.  After Lynchburg scored a run in fifth, the Eagles countered with two runs in the top of the seventh. However, Lynchburg capitalized on two Emory errors in the final frame to push across four unearned runs to steal the win.  Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen was saddled with the loss despite not allowing an earned run and striking out seven. 

Against Greensboro, Emory held a 4-1 lead after five innings but saw the Pride score four times in the sixth and twice in the seventh with three Eagle errors leading to five unearned runs. 

Greensboro jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but Emory roared back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run double by sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald being the key blow in the inning. Fitzgerald finished the game with two hits.  Emory added another run in the fourth when sophomore Cassie Walsh tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Andersen. 

Emory returns to action on Saturday, Mar. 29, when it entertains Piedmont College in a doubleheader.

EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS NO. 2 LYNCHBURG

(Mar. 21) - Emory junior Carey Smith-Marchi's dramatic two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning snapped a 1-1 tie and propelled the Eagles to a 2-1 win over No. 2-ranked Lynchburg at the Greensboro College Invitational Friday afternoon.  The win was Emory's second of the day and raised its record to 14-6 while the Hornets slipped to 16-3.

Emory junior pitched Shanon Andersen tossed another gem in boosting her record to 9-2, allowing just three hits and striking out 12 batters.  Lynchburg entered the game hitting .335 with 14 homers to its credit.

The Hornets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Elizabeth Perkins singled home Brittany Allsop.  Emory knotted the contest in the bottom of the fourth after Andersen singled and eventually scored on a fielder's choice by Alyson Moler.

Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald led off the Eagles' half of the seventh with her second hit of the game and advanced to second following a sacrifice bunt by Moler.  After an Emory out, Smith-Marchi came through with her game-winning RBI.

Emory faces Lynchburg on Saturday at 10:00 am before taking on Greensboro at noon.  

EMORY SOFTBALL EARNS 3-0 WIN OVER GREENSBORO

(Mar. 21) - Emory sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald registered two hits and knocked in all three of the Eagles' runs and junior Shanon Andersen tossed a masterful two-hit shutout as Emory claimed a 3-0 win over Greensboro College in the opening game of the Greensboro Invitational.  The win upped Emory's overall record to 13-6 while Greensboro slipped to 9-8-2.

Emory scored its first run in the opening inning after the first two batters were retired.  Andersen drew a walk and then advanced to second base following a single by junior Kim Bandy.  Fitzgerald then singled, scoring Andersen.  Neither team scored again until the top of the seventh when Fitzgerald delivered a clutch two-out double that scored Bandy and Andersen.

Andersen raised her season record to 8-2 after fanning 12 batters, her sixth performance of double figures in that category. She held the Pride hitless for 4 1/3 innings before giving up a hit.

Emory continues play in the Invitational with a game against No. 3-ranked Lynchburg on Friday afternoon.

EMORY SOFTBALL FALLS POSTS WIN OVER COLORADO COLLEGE

(Mar. 19) - The Emory softball team pounded out 11 hits and pitchers Kathy Gordon and Shanon Andersen combined for a three-hit shutout as the Eagles posted a 4-0 win over Colorado College on Wednesday afternoon.  The win boosted Emory's overall record to 12-6.

Sophomore Cassie Walsh came through with three hits and scored one run while junior catcher Rachel Blume picked up two hits, including her second homer of the year, to pace Eagles' offensive attack. 

Emory scored a pair of runs in its half of the third inning when junior Kim Bandy's two-run single scored Walsh and freshman Nikki Perez.  After Blume's round tripper in the fourth increased Emory's lead to 3-0, the Eagles tallied their final run in the sixth when Perez's one-out single enabled Alyson Moler to cross the plate.

Gordon drew the start on the mound and earned her third win of the campaign in four decisions after turning in a solid five-inning stint, allowing just three hits and striking out eight.  Andersen came on in relief and tossed the final two frames, fanning three. Erica VanHoosen was the losing pitcher for the Tigers, surrendering all four runs and 11 hits while striking out two.

Emory returns to action this Friday and Saturday (Mar. 21-22) when it takes part in the Greensboro College Invitational.

EMORY SOFTBALL SQUAD HOSTS COLORADO COLLEGE

(Mar. 17) - The Emory softball team returns home for a doubleheader against Colorado College on Wednesday (Mar. 19).  Action at Cooper Field begins at 1:30 p.m.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Wednesday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 295-99.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Colorado College is directed by second-year Head Coach Tina Johnson (SIU-Edwardsville, '90).  Prior to her current appointment, Johnson served as the head coach at Lake Forest College where she posted a 77-43-1 won-lost ledger.

RECORDS - The Eagles start the week with an overall record of 11-6 and posted a 3-5 mark at the UAA Tournament last weekend, tying it for third place.  Colorado College stands 2-16 overall heading into a Tuesday twinbill at Huntingdon College.

SERIES RECORDS - Wednesday's meeting between Emory and Colorado College will mark the first-ever meeting in softball between the schools.

EMORY NOTES - Despite its 3-5 record at the UAA Tournament, the Eagles displayed some pop in their bats, compiling a .308 batting average compared to .229 for the opposition.  Emory finished with a 43-28 edge in runs scored and hit six homers compared to a pair for its foes. 

Junior Amanda Kerns and Kim Bandy hit .471 and .455, respectively, while sophomore Cassie Walsh fashioned a solid .379 mark.

BANDY CLIMBS EMORY CAREER CHARTS - Kim Bandy socked a pair of home runs during the UAA Tournament, boosting her career total to seven which places her in  a deadlock with Mary Nicol (2002-05) for the No. 6 position on the school's all-time chart.  In addition, Bandy chalked up a team-high five RBIs, giving her a team-high 14 on the year.  Career-wise, she owns 84 RBIs and is tied for seventh all-time at Emory in that department.

EMORY NOTES - Senior pitcher Kathy Gordon picked up two of the team's three wins at the UAA Tournament, tossing a total of 19 innings and compiling an ERA of 1.42.  She fanned 20 batters and now owns 411 career strikeouts which is No. 1 on the school's all-time list ...  Sophomore Carey Smith-Marchi recorded a career-high three RBIs in the first game against Rochester in the UAA Tournament ... Cassie Walsh turned in four multiple-hit performances during the UAA Tournament and now has eight on the year ... Walsh was successful on three base-stealing attempts and is 9-for-9 this season ... Junior Shanon Andersen fanned 11 batters in the team's 8-0 win over Brandeis, her fifth outing of double-digit strikeouts this year ... Emory has out-hit the opposition in 13 games this year and stands 11-2 in those games ...  The Eagles show an 8-2 mark in games when they have scored first ... Emory has totaled eight games of 10 or more hits compared to one for the opposition ... Freshman Nicole Perez will take a four-game hitting streak into the Colorado College doubleheader on Wednesday.

EMORY SOFTBALL CLOSES OUT UAA TOURNAMENT WITH LOSS TO CASE WESTERN

(Mar. 15) - The Emory University softball team concluded the University Athletic Association Tournament on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to Case Western Reserve University.  The loss dropped Emory's overall record to 11-6, 3-5 in UAA contests, while CWRU boosted its overall slate to 7-9, 1-7 in the league.

The Eagles were held to just three hits and scored their lone run in the bottom of the first when sophomore Cassie Walsh scored on a wild pitch. Walsh, along with freshman Nikki Perez and junior Kim Bandy, accounted Emory's hit total.  Case snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning when a one-out single by Lauren Hartman drove in Angel Rice. 

The Spartans' Ruth Sagaratz tossed a complete game in picking up the victory, striking out seven while walking four.  Emory sophomore Marion Holland started the contest and went 5 1/3 innings, giving up both Case runs and seven hits.  Senior Kathy Gordon came on in relief and went the final 1 2/3 innings, fanning a pair and not allowing any hits.

Emory returns to action on Wednesday (Mar. 19) when it hosts Colorado College in a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m.

EMORY SOFTBALL FALLS VICTIM TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY RALLY

(Mar. 15) - The Emory softball team saw Washington University score seven runs in the sixth inning, six of which were unearned, as the Bears rallied for an 8-6 win Saturday morning at the University Athletic Association Tournament.  The loss dropped Emory's record to 11-5, 3-4 in UAA games, while Washington University boosted its mark to 15-2, 7-0 in league contests.  The win also clinched the Bears' fifth straight UAA title.

Freshman shortstop Nicole Perez picked up two hits and two RBIs and junior third baseman Kim Bandy contributed two safeties and one RBI to pace the Emory attack. The Eagles posted 10 hits in the contest while Washington Univ., totaled 11.

Emory jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning as junior catcher Rachel Blume knocked in junior Kim Bandy while Perez came through with a two-run. The Eagles added another run the following frame when Bandy homered.

The Eagles stretched their lead to 6-1 in the top of the sixth when junior Amanda Kerns led off with a double and eventually scored on a double by junior Alyson Moler.

Emory senior Kathy Gordon suffered the loss. 

EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS PAIR OF UAA TOURNAMENT GAMES

(Mar. 14) - The Emory softball team split two games at the University Athletic Association Tournament on Friday, posting an 8-0 win over Brandeis University before dropping a 7-1 decision to the University of Rochester.  The split leaves the No. 8-ranked Eagles' overall record at 11-4, 3-3 in the UAA.  The conference tournament is being played in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

In the opener, junior Shanon Andersen was a force on the mound and at the plate for Emory, going the distance and allowing just one hit while fanning 11.  On the offensive front, she was one three Eagles to finish with two hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs.  Sophomore Cassie Walsh and junior Amanda Kerns contributed a pair of safeties with Walsh scoring two runs and Kerns one.

The Eagles scored runs in five innings including three in the first frame when sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald, junior Kim Bandy and Andersen all came through with RBIs. Emory scored single runs in the second, third and sixth innings, before Andersen's two-run blast in the seventh.

It was a different story in the afternoon as the Yellowjackets of Rochester roughed up Emory with three first-inning runs.  The Eagles' lone run came in the fifth when Walsh scored from third base on a wild pitch.  Rochester pitcher Beth Ameno pitched the entire game and surrendered just three hits in earning the win. Sophomore Marion Holland started the game for Emory and was the losing pitcher.

The Eagles close out UAA Tournament play on Saturday with games against Washington University (10:00 am) and Case Western (12:30 p.m.).

EMORY SOFTBALL POUNDS OUT 9-0 WIN OVER CASE WESTERN

(Mar. 13) - Emory sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh picked up three hits and junior Kim Bandy and freshman Zara Louy each chipped in two hits and two RBIs as the No. 8-ranked Eagles recorded a 9-0 win in five innings against Case Western Reserve University at the University Athletic Association Tournament.   The win upped Emory's overall record to 10-3, 2-2 in the UAA.  The conference tournament is being played in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Emory junior pitcher Kathy Gordon notched her second win in the tourney, tossing all five innings and allowing just two hits while fanning eight. It was the third time this season that the Eagles had blanked an opponent.

Emory scored all the runs it would need in its half of the first inning when it pushed a pair across the plate with junior Alyson Moler and Bandy registering RBIs.  The Eagles added two more runs in the fourth.  Louy doubled with one out and eventually scored on a wild pitch while Walsh's two-out single scored senior Cassi Witcher.  Emory blew the game wide open with a five-run fifth inning that was keyed by a two-run homer by Witcher and a two-run double by Louy.

Emory will play two games on Friday (Mar. 14) beginning with a 10:00 a.m. game against Brandeis and ending with a 12:30 p.m. bout against the University of Rochester.

EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS ONE-RUN DECISION TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

(Mar. 12) - The No. 8-ranked Emory softball team closed out the second day of University Athletic Association Tournament play on Wednesday with a 4-3, eight-inning loss to Washington University.  The setback dropped the Eagles' record to 9-3 overall (1-2 in UAA) while the Bears boosted their record to 11-2, 3-0 in the league.  The conference tournament is being played in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Washington senior Karli Stander scored on a ground out in the top of the eighth inning, snapping a 3-3 deadlock.  Emory threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases after two were out.  However, the Eagles were not able to push home a run and were handed their second loss of the day.

After falling behind, 1-0, in the first inning, Emory tied the game in the bottom of the second when junior Kim Bandy hit a home run to center field, her first round tripper of the season.  Bandy accounted for two of the team's five hits in the game.  The Bears went ahead by a 3-1 margin in the top of the fourth following an RBI single by Stander, but the Eagles cut the deficit in half in their half of the inning when sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald came through with her first homer of the season.  Emory forced extra innings when junior Elizabeth White delivered a pinch-hit RBI single that scored Alyson Moler.

Freshman pitcher Claire Voris earned the win for Washington, going the distance and striking out five.  Sophomore Marion Holland, the third of three Eagle hurlers, suffered the loss after tossing two innings. 

Emory continues action in the UAA Tournament on Thursday against Case Western in a 10:00 a.m. start.

EMORY SOFTBALL RALLY FALLS SHORT vs. ROCHESTER

(Mar. 12) - The No. 8-ranked Emory softball team tried to rally from a 6-0 deficit but fell short in its attempt as the Eagles came out on the short end of a 6-4 decision to the University of Rochester Wednesday morning at the University Athletic Association Tournament.  The loss dropped the Eagles' record to 9-2 overall (1-1 in UAA) while the Yellowjackets boosted their record to 5-4, 2-1 in the conference.  The conference tournament is being played in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Rochester put five runs up in the third inning, scoring three unearned runs after two were out.  Aiding the Yellowjackets' cause were four Emory wild pitches that allowed three Rochester runs to cross the plate.  Rochester pushed another run across in the fourth courtesy of another wild pitch.

The Eagles battled back in the top of the fifth inning when junior Carey Smith-Marchi blasted a three-run homer that scored Kim Bandy and Rachel Blume.  It was Smith-Marchi's first four-bagger of the season and second of her career.  She finished the game going two-for-three at the plate. 

Emory continued the comeback in the top of the seventh when sophomore Cassie Walsh and junior Amanda Kerns came through with two-out singles.  Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald knocked in Walsh from second with a single that sent Kerns to third base.  However, Emory could not continue the rally.

Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen came on in relief of starter Ashley Tobar and was saddled with the loss, giving up four runs, one of which was earned, and two hits in 1 2/3 innings of work.  Sophomore Marion Holland tossed the final two frames and helped keep Emory in the contest by allowing just one hit and striking out one.

Emory continues action in the UAA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon with a game against Washington University that is slated to start at 12:30 p.m.  

EMORY SOFTBALL RACES BY BRANDEIS IN UAA OPENER

(Mar. 10) - Emory junior left fielder Amanda Kerns picked up three hits and a pair of RBIs in and the Eagles blasted out a season-high tying 13 safeties Tuesday afternoon in a five-inning, 11-1 win over Brandeis in the University Athletic Association Tournament.  The win boosted Emory's overall record to 9-1 (1-0 UAA) while the Judges slipped to 3-1 overall (1-1 UAA).  The conference tournament is being played in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

The Eagles of Head Coach Penny Siqueiros, ranked No. 8 in the nation, scored nine runs in the first inning, sending 13 batters to the plate while totaling eight hits. Kerns and sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh each picked up two hits in the frame with Kerns knocking in a pair of runs and Walsh scoring twice while recording an RBI.  The Eagles crossed the plate two more times in its half of the third inning with sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald and junior Alyson Moler knocking in runs. Seven Emory players came through with base hits and five enjoyed multiple-hit days. The Eagles now have five games with 10 or more hits this year.

Senior pitcher Kathy Gordon picked up her first win of the campaign, tossing all five innings and allowing just hits while striking out five.

Emory continues action in the UAA Tournament on Wednesday with contests against Rochester (10:00 am) and Washington University (12:30 p.m.).

 EMORY SOFTBALL SQUAD EYES UAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

(Mar. 8) - UAA TOURNEY FACTS - The Emory softball team, ranked No. 8 in the nation, heads to Altamonte Springs, Florida, to compete in the University Athletic Association Softball Tournament.  The UAA Tournament will run Tuesday through Saturday (Mar. 11-15)   and be held at the Seminole County Softball Complex. The Eagles are one of five schools vying the crown and will begin play on Tuesday with a contest against Brandeis University starting at 12:30 p.m.  

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering the UAA Tournament, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 292-94.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she directed the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship. In UAA Tournament action, Siqueiros has posted a 59-18 ledger.

Brandeis is directed by second-year Head Coach Jessica Johnson (Wheaton College, '98).  In 2007, Johnson directed the Judges to a 23-21 record, the second-winningest season in school history.  Prior to her appointment in September of 2006, Johnson had served as head coach at Mount Ida College in 2005 and 2006.  

Jennie Amodio (Ohio University, '94) is in her ninth season leading the Case Western program. In 2007, Amodio guided the Spartans to an overall slate of 19-17.

Leticia Pineda-Boutte (Arizona, '98) is in her third season as the head coach at Washington University.  Through games played Mar. 7, she had posted a school record of 76-16 and claimed a four-year career mark of 97-42. 

 The University of Rochester is led by third-year Head Coach Michelle Burrell (Maryland, '01).  Through games played Mar. 7, Burrell had manufactured a school and career record of 53-28. 

RECORDS - The Eagles enter the UAA Tournament with a record of 8-1. In the Eagles' most recent outing, they swept a doubleheader at Maryville College on March 1 by 4-2 and 8-0 scores.

Brandeis will make its season debut on Sunday (Mar. 9) when it takes on New England College in a doubleheader.  

Before competing at the UAA Tournament, University of Rochester (1-2) will battle The College of New Jersey in a doubleheader in Clermont, Fla., before meeting Ripon College on Sunday (Mar. 9) in a single game.

Washington University stands 4-2 heading into Mar. 8 games against Rhode Island College and Emerson College at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.  The Bears opened play in the Rebel Spring Games on Mar. 7 with 7-6 and 17-4 wins over Methodist University and Muhlenberg University, respectively.

Case Western currently stands 2-2 and will play Northwestern College on March 8 and Penn State University-Beaver on Mar. 9 before competing in the UAA Tournament.  

EMORY OFFENSE CLICKING  - The Eagles have been swinging hot bats during the early portion of the schedule, batting at a .362 clip while averaging 5.4 runs per game.  Emory has totaled 10 or more hits on four occasions while opponents have not turned in a contest of double-digit safeties.

WHO'S HOT - Junior Shanon Andersen has been a mainstay both on the mound and in the batter's box for Emory.  Andersen has hurled a total of 50 2/3 innings this season and struck out 62 batters en route to an ERA of 1.60 and won-lost mark of 6-1. Andersen has fanned 10 or more opposing batters four times. At the plate, she has chalked up an average of .350 with seven hits in 20 at-bats. 

Junior Alyson Moler has been a productive force, checking in with a .417 average with a team-high tying 10 hits in 24 trips to the plate. Moler has hits in seven outings and three contests of two hits.  She leads the team in runs scored with seven.

Sophomore Cassie Walsh, hitting .345, also has 10 hits to her credit and has been successful on all six of her stolen base attempts.  Career-wise, Walsh is 16-of-16 in base stealing opportunities.

Senior Ashley Tobar, slowed earlier this season with an injury, came through with an impressive outing in a 4-2 win over Maryville College.  Tobar allowed six hits to the Scots while striking out 10 in raising her season record to 2-0.  Heading into UAA action, Tobar stands fourth all-time at Emory in wins (35) and strikeouts (294).

2008 UAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 11
Case Western Reserve University at Brandeis University  - 10:00 a.m.
Washington University at University of Rochester - 10:00 a.m.

Brandeis University at Emory -- 12:30 p.m.
University of Rochester at Case Western Reserve University -- 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12
Emory at University of Rochester -- 10:00 a.m.
Case Western Reserve University at Washington University -- 10:00 a.m.

University of Rochester at Brandeis University -- 12:30 p.m.
Washington University at Emory  -- 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 13
Brandeis University at Washington University  -- 10:00 a.m.
Emory at Case Western Reserve University  -- 10:00 a.m.

University of Rochester at Washington University -- 12:30 p.m.
Brandeis University at Case Western Reserve University  -- 12:30 p.m.

Friday, March 14
Emory at Brandeis University -- 10:00 a.m.
Case Western Reserve University at University of Rochester  -- 10:00 a.m.

University of Rochester at Emory -- 12:30 p.m.
Washington University at  Case Western Reserve University  -- 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15
Emory at Washington University -- 10:00 a.m.
Brandeis University at University of Rochester  -- 10:00 a.m.

Case Western Reserve University at Emory University -- 12:30 p.m.
Washington University at Brandeis University  -- 12:30 p.m.

FITZGERALD NAMED UAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

(Mar. 5 ) - Emory sophomore second baseman Caitlin Fitzgerald (Warren, NJ) has been named by the University Athletic Association as Softball Player of the Week following her performances in helping the squad to a 4-0 week.  It marks the first time in her career that she has garnered the honor. 

Fitzgerald batted .545 (6-of-11) and recorded three RBIs in helping the No. 13-ranked Eagles raise their season mark to 8-1.  In a 6-3 win against Adrian College in the first game of a doubleheader on Feb. 28, she went two-for-four with an RBI double.  In the finale, she rapped out two safeties in three trips to the plate as Emory posted an 8-0 win.  This past weekend, she picked up a hit and a RBI in each contest of a twinbill against Maryville College.  Fitzgerald knocked in the insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as the team rallied for a 4-2 win.  In the nightcap, her run-producing single in the first inning proved to the deciding RBI in an 8-0 win.

So far this year, Fitzgerald has started all nine Emory games and is batting .360 with nine hits in 25 plate appearances.  She is tied for second on the squad in runs scored (6) and is tied for third in RBIs (5).

Emory returns to action on  Tuesday, March 11, when it plays Brandeis University in the UAA Tournament.

EMORY SOFTBALL TAKES TWO FROM MARYVILLE

(Mar. 1 )- The No. 13-ranked Emory softball team played its first road games of the season and recorded a doubleheader sweep over Maryville College. The Eagles rallied for a 4-2 opening-game win before posting an 8-0, five-innning triumph in the nightcap. The two victories boosted the Eagles' mark to 8-1.

In the first game, junior Amanda Kerns tied the game with a two-run double in the seventh inning while sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald snapped the tie with a RBI single as the Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Senior Ashley Tobar picked up her second win of the season, tossing a complete game and striking out 10 batters. After giving up three hits in the first frame, Tobar surrendered just three more hits over the next six innings and retired the last even batters she faced. Junior Alyson Moler and sophomore Cassie Walsh each recorded a pair of safeties to lead a nine-hit attack. After seeing Maryville jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning, Emory cut the deficit in half thanks to a two-out single by junior Carey Smith-Marchi that scored Kim Bandy from second base.

In the nightcap, sophomore Jenna Lamoreaux highlighted a 12-hit explosion by going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs to spearhead the win. Lamoreaux came through with a two-run single that helped generate a four-run fourth inning which allowed Emory to take a commanding 5-0 lead. The Eagles added three more runs in their half of the fifth inning with junior pitcher Shanon Andersen, catcher Rachel Blume and Lamoreaux also registering RBIs. Andersen picked up the win on the mound, allowing two hits while strking out 10, her fourth outing of double figures in that department this season.

The Eagles return to action on Tuesday, March 11, when the play Brandeis University at the University Athletic Association Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

EMORY SOFTBALL TAKES BOTH GAMES OF A DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST ADRIAN COLLEGE

(Feb. 28) - The Emory University softball team rapped out a total of 19 hits this afternoon as the Eagles recorded a sweep of a doubleheader against Adrian College.  Emory posted a 6-3 win in the opener before claiming a five-inning, 8-0 win in the finale.  The two victories boosted the No. 13 Eagles' record to 6-1 while Adrian slipped to 2-5.

Freshman catcher Zara Louy sparked Emory's attack in the first game by going 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI in helping the Eagles rally from an early deficit.  Adrian got out of the blocks quickly and put up three runs in the top of the first inning as Meghan Stevens, Kristen Toney and Carly Toth picked up RBIs. Emory scored single runs in both the first and second innings with sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald and Louy picking up run producing doubles. The Eagles then tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error by the Bulldogs' center fielder allowed junior Alyson Moler to score. Louy helped fuel a three-run uprising in the bottom of the sixth after she led off the frame by tripling to right field. She eventually broke the tie by scoring on a wild pitch. Juniors Kim Bandy and Shanon Andersen added insurance with RBI singles.  Andersen earned her fifth win in six decisions after coming on in relief to toss 3 2/3 innings of hitless ball while striking out three batters.

In the second game, Fitzgerald, Moler and junior catcher Rachel Blume each came up with two hits while Bandy and Blume chipped in a pair of RBIs to spearhead the Emory effort. The Eagles scored what proved the be the winning run in the second inning when Bandy's two-bagger drove in Fitzgerald who opened the frame with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Emory added a pair of runs in the fourth when junior Carey Smith-Marchi scored from third following an error by the Adrian pitcher,  and a single by senior Cassi Witcher knocked in Moler.  The Eagles closed out the game with five runs in the fifth inning with Blume delivering the big blow, a two-run double.  Senior pitcher Ashley Tobar, making her first start of the season, got the win after hurling three innings and allowing two hits while striking out one.  Andersen tossed the final two frames, fanning three and not surrendering a hit.

Emory returns to action on Saturday (Mar. 1) when it plays a doubleheader at Maryville College.

EMORY SOFTBALL TEAM BATTLES ADRIAN AT HOME BEFORE DOUBLE DIP AT MARYVILLE

(Feb. 27) - GAME FACTS - The Emory University softball team continues the early stages of its season this week when it plays one doubleheader at home and another on the road.  On Thursday (Feb. 28), the Eagles will host the Bulldogs of Adrian College starting at 1:00 p.m. before venturing to Maryville College on Saturday (Mar. 1) in a 1:00 p.m. start.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Thursday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 288-94.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she guided the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Kristina Shweikert (Tiffin Univ., '06) is in her first season at the helm of the Adrian program.  Prior to her appointment in October of 2007, Schweikert served as an assistant coach at Siena Heights University.  She enjoyed a fine career as a player at Tiffin University where she garnered First Team NAIA All-America honors.

In his seventh season as head coach at Maryville is Danny Fish (Tennessee Wesleyan, '01). During his stint with the Lady Scots, he has compiled a school and career record of 121-84. He was named the Great South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2007.

RECORDS - Emory, ranked 13th in the nation in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Preseason Poll, hosts Adrian with an overall record of 4-1.  In their most recent outing, the Eagles split a home doubleheader against No. 8-ranked DePauw last weekend, winning the opener by a 4-2 margin before coming out on the short end of a 2-1, eight-inning decision in the finale.

Adrian, a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, invades Cooper Field with a 2-3 won-lost ledger.  The Bulldogs are in the midst of a Southern swing that will continue with a twinbill at Faulkner on Friday.  Adrian is coming of a pair of losses to Reinhardt College on Tuesday, 12-4 and 7-0.

Maryville will entertain Emory with a 2-3 record. Saturday's contests against the Eagles will be the Lady Scots' first action since the Emory Invitational (Feb. 16-17) where they lost games to Greensboro, 8-5, Wesleyan, 4-2, and Emory, 7-4. 

SERIES RECORD --  Thursday's meeting against Adrian will mark the first time the schools have met in softball.

Emory holds a 21-3 advantage in the all-time series with Maryville.  In games played at the Lady Scots' home field, the Eagles post an 8-1 record against Maryville.

ANDERSEN CONTINUES SOLID PLAY - Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen turned in a pair of solid efforts on the mound against the No. 8-ranked Tigers of DePauw, tossing a total of 15 innings in a pair of complete-game performances.  In the team's 4-2 win, Andersen struck out five and surrendered nine hits.  Shanon then went the distance in the 2-1 eight-inning setback, allowing just three hits and fanning eight.

Andersen has figured in every Emory decision this year, posting a 4-1 record.  In 40 innings of work, she has compiled an ERA of 2.03, whiffed 46 opposing batters and allowed just 29 hits. She has also displayed some pop in her bat with a .357 batting average that includes 4 RBIs. 

WALSH OFF TO A GOOD START - After being tabbed as the 2007 UAA Rookie of the Year, sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh has gotten off to a fine start this season.  Heading into Thursday's action against Adrian, Walsh ranks as the squad's leading hitter with a .412 average, with seven hits in 17 plate appearances.  Walsh has hits in four of the team's five outings including three performances of two safeties.  In addition, she has been successful on all five of her stolen base attempts.

EMORY SOFTBALL EDGED BY DePAUW IN DOUBLEHEADER  FINALE

(Feb. 23) - Emory junior pitcher Shanon Andersen tossed her fifth complete game in as many starts, striking out eight batters and allowing just three hits, but it wasn't enough as No. 8-ranked DePauw University scored a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning and made those hold up in a 2-1 triumph over the No. 13 Eagles in the second game of a doubleheader.  The win evened DePauw's record at 1-1 while Emory slipped to 4-1.

Andersen and her counterpart, sophomore Megan Soultz, waged a pitching duel that stretched into extra innings.  Andersen held DePauw hitless through the first seven frames while Soultz managed to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.  In the eighth inning, DePauw's first hit of the game, a single by Rachel Gill, scored Lauren Rees who was placed on second base.  Gill eventually came around to score following a hit by sophomore Kaitlyn Davitt.

Emory fought back to narrow the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Andersen's two-out single scored Caitlin Fitzgerald from third base and kept the home team's hopes for a rally alive.  However, Soultz retired the ensuing batter on a foul fly to the left fielder in sealing the win.  Soultz finished the game surrendering five hits, striking out two and walking three batters.

Emory returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 28) with a home doubleheader against Adrian College starting at 1:00 p.m.

EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS NO. 8-RANKED DePAUW IN OPENING GAME OF TWINBILL

(Feb. 23) -- Emory junior Alyson Moler picked up two hits and a pair of RBIs in helping the No. 13-ranked Eagles to a 4-2 win over No. 8 DePauw Saturday afternoon in an opening game of a doubleheader.  The win raised Emory's record to 4-0 while DePauw dropped its season opener.

Junior third baseman Kim Bandy rapped out three hits and sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh added a pair of safeties as Emory finished the game with 10 hits.  Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen tossed her fourth straight complete game and raised her record to 4-0 after allowing nine hits while striking out five.

Emory held a 1-0 lead before a three-run third inning distanced itself from the Tigers. With one out and the bases loaded, the Eagles pushed across the first run of the frame when junior catcher Rachel Blume was hit by a pitch, enabling Caitlin Fitzgerald to After an Emory pop out,  Moler singled, scoring Bandy and Walsh.

DePauw broke up Andersen's shutout bid in the fifth inning and threatened in the seventh, picking up another run and loading the bases.  However, Andersen got the Tigers' Ashlee Anton to fly out to end the game.

EMORY SOFTBALL SQUAD HOSTS NATIONALLY RANKED DePAUW UNIVERSITY

GAME FACTS - The Emory University softball team faces an early-season challenge on Saturday (Feb. 23) when it hosts nationally ranked DePauw University in a doubleheader.  Action at Cooper Field will begin at noon.

THE COACHES - Emory is led by tenth-year Head Coach Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).  Entering Saturday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career record of 287-93.  During her tenure at Emory, she has guided the program to six NCAA Tournaments and seven seasons of 30 or more wins.  Last year, she guided the Eagles to a 33-8 mark and the school's third appearance to the NCAA Championship.

Bonnie Skrenta (Providence, '00) begins her sixth season at the helm of the Tigers' program.  During her stint at DePauw, she has guided the program to a 107-82-1 won-lost mark including a 68-17 effort over the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

RECORDS - Emory, ranked 13th in the nation in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Preseason Poll, hosts DePauw with an overall record of 3-0.  The Eagles opened their season last Friday (Feb. 15) with a 7-1 win over Greensboro College before earning a pair of wins in the Emory Invitational, 4-3 against Greensboro and 7-4 over Maryville College.  The Eagles' final game of the Invitational against Wesleyan was suspended and will be resumed on April 15 in Macon.

DePauw, ranked No. 8 in the nation by the NFCA, will be making its 2008 season debut on Saturday.  The Tigers are coming off a successful 2007 campaign that saw them finish with 37-7 record that established a school seasonal record for victories.  In addition, DePauw was one eight of teams that advanced to the Division III Championship.

SERIES RECORD --  Saturday's meeting between Emory and DePauw will mark the first time the schools have met on the softball field.

ANDERSEN HAS MEMORABLE DEBUT - Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen turned in an outstanding Emory debut over the weekend, tossing three complete games and coming through with some clutch hits in helping the Eagles to a 3-0 mark.   Andersen struck out 33 batters while surrendering six earned runs in 25 innings worth of work. She tossed a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts and a walk in a 7-1 season-opening triumph over Greensboro College.  In the opening game of the Emory University Invitational, Shanon gave up an earned run and two hits while fanning 12 batters in a 4-3 win over Greensboro in 11 innings.  The following day, she struck out 11 batters while batting      3-for-3 at the plate with a run batted in during a 7-4 victory over Maryville College (TN).  Andersen finished with a .444 batting average (four of nine) for the week.

BLUME HOMER MOVES HER UP EMORY CAREER CHART - Junior catcher Rachel Blume's two-run homer in the season-opening 7-1 win over Greensboro College was her seventh career four-bagger and moved her into a sixth-place tie on the school's all-time list with Mary Nicol (2002-05).

EMORY'S SHANON ANDERSEN NAMED UAA SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

(Feb. 20) - Emory junior pitcher Shanon Andersen (Sahuarita, AZ) has been named by the University Athletic Association as Softball Player of the Week following her performances in helping the squad to three victories. 

Andersen struck out 33 batters while surrendering six earned runs in tossing three complete-game victories for the Eagles on the opening weekend of the 2008 season. 

Andersen tossed a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts and a walk in a 7-1 season-opening triumph over Greensboro College last Friday (Feb. 15).  In the opening game of the Emory University Invitational, she gave up an earned run and two hits while fanning 12 batters in a 4-3 win over Greensboro in 11 innings.  The following day, she struck out 11 batters while going 3-for-3 at the plate with a run batted in during a 7-4 victory over Maryville College (TN).  Andersen finished with a .444 batting average (four of nine) for the week.

Emory, ranked 13th in the nation, hosts DePauw University on Saturday (Feb. 23) starting at noon.

EMORY SOFTBALL RALLIES FOR WIN AGAINST MARYVILLE --  GAME vs. WESLEYAN SUSPENDED

(Feb. 17) -- Emory junior Kim Bandy picked up three hits and came through with a two-run double in the sixth inning that sparked the Eagles to a come-from-behind 7-4 win over Maryville College in the Emory Invitational on Sunday.  The Eagles' game against Wesleyan was suspended due to rain and will be resumed on Apr. 15 when the squads meet in Macon.  The contest will pick up with Emory holding an 11-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen went the distance on the mound for Emory and raised her record to 3-0 after fanning 11 Maryville batters while giving up eight hits. Andersen also chipped in three hits and knocked in a run in the win.  Andersen has pitched all 25 innings for the Eagles this year and has struck out 33 batters.

Emory fell behind by a 3-0 score before tying the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs following an error by the Lady Scots' shortstop and the tying run on a single off the bat of sophomore Jenna Lamoreaux.

Maryville reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Katie Beckham, who led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third following a wild pitch, scored when Andersen was charged with a balk.

Emory then tied the game in its half of the sixth when junior Amanda Kerns led off the frame with a single and eventually scored following an error by a Maryville outfielder.  With Caitlin Fitzgerald and Lamoreaux on base, Bandy delivered her two-bagger giving the Eagles the lead for good. Bandy would score following a single by Andersen.

Andersen then got the Maryville side out in order in the seventh to nail down the victory.

Emory, 3-0 on the year, returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 23, when it hosts DePauw University in a doubleheader starting at noon.

EMORY SOFTBALL EARNS DRAMATIC WIN OVER GREENSBORO

(Feb. 16) -- Emory sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald's second hit of the game, a two-out single in the 11th inning, scored Carey Smith-Marchi and gave the Eagles a hard fought 4-3 opening-round win over Greensboro College Saturday afternoon in the Emory Invitational.  The win upped Emory's overall record to 2-0 while Greensboro slipped to 1-2.

Junior pitcher Shanon Andersen turned in her second straight solid effort for Emory, tossing all 11 innings and striking out 12 while allowing just two hits in raising her record to 2-0.

Emory scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning when Fitzgerald led off with a double and eventually scored on a Kim Bandy single.  The Eagles added to their advantage with a pair of unearned runs in their half of the fifth inning.

The Pride stormed back to tie the game in their half of the sixth inning capitalizing on a pair of Emory fielding miscues with their lone hit of the frame a double off the bat of Britney Smith.

Emory had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth when it loaded the bases with nobody out, but it could not push the winning run as a pair of pop-outs and a fielder's choice stymied the chance to win the game at that time.

Emory closes out action at the Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 17) when it battles Maryville at 10:00 a.m. and Wesleyan College at 2:00 p.m.

2008 EMORY INVITATIONAL SCOREBARD

Saturday, Feb. 16
10:00 am -- Greensboro College 8, Maryville 5 (9 innings)
Noon -- Emory 4, Greensboro 3 (11 innings)


Sunday, Feb. 17
9:00 a.m. -- Wesleyan 4, Maryville 2**
10:00 a.m. -- Emory 7, Maryville 4
Noon -- Greensboro 15, Wesleyan 2 (5 inn.)
2:00 p.m. -- Emory vs. Wesleyan -- suspended

** Resumed from Saturday

EMORY SOFTBALL OPENS 2008 CAMPAIGN WITH WIN OVER GREENSBORO COLLEGE

(Feb. 15) - Emory University junior catcher Rachel Blume rapped out a pair of hits and four RBIs while pitcher Shanon Andersen was impressive in tossing a complete game in leading the Eagles to a season-opening 7-1 win over Greensboro College on Friday.

Blume's two-out, two-run double was a key blow in a five-run third inning that jump-started Emory's offensive attack.  Blume drove in her third and fourth runs of the game in the fifth inning when she socked a two-run homer that scored Alyson Moler.

Sophomore center fielder Cassie Walsh and freshman shortstop Nikki Perez each chipped in two hits as the Eagles finished the game with nine safeties. 

Andersen made her Emory debut on the mound a memorable one as she fanned 10 Greensboro batters while allowing just six hits.  Andersen also helped her cause at the plate by delivering a double that scored a pair of runs.

The Eagles return to action on Saturday when they host the first day of the Emory Invitational.  Emory will battle Greensboro at noon in its lone action of the day before playing a pair of contests on Sunday.

EMORY SOFTBALL OPENS 2008 CAMPAIGN

(Feb. 14) -- The Emory University softball team opens its 2008 campaign this weekend with a single game against Greensboro College on Friday (Feb. 15) starting at 3:00 p.m., before hosting the Emory Invitational this Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 16-17).  Joining the Eagles in the Invitational will be Maryville College, Wesleyan College and Greensboro.  Maryville and Greensboro get things started on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., and will be followed by Emory against Greensboro at noon.  Wesleyan and Maryville close out the first day of action beginning at 2:00 p.m.  On Sunday, Emory and Maryville battle at 10:00 a.m. with Wesleyan vs. Greensboro slated to go at noon.  The Eagles close out the Invitational in a 2:00 p.m. contest against Wesleyan.

Emory Head Coach Penny Siqueiros begins her 10th season directing the fortunes of the Eagles' program looking to continue the success of a year ago where she guided the team to an overall record of 33-8, the school's seventh straight season of 30 or more victories.  Along the way, Emory advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championships while concluding the year ranked No. 7 in the nation.

A total of 13 letterwinners return from the 2007 team in hopes of maintaining and improving upon last year's results.  The strength of this year's squad will be the pitching corps that features three veterans along with a highly touted newcomer.

Seniors Ashley Tobar and Kathy Gordon are a formidable 1-2 punch on the mound with the pair combining for 30 victories last season.  Tobar garnered First Team All-University Athletic Association honors last season after compiling a won-lost mark of 14-3 along with an ERA of 1.32 that ranked No. 3 among UAA players and 27th nationally.  Gordon fashioned a 16-5 mark and ended the year No. 3 in the UAA in strike outs with 143, good for the No. 2 spot on the school's seasonal chart.  Her 8.65 strikeouts per game average (per 7 innings) established a school record and tied her for 24th nationally.

Sophomore Marion Holland looks to emerge as a force as turning in some stellar performances last season that included a pressure-packed effort against Lynchburg College in NCAA Tournament play.  Holland finished with a 3-0 record and did not surrender an earned run in 24 innings worth of work.

Boosting the fortunes of the staff will be the addition of junior Shanon Andersen. Andersen played two years at Pima Community College and was a member of the 2006 squad that brought home the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I national championship, earning all-tournament honors in the process.

Heading into the season, the biggest concern will be replacing three-fourths of last season's starting infield including Sarah Morse at third base and Lauren Haag at shortstop.  During their careers, they combined play in 310 games, 300 in a starting capacity.  In addition, a replacement must be found following the departure of second baseman Ali Braverman who hit .466 en route to All-America recognition.

Junior Kim Bandy looks to make a smooth transition to the hot corner from first base following a successful 2007 season that saw her claim first-team berths on both the All-UAA and All-Atlantic Region Teams.  Bandy, a starter in 87 of 88 career contests, paced the Eagles in a number of categories a year ago including runs scored (40), RBIs (35) and slugging percentage (.705).

"Kim is a tough competitor and I believe that she will make a smooth and comfortable transition to third base," Siqueiros said.

Sophomore Jenna Lamoreaux is the leading candidate to claim the starting spot at second base.  Lamoreaux saw spot duty last season but Siqueiros believes that the Sugar Land, Tex., native is ready to step up to the challenge.

"Jenna is extremely competitive and played for a high school team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation," Siqueiros stated.  "She has played in a lot of big games."

Sophomore Caitlin Fitzgerald looks to hold down the shortstop spot while continuing to display her offensive prowess that saw her hit .349 last season and drive home 25 runs as a designated hitter.

Freshman Nikki Perez could make a push for considerable playing time at short or at second base after impressing the coaching staff with her speed and arm strength during fall and spring drills.

At first base, Siqueiros believes that sophomore Carey Smith-Marchi is ready assume the responsibility of a starting role.  Smith-Marchi gained some playing experience last season, drawing 10 starts out of 22 appearances, and looks to build upon that in turning in a big 2008 season.

Junior Elizabeth White, a two-year member of the program, will provide depth at both corners and her versatility will afford Siqueiros the luxury of flexibility when working with the lineup.

Behind the plate, junior Rachel Blume brings a wealth of experience to the position having made 35 starts last season and 74 during her career.  Blume gives the Emory pitchers a solid target and she has some pop in her bat as demonstrated by her four home runs and 34 RBIs.

"Every year I feel that Rachel has gotten better and has adjusted to the level of collegiate competition," Siqueiros said.  "We are excited about her return and look forward to big contributions."Siqueiros is enthusiastic about the potential that freshman Zara Louy has displayed in the preseason and looks for her to challenge for a starting spot at catcher.  The owner of impressive high school credentials, Louy will have the opportunity to make her presence felt.

"Zara has come on strong and showcased herself well," Siqueiros said.  "She has a solid background and could be a strong challenger for a starting spot."

The outfield shapes up well led by sophomore Cassie Walsh who will patrol center field.  Walsh enjoyed a standout first year with the Emory, earning UAA Rookie of the Year honors.  A First Team All-Atlantic Region honoree, Walsh hit a conference leading .484, good for 14th nationally.  A starter in 39 of 41 games, Walsh compiled 19 multi-hit contests and paced the club with 59 safeties.

Senior Cassi Witcher, who saw action in 20 games last season, moves to the outfield after seeing the majority of her time in the infield, while junior Alyson Moler is back after starting 38 of 39 games in 2007, mostly in right field.

Junior Amanda Kerns will provide depth in the outfield after seeing action in 18 games last season.

"The outfield corps we have are fluid with each other," Siqueiros said.  "Anytime you assess outfield play, you deal with balls that are hit in gaps and you want to see how they react when it comes to playing angles and communicating."

EMORY SOFTBALL NAMES CHARLES MILLER ASSISTANT COACH

(Sept. 4) -- Emory University head softball coach Penny Siqueiros has announced that Charles Miller has joined the program as an assistant coach. 

Miller, a resident of Marietta, has made a mark in area softball, having served as manager of the highly successful '92 East Cobb Bullets since 2002.  During that time the Bullets have established themselves as one of the premier softball clubs in the region.  In 2007, the Bullets took home third place in the ASA state competition while finishing among the top 35 squads in the nation.  In 2006, it finished second in the state at the National Softball Association Championship while claiming an ASA Southern National Championship.  During the 2005 season, Miller led the Bullets to an ASA state crown while finishing runner-up in the Independent Softball Association competition.  In addition, East Cobb took home a runner-up spot in the ISA World Series.

"We are excited about Charles joining our staff and look forward to his contributions," Siqueiros said.  "He coaches in one of the most prominent fastpitch summer ball organizations in the Southeast.  He works well with players and has a solid grasp of the game."

Miller's family includes his wife, Christine, and daughters, Lauren and Samantha