EMORY'S KIM BANDY NAMED
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER/NFCA SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
2009
Division III All-America Team
(May 15) - Emory University senior Kim
Bandy (Duluth, GA) has been named to the 2009 Louisville
Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III
All-America Team.
Bandy, the starting first baseman for the 24th-ranked
Eagles, was selected as a second-team All-American. This
season, Bandy helped Emory to an overall record of 32-12 and the
program's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
Just one of two players to start all 44 games in 2009, Bandy
finished third on the team and sixth among University Athletic
Association players with a.401 batting average. She tied for first
on the squad and second among UAA performers with a slugging
percentage of .667, good for an eighth-place tie on the school's
seasonal chart. The owner of 18 multi-hit contests this year, she
tied for the team's lead with 59 safeties and topped all Eagles
with seven triples, tying the school's third-highest seasonal
total, and smacked five homers, second on the club.
Career-wise, Bandy ranks prominently in numerous school categories
including first in home runs (14), total bases (335) and stolen
bases (60). A starter in 171 of the 172 contests she
played in at Emory, her .396 career hitting average is good for the
sixth place on the school's list and she holds down the No. 3 spot
in hits (212), is second in triples (20) and third in doubles
(41).
Earlier in the season, Bandy was picked as a first-team honoree to
both the All-Atlantic Region and the All-University Athletic
Association Teams.
She becomes the fifth Emory player in program history to earn
All-America acclaim, joining Tamara Boggs (2001 & 2003), Mary
Nicol (2003), Emily Sunshine (2006) and Ali Braverman (2007).
EMORY SOFTBALL PLACES FOUR ON ALL-REGION TEAM
(May 12) - The Emory University softball team has placed a
total of four players on the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch
Coaches Association's All-Atlantic Region Team.
Highlighting the Emory honorees are senior Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA)
and junior Cassie Walsh (Palm City, FL), who garnered first-team
berths. Bandy enjoyed a banner 2009 season, finishing No. 3
on the team and No. 6 among UAA players with a . 401 hitting
average. She tied for the team lead with 59 hits and topped
the squad and the UAA with 42 RBIs, good for seventh place on the
school's seasonal ladder. Her team-high seven triples tied for the
No. 3 spot on the school's seasonal chart and she wound up with a
team-leading 20 stolen bases. Bandy was second on the club
with 18 multi-hit contests and enjoyed three outings of four
safeties.
Walsh, Emory's center fielder, earned her third All-Region honor
and second to the first team with her selection this year as an
at-large pick. Walsh finished the season No. 1 on the team and No.
3 among UAA players in hitting with a .424 average. A First-Team
All-UAA pick for the third straight campaign, she recorded 56
hits, the second-highest total on the squad, and was third with 30
runs scored. Walsh was second on the team in stolen bases and
was successful on all 15 of her base-stealing attempts. She totaled
16 multi-hit contests, third highest on the team.
The Eagles landed two players on the third team including senior
pitcher Shanon Andersen (Sahuarita, AZ), freshman outfielder
Jessica Thomas (Springfield, VA).
Andersen finished the campaign with a won-lost effort of 17-9 with
her 34 appearances on the mound tying for the top spot on Emory's
seasonal ladder. A Second Team pick to the All-UAA Team,
opponents ended the year hitting a paltry .168 against her.
Her ERA of 1.03 led the UAA and ranked fifth on the school's
seasonal chart. Andersen fanned a season-high 12 batters on
three occasions including against the College of New Jersey (Mar.
8) in a 5-0 victory. Her average of 8.87 strikeouts per game (7
inn.) is second on Emory's seasonal list.
Thomas made an immediate impact on the squad her rookie
season, ranking No. 2
on the team and No. 4 among UAA players with a .418 batting
average. Named UAA Rookie of the Year, she tied for the team lead
and the No. 2 spot in the UAA with a .667 slugging
percentage. Thomas slapped out a team and conference-leading
15 doubles. She blasted a team-high six home runs and chalked
up multi-hit games. Her 59 hits tied for the team high and
she came through with nine multi-RBI games.
EMORY SOFTBALL SEASON COMES TO AN END
WITH NCAA LOSS TO SALISBURY UNIVERSITY
(May 10) - The Emory University softball team saw
its 2009 campaign come to an end on Sunday afternoon following an
8-0 loss to Salisbury University in NCAA Tournament play. The
setback was the second for the 24th-ranked Eagles in the
double-elimination event and closed out the squad's record at
32-12. The host Sea Gulls, the No. 1 seed in the regional and
ranked 11th nationally, eventually earned a spot at the Division
III national championships later on in the day when they topped
Bridgewater College.
Salisbury jumped to a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the
third inning thanks to a three-run homer by catcher Lauren
Brenneman. The Sea Gulls closed out the game with a five-run
burst in the bottom of the fifth with Brenneman and Stacey Malarkey
coming through with run-producing doubles in the uprising.
Emory senior pitcher Shanon Andersen suffered the loss, leaving her
record at 17-9. Career-wise, she finished fourth on the
school's all-time list with 38 career victories while her 445
strikeouts stand first.
Freshman left fielder Jessica Thomas picked up two of the team's
five hits and finished the year second on the squad in hitting with
a .418 average, second only to Cassie Walsh's .424. Thomas
tied senior Kim Bandy for the team lead with 59 hits and her 15
doubles paced the team and placed her fifth on the school's
seasonal ladder.
EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS EXTRA-INNING NCAA
AFFAIR TO BRIDGEWATER - ANDERSEN SETS EMORY CAREER STRIKEOUT
RECORD.
(May 9) - A two-out single in the top of
the 11th inning by Bridgewater's Hillary Rees scored pinch runner
Kristen Combs and gave the Eagles a 2-1 win over Emory Saturday in
NCAA Tournament action. The loss was Emory's first at the
Salisbury Regional and dropped its overall record to 32-11.
With the win, Bridgewater stays alive in the double-elimination
tourney and boosts its mark to 36-10.
After seeing Bridgewater strike first in the top of the sixth,
Emory bounced back to tie the game in the bottom of the frame when
a ground out by Kelsey Floyd scored Kim Bandy. Emory had a chance
to end the game in the 10th inning with senior Liz White on third
base with two out, but it could not push across the go-ahead run.
White accounted for three of the team's six hits while junior
Caitlin Fitzgerald picked up a pair of safeties.
Emory senior pitcher Shanon Andersen was saddled with the loss
though she pitched well, tossing eight innings of relief and
allowing just one run and three hits while striking out 11.
In the process, she became the school's all-time leader in
strikeouts and has 441 to her credit. She entered the game
tied with Kathy Gordon for the top spot on the school's all-time
ladder with 430.
Emory, host Salisbury and Bridgewater all have one loss in and the
schedule for tomorrow (Sunday) is as follows
Game 12: Emory vs. Salisbury, 12 pm
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Bridgewater, 2 pm
EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS LaGRANGE IN NCAA OPENER
(May 7) - Emory freshman Jessica Thomas came through with a one-out
single in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring pinch runner
Jenna Lamoreaux and giving the Eagles a 1-0 win over LaGrange
College in the opening game of the NCAA Regional in Salisbury,
Maryland. The victory boosted emory's record to 31-10 while
LaGrange slipped to 25-20.
Thomas, who was named the University Athletic Association Rookie of
the Year earlier this week, recorded three of the team's eight hits
while senior first baseman Kim Bandy accounted for a pair of
safeties. Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen picked up the win, tossing
a two-hit complete-game gem and fanning 10 batters, the seventh
time this year that she had posted double figures in that
department. Andersen now has 424 career strikeouts to her credit,
second on the school's all-time list behind Kathy Gordon's mark of
430.
Emory scoring opportunities throughout the game and left a total of
eight runners on base. The Eagles had a golden opportunity to score
the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth when they had
runners on first and third with nobody out but were stymied in
their attempt. Meanwhile, Andersen kept the LaGrange bats in check
all day, allowing just one runner as far as second base in raising
her record to 17-7 on the campaign.
The Eagles return to action on Friday (May 8 when they play Neumann
College in a noon start.
SIX EMORY SOFTBALL PLAYERS NAB ALL-UAA HONORS
(May 6) - Six members of the 2009 Emory University softball
squad have been selected to the All-University Athletic Association
Team. The all-league honorees were chosen by the conference
coaches based on their entire play this season.
The Eagles of Head Coach Penny Siqueiros placed four players on the
All-UAA First Team and two on the second team. Senior first
baseman Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA) and junior center
fielder Cassie Walsh (Palm City, FL) each landed
their third consecutive first-team nods while senior outfielder
Alyson Moler (Purcellville, VA) and junior
Caitlin Fitzgerald (Warren, NJ) brought home
first-team acclaim for the first time in their careers.
Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen (Sahuarita, AZ) and
senior designated player Carey Smith-Marchi (San
Francisco, CA) were second-team honorees with Andersen's selection
representing her initial all-conference honor and the second for
Smith-Marchi.
Heading into this weekend's NCAA Tournament play, Walsh paces the
squad and stands No. 2 in the UAA in hitting with a .438
average. She is tied for the top spot on the team with 53
hits and has totaled 15 multi-hit contests this year. Walsh
has been solid in the field as well, handling all 33 of her chances
without a miscue in 2009. She has been successful on
all 15 of her stolen base attempts this year and ranks as the
school's all-time leader in that category with 51 thefts.
Bandy once again has proven herself to be one of the UAA's most
formidable hitters with her .398 average at the plate placing her
third on the team and seventh on the conference ladder. Tied for
the Eagles' top spot in both hits (53) and runs scored (31),
Bandy has pounded out a team-best seven triples, good for a
third-place tie on the school's single-season list, and driven in a
league-leading 38 runs.
Moler, just one of two players to have started all 40 Emory games
this season (Bandy is the other), posts a .331 average, good for
13th place among UAA players, and is tied for second on the squad
with 10 doubles is fourth in runs scored with 28. She
has come through with a dozen multi-hit performances and has hit a
career-high four home runs.
Fitzgerald, a starter in 32 of the 33 contests she has seen action
in, is hitting at a fine .341 clip which is fifth on the team and
11th in the conference. She has compiled eight multi-hit
games, four of which came at the UAA Tournament (Mar. 10-14) where
she hit .400 with 10 hits in 25 trips to the plate.
Fitzgerald has been rock-solid defensively at her second base post
where she has successfully handled 101 of 103 chances (.981).
The owner of a 16-7 won-lost mark on the mound, Andersen leads the
UAA with an ERA of 0.81. She has fanned 10 or more batters on
six occasions and has 184 strikeouts, second on Emory's seasonal
chart, to her credit in 146 2/3 innings. She has completed 11 of
her 20 starts this season. Career-wise, she is tied for
fourth at Emory with 37 career wins and her 414 strikeouts is
second only to Kathy Gordon's first-place mark of 430.
Smith-Marchi, a first-team pick in 2008, continues to be a thorn in
the side of opposing pitchers, claiming a .328 hitting average
along with 32 runs batted in, good for third place on the
team. Tied for second among Emory players with four homers,
she is second in triples. Smith-Marchi's eight multi-RBI
outings in third on the team and she has four contests of three or
more RBIs.
Thomas has given the Emory offense a huge lift her rookie campaign
as she heads into the weekend hitting .416, good for the No. 4
position on the UAA ladder. She tops the squad in doubles with 13,
tied for fifth on the school's seasonal listing, home runs with
five and her .656 slugging percentage is the best on the team and
third among UAA performers. A starter in 37 of 38 games this
year, she is tied with Kim Bandy for the team lead with 16
multi-hit games. She is the sixth Emory player to be named UAA
Rookie of the Year.
Emory, 30-10 on the year, opens NCAA regional play on Thursday (May
7) against LaGrange College in Salisbury, Maryland.
EMORY SOFTBALL GEARS UP FOR NCAA
TOURNEY ACTION
(May 4) - TOURNEY FACTS - The Emory softball team makes it
fourth straight and eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the
11-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 be hosted by Salisbury
University.
Emory drew the No. 3 seed while the Panthers enter as the No. 6
seed. It will mark the second straight season that the two
teams have met in a regional opener. The Eagles and Panthers
met in the 2008 Regional hosted by Methodist with LaGrange
prevailing in that contest by a 2-1 margin.
Other teams comprising the regional include No. 2-seed,
Salisbury, No. 1-seed Lynchburg College, fourth-seed
Bridgewater (Va.) College, fifth-seed Christopher Newport
University and seventh-seed Neumann
College.
Other first-round battles will see host Salisbury (34-4), ranked
ninth nationally, taking on Neumann (30-10)
on Thursday. Lynchburg (37-6-1), ranked 10th in the
country and winners of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, is
making its third straight appearance (third overall) and receives
a bye. Bridgewater (33-9) battles USA South champions
Christopher Newport (35-7). This is a double-elimination tournament
so each team is guaranteed at least two games.
THE COACHES - Emory is led by 11th-year Head Coach
Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).
Entering this week's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career
record of 343-115. During her tenure at Emory, she has guided
the program to eight seasons of 30 or more wins. In her seven
previous visits to the NCAA Tournament, which includes World Series
trips in 2002, 2003 and 2007, Siqueiros has compiled a NCAA
Tournament record of 24-15.
Jennifer Claybrook (LaGrange) is in her seventh
season as LaGrange head coach. During her tenure with the
Panthers, she has compiled a 180-128 won-lost ledger.
In her 13th season leading the Salisbury University program is
Margie Knight (Lynchburg, '79). Heading into
the tournament, Knight has a school and career record of
479-116-2. She has guided the program to the national
championship round on five occasions.
Serving as head coach of Neumann College for the past six seasons
is Bill Saar who posts a school and career effort
of 146-88.
The Lady Captains of Christopher Newport University are coached by
Keith Parr (Christopher Newport, '99).
In six seasons, Parr has manufactured a 185-69-1 record.
Donnie Fulk is in his 18th year as the head coach
of the Bridgewater College program. During his distinguished
tenure with the Eagles, he has chalked up a won-lost effort of
454-245.
Dawn Simmons directs the fortunes of the Lynchburg
College program. Simmons, who is in her 11th campaign, checks
in with a won-lost effort of 319-141-2.
RECORDS - The Eagles take an overall record of
30-10 into the NCAA Tournament. Emory will be playing its
first games since April 21 when it swept a doubleheader against
Spelmann College, winning the opener by a 9-1 margin (6 inn.)
before notching a 9-0 (5 inn.) victory in the nightcap.
LaGrange College lays claim to a 25-19 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 third straight season.
Salisbury has won its last 30 games and stands 34-4. In their
most recent outing, Salisbury took both games of a doubleheader
against Washington (MD) by 14-0 and 7-1 scores.
Neumann College, a member of the Colonial States Athletic
Conference, enters the postseason with a fine 30-10 record.
Christopher Newport, champions of the USA South Conference,
registers a 35-7 record. The Captains are ranked 19th
nationally and are making their third straight NCAA Tournament
appearance.
Bridgewater College, an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament
and member of the ODAC, sports a record of 33-9.
Lynchburg landed an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament following
its championship performance in the Old Dominion Athletic
Conference Tournament. The Hornets stand 37-6-1 heading into
the postseason.
SERIES RECORDS - Emory and LaGrange have met 42
times with the Eagles showing an all-time mark of 34-8 against the
Panthers. Emory has won three of four meetings between the
schools this season.
In a series that has its origins in 2001, Emory has won three of
four meetings against Salisbury. The teams last met in the
2007 NCAA Regionals with the Eagles topping the Sea Gulls, 5-4, in
nine innings.
Emory owns a win in the only series game against Christopher
Newport with that triumph coming last year at the NCAA Regional in
Fayetteville, NC, 4-3 in eight innings.
Emory stands 5-0 all-time against Bridgewater College. The
Eagles swept a doubleheader earlier this season by 1-0 and 5-2
decisions. The two programs have collided once in NCAA
Tournament action with Emory notching a 6-0 victory in 2002
Lynchburg enjoys a 7-4 edge in the all-time series with
Emory. The Hornets have won the last three contests including
a doubleheader sweep earlier this year (2-1, 5-0). The Eagles
have a 2-0 mark against Lynchburg in NCAA Tournament play with
those wins coming in the 2007 Regional.
If Emory meets Neumann College, will be the initial meeting in
softball between the schools.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emory - (Cassie Walsh, Jr., CF, .438, 53
Hits, 15 SB)
(Jessica Thomas, Fr., LF, .416, 13 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBI)
(Kim Bandy, Sr., 1B, .398, 10 2B, 7 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBIs)
(Caitlin Fitzgerald, Jr., 2B, .341, 8 2B, 1 HR)
(Alyson Moler, Sr., OF, .331, 10 2B, 4 HR, 23 RBI)
(Carey Smith-Marchi, Sr., 1B/DP, .328, 4 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 32
RBIs)
(Shanon Andersen, Sr., P, 16-7, 0.94 ERA, 30GS, 20CG, 146.2IP,
184Ks)
LaGrange - (Katie Hein, So., P/OF, .323, 5 2B, 22
RBIs)
(Holly Hazelwood, Jr., OF, .455, 10 SB)
(Katie Ison, So., OF, .373, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 13 SB)
(Valeree Williams, Jr., IF, .350, 12 2B, 20 RBIs)
(Kristen Woodard, So., P, 10-1, 2.28 ERA, 23GS, 10CG, 86 IP,
32Ks)
Lynchburg - (Tara Campbell, Sr., 1B, .387, 9 HR,
40 RBI)
(Brittany Allsop, Sr., OF, .377, 5 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
(Lauren Duguay (Jr., OF, .366, 7 2B, 6 HR)
(Audra Della Rosa, Jr., OF, .333, 4 2B)
(Katie Bruce, So., P, 20-1, 1.77 ERA, 19GS, 13CG, 134.1IP, 108
Ks)
Christopher Newport -- (Taylor Morgan, Jr., 1B, .
460, 12 2B, 27 RBI)
(Ashley Mani, So., OF, .414, 7 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
(Kristin Nickloy, Jr., IF/OF, .392, 3 2B, 31 RBI)
(Jessie Atkinson, So., 3B, .376, 9 2B, 14 HR, 44 RBI)
(Kristen Rowe, Jr., P, 20-2, 2.14 ERA, 19GS, 12CG, 124.1IP, 120
Ks)
Salisbury University - (Meaghan O'Gara, Sr., OF,
.430, 13 2B, 6 HR, 37 RBI)
(Lauren Brennemen, Jr., C, .420, 11 2B, 9 HR, 41 RBI)
(Kelly Waskewicz, Jr., IF, .415, 14 2B, 9 Hr, 34 RBI)
(Stacy Davis, Sr., P, .20-1, 1.27 ERA, 20GS, 15GC, 121.1IP,
112Ks)
Neumann College - (Lauren Strack, So., IF, .387, 7
2B, 15 RBI)
(Angela Sebasto, Sr., P, .381, 13 2B, 28 RBI; 18-3, 128.1IP, 1.58
ERA )
(Caitlin Hanrahan, Sr., C, .368, 13 2B, 5 HR)
(Jennifer Goslin, Jr., 1B, .362, 5 2B, 11 HR
Bridgewater College - (Emily Morris, So., IF,
.404, 7 2B, 4 HR, 37 RBI)
Kaitlyn Bowman (Sr., OF, .376, 9 2B, 31 RBI)
Lauren Childress (So., IF, .373, 7 2B, 30 RBI)
Hillary Rees (Fr., IF, .362, 13 2B)
Ashley Gills (Jr., P, 1.04 ERA, 14GS, 11GC, 101IP, 100 Ks)
EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER
AGAINST SPELMAN
(Apr. 21) - The Emory softball team closed out the
home portion of the regular season this afternoon with a sweep of a
doubleheader against Spelman College. The Eagles ran their
record to 30-10 following 9-1 (6 inn.) and 9-0 (5 inn.) victories
over the Jaguars.
Junior outfielder Cassie Walsh enjoyed a big day, going a combined
seven-of-eight at the plate in the two contests while scoring four
times and knocking in a pair of runs. Walsh went four-for-four,
scored twice and stole three bases in the opener as the Eagles
unleashed a 14-hit attack. Emory scored three times in its
half of the first inning with senior Alyson Moler's two-run double
and run-producing single by freshman Zara Louy, one of her three
hits, the key blows.
After the Eagles scored twice in the second inning and once in the
third, it pushed another run across in the fourth frame when a
two-out single by senior Carey Smith-Marchi scored Moler. The
Eagles then closed out the game in the sixth with Moler scoring the
final run on a wild pitch. Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen
notched her 16th win in 23 decisions, tossing the first four
innings and striking out eight while surrendering just two
hits.
In the nightcap, Walsh rapped out three more hits while freshman
Jen Haag and senior Kim Bandy each chipped in a pair of safeties to
spark a 12-hit attack. Emory held a 3-0 advantage after the
first two innings and exploded for a six-run third that began with
a leadoff home run by Moler, her fourth of the campaign. Haag
doubled in a run in the inning while Bandy drove in a pair with a
single. Bandy finished the game with three RBIs and now has
38 this year, good for a ninth-place tie on the school's seasonal
chart.
Emory will now wait as to its possible participation in NCAA
Tournament action. Regional play will be held May 7-10 or May
7-11.
EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS DOUBLEHEADER TO
LYNCHBURG
(Apr. 11) - The Emory softball team saw its
four-game winning streak snapped today as it dropped both games of
a doubleheader at No. 22-ranked Lynchburg College. The Eagles
now stand 28-10 overall following 2-1 and 5-0 setbacks to the
Hornets who upped their overall ledger to 26-5.
In game one, Emory outhit the hosts by a 7-4 margin but couldn't
take advantage of numerous scoring opportunities, finishing the
contest with nine runners stranded on base. After the Hornets
scored in their half of the first, they added another run in the
third frame on the strength of a solo homer by Katie Bruce.
The Eagles scored their lone run in the top sixth when a two-out,
bases loaded single by freshman outfielder Jessica Thomas scored
Zara Louy. However, on that play, Emory's attempt to tie the
game was stymied when a runner was thrown out at the plate.
Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen was saddled with the loss, despite
tossing a solid game that saw her allow just four hits and striking
out 12. Lynchburg's Barbara Miles picked up the mound after
going the distance and fanning three.
In the finale, the Eagles once again outhit the Hornets, this time
by a 7-3 margin, but stranded nine runners in being blanked for the
third time this season. Lynchburg used a five-run uprising in the
third to account for all the game's scoring en route to the
win. Emory freshman Kelsey Floyd paced the team's hitting
attack by going 3-for-3 at the plate. Andersen started in the
circle for Emory and picked up the loss despite striking out 10
Hornets. Andersen's 22 strikeouts on the day boosted her
career total to 406, enabling her to become just the second player
in school history to crack the 400-strikeout plateau.
Andersen stands second on the Eagles' all-time list in the category
behind only Kathy Gordon's (2005-08) No. 1 mark of 430.
Emory returns to action on Tuesday, Apr. 14, when it hosts a
doubleheader against Young Harris.
EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER
AGAINST BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE
(Apr. 10) - The Emory softball team ran its win
streak to four games today following a sweep of a doubleheader
against Bridgewater College. The Eagles captured the first
game by a 1-0 margin before posting a 5-2 victory in the
second. The two wins boost Emory's record to 28-8 while
Bridgewater fell to 23-5. The games were played at Lynchburg
College.
In the opening contest, Emory recorded the game's lone run in the
top of the seventh when a single by junior Cassie
Walsh scored Nikki Perez. Freshman
pitcher Bridget Holloway earned the win in relief,
tossing 5 2/3 innings and striking out six.
Holloway also picked up the win in game two, hurling a complete
game and fanning 11 while surrendering just six hits.
Freshman outfielder Jessica Thomas got the Eagles
off on the right foot when she homered to lead off the game.
The blast was the team's 21st of the season, tying the school's
seasonal record. Walsh contributed a pair of hits in the
win.
Emory returns to action tomorrow (Apr. 11) when it takes on No.
22-ranked Lynchburg in a twinbill which is scheduled to start at
1:00 p.m.
EMORY SOFTBALL TO PLAY DOUBLEHEADERS AT
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE
(Apr. 9)- GAME FACTS -
The 2009 Emory softball team takes to the road this week with a
pair of doubleheaders on tap. The Eagles venture to Lynchburg
College where it will play a Friday twinbill against Bridgewater
College starting at noon before taking on the nationally ranked
Hornets of Lynchburg on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
THE COACHES - Emory is led by 11th-year Head Coach
Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).
Entering Friday's action, Siqueiros claims a school and career
record of 339-111. 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 29-12 mark that included the program's
seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Donnie Fulk is in his 18th season as the head
coach at Bridgewater College. Entering the doubleheader
against Emory, he has compiled a school and career record of
444-239.
In her 11th campaign as the head coach at Lynchburg College is
Dawn Simmons (Lynchburg, 1997). During her
stint with the Hornets, she has chalked up a school and career
ledger of 306-139-1.
RECORDS - The Eagles stand 26-8 after going 2-2
last week, dropping both games of a doubleheader to Reinhardt
College on Saturday (Apr. 4) before bouncing back to sweep a
twinbill against LaGrange College on Sunday.
Bridgewater College takes a 23-3 effort into Friday's
contest. The Eagles have captured their last four contests
and are coming off 6-0, 6-1 victories against Virginia Wesleyan
last Sunday.
Lynchburg College, ranked No. 22 nationally among Division III
programs, sports a classy won-lost slate of 24-5. In their
most recent action, the Hornets came away with 8-1 and 11-3
decisions over Randolph-Macon on Tuesday.
SERIES RECORDS - Emory holds a 3-0 edge in the
all-time series against Bridgewater College. The teams last
meet in March of 2004 with Emory notching a 3-0 victory.
Emory stands 6-1 all-time against Lynchburg College. Last
season, the teams split a pair of games at the Greensboro College
Invitational with the Eagles winning by a 2-1 count while the
Hornets recorded a 5-4 victory.
NOTES - Emory takes a UAA-leading .338 team
batting average into the Bridgewater College doubleheader ... Emory
rapped out 16 hits in a game-one 9-2 victory over LaGrange on
Sunday, the third highest total this season ... Through games
played Apr. 8, the Eagles also paced the UAA with a team ERA of
1.20 ... Emory has blasted 20 home runs, second on the school's
seasonal list and just one shy of tying the top mark of 21 set in
2007 ... Senior Kim Bandy leads the team and
stands third among UAA players with a .425 batting average ...
Bandy leads the squad with 15 multi-hit contests and is tied for
first with freshman Jessica Thomas with nine
multi-RBI outings ... Bandy was honored as UAA Player of the Week
following her big four-games effort, the second time this season
and fourth time in her career that she was bestowed that award ...
Bandy has hits to her credit in 13 of her last 15 contests ...Emory
is 9-0 in games when it has homered ... The Eagles have outscored
the opposition by a 214-67 margin including 47-10 in the third
inning ... Emory owns a 14-0 record when leading after six innings
of action, 1-7 when trailing ... In games where they score first,
the Eagles show an 18-2 record ... Senior Alyson
Moler claims the team's longest current hitting streak at
10 games ... During that stretch, Moler is swatting the ball at a
.515 clip with 17 hits in 33 trips to the plate including four
doubles, two triples and two homers ... Moler's hot hitting has
upped her season average to .356, good for ninth place on the UAA
chart ... Of the team's 27 total hits in the doubleheader win over
LaGrange, 12 were doubles, three were triples and two were home
runs ... Senior Shanon Andersen's 35 career
victories on the mound places her fifth all-time at Emory ...
Andersen's 379 career strikeouts is good for the No. 2 position on
Emory's career chart ... Junior Cassie Walsh is
second on the team and ranks fourth among UAA players with a .420
batting average ... Walsh has hit safely in 12 of her last 13
contests ... Freshman Jessica Thomas stands No. 5
in the league in hitting (.414) and has driven in a team-high 35
runs this year.
EMORY SOFTBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER WITH
LaGRANGE
(Apr. 5) - A day after dropping a pair of
games to Reinhardt College, the No. 20 Emory softball team bounced
back to claim a Senior Day twin killing of LaGrange College.
The Eagles raised their record to 26-8 following 9-2 and 8-1 wins
over the Panthers who slumped to 7-17.
Emory pounded out 16 hits in the opening game with eight
being of the extra-base variety. The Eagles slapped out six
doubles, a triple and homer in the contest and were sparked by the
senior tandem of Kim Bandy and Carey Smith-Marchi. Bandy went
4-for-4 at the plate with one RBI while Smith-Marchi picked up
three hits in four plate appearances along with 4 RBIs. Emory
got out the gate quickly in the first inning, pushing four runs
across the plate after two were out. Bandy got things rolling with
a triple and then scored on the first of two doubles by
Smith-Marchi. Freshman Jess Boni knocked in Smith-Marchi
while senior Amanda Kerns chipped in two RBIs with a double.
The Eagles tacked on a pair of runs in the second inning thanks to
a two-out two-bagger by Smith-Marchi that scored junior Cassie
Walsh and Bandy. Emory added another run in the third when
freshman Jen Haag homered. Senior Shanon Andersen got
the win on the mound, going five innings and allowing a pair of
runs and striking out three.
The Eagles' hitting onslaught continued in the second game as they
totaled eight extra-base hits in their total of 11. Emory
held a 3-1 lead before breaking the game wide open with a five-run
fifth inning with the key blows being a two-run double by freshman
Jessica Thomas and a solo homer by freshman Kelsey Floyd. Floyd's
blast was the team's 20th of the year, just one shy of tying the
school record of 21 set during the 2007 season. Bandy
contributed three hits in the win, enabling her to post a 7-for-7
combined day. Andersen picked up the win, tossing five
innings and striking out six.
Emory returns to action in Friday, Apr. 10, when it plays a
doubleheader at Bridgewater College.
EMORY SOFTBALL DROPS DOUBLEHEADER TO
REINHARDT COLLEGE
(Apr. 4) - The Emory softball team
dropped both games of a doubleheader to Reinhardt College on
Saturday, losing the first contest by a 3-2 margin before coming
out on the short end of a 2-1 decision in the second
outing. The two setbacks left Emory's overall record at 24-8
while the Lady Eagles boosted their mark to 20-12.
In the opener, Emory raced out to a 1-0 lead in its half of the
first as an infield single by senior Alyson Moler scored junior
Cassie Walsh from third base. Reinhardt then bounced back to
score all of its runs in the second frame, capitalizing on three
hits and a pair of Emory errors. The Eagles cut the gap in
half in the third as Moler once again drove in Walsh.
However, that was all the scoring the Eagles would do for the rest
of the game.
The second game saw both teams have scoring opportunities,
combining for 15 hits while leaving a total of 16 runners stranded
on base. The Lady Eagles scored a pair of runs in the top of
third to take a 2-0 lead. Reinhardt held that margin until
Emory pushed a run across in the sixth when a double by freshman
Jessica Boni scored junior Caitlin
Fitzgerald. Walsh and senior Kim Bandy each
picked up two hits for the Eagles in the contest.
Emory returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 5) when it hosts
LaGrange College in a twinbill.
EMORY SOFTBALL GEARS UP FOR BIG
HOMESTAND
GAME FACTS - The 2009 Emory softball team looks forward to
returning to its home venue of Cooper Field this week as the Eagles
host three doubleheaders. On Thursday (Apr. 2) Covenant
College comes to town with the first game starting at 2:00
p.m. Next up on the docket is a Saturday double dip against
Reinhardt College with the first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.
The Eagles close out the six-game homestand on Sunday (Apr. 5) with
a doubleheader against LaGrange College starting at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday's action against the Panthers will be Senior Day with the
program recognizing the contributions of this year's six-member
senior class of Shanon Andersen, Kim Bandy, Amanda Kerns, Alyson
Moler, Carey Smith-Marchi and Liz White.
THE COACHES - Emory is led by 11th-year Head Coach
Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).
Entering this weekend's action, Siqueiros claims a school and
career record of 337-111. 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 29-12 mark that included the
program's seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Sara Russell is the head coach at Covenant
College.
Glen Crawford (Union College (KY), 2003) is in his
second campaign as the head coach at Reinhardt College.
Calling the shots for LaGrange College is seventh-year head coach
Jennifer Claybrook (LaGrange). Through games
played March 30, Claybrook had a school and career won-lost mark of
160-124.
RECORDS - The Eagles, ranked No. 4 among Division
III teams in the Mar. 25 NFCA Poll, stand 24-6. In its most recent
action, Emory split a doubleheader at LaGrange College on Monday,
dropping a 2-1, eight-inning decision in the opener, before
claiming a 9-5 victory in the nightcap. Thursday's
doubleheader against Covenant College will be the squad's first
home action since Feb. 22.
The Scots of Covenant College will bring an overall record of 10-8
into Thursday's games against Emory. Covenant last played on
Mar. 25 when it topped Sewanee College by an 11-2 margin.
Reinhardt stands 18-12 following a sweep of a home doubleheader
against Emmanuel where it captured 5-4 and 8-4 victories.
LaGrange College currently owns a 5-15 won-lost mark. The
Panthers face twinbills against Agnes Scott (Apr. 1) and Wesleyan
(Apr. 3) before taking on Emory.
SERIES RECORDS - The meetings with Covenant
College and Reinhardt College will represent the initial meetings
in softball.
Emory holds a 32-8 edge in the all-time series against LaGrange
that started in 2000. In games played on its home field, Emory
stands 16-2 against the Panthers. NOTES - Emory
takes a UAA-leading .333 team batting average into the Covenant
College doubleheader ... Through games played Mar. 30, the Eagles
also paced the UAA with a team ERA of 1.22 ... Emory has blasted 18
home runs, second on the school's seasonal list ... The Eagles have
outscored the opposition by a 194-59 margin including 45-8 in the
third inning ... Emory owns a 12-0 record when leading after six
innings of action, 1-5 when trailing ... In games where they score
first, the Eagles show a 17-1 record ... Junior Cassie
Walsh leads the team and ranks second among UAA players
with a .435 batting average ... Walsh has hit safely in eight of
her last nine contests ... Freshman Jessica Thomas
ranks No. 3 in the league in hitting (.423) and is tops on the
squad with 14 multi-hit games ... Senior Alyson
Moler claims the team's longest current hitting streak at
six games ... During that six-game stretch, Moler is swatting the
ball at a .579 clip with 11 hits in 19 trips to the plate including
three doubles, a triple and two homers ... Senior Kim
Bandy has six triples to her credit this year, tying for
fifth place on the school's all-time seasonal ladder ... Bandy has
hits to her credit in nine of her last 11 contests ... Her three
RBIs in the 9-5 win over LaGrange on Monday evening marked her
team-best ninth game of two or more RBIs in a game this season ...
Senior Shanon Andersen's 33 career victories on
the mound places her fifth all-time at Emory ... Andersen's 359
career strikeouts is good for the No. 3 position on Emory's career
chart.
EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH
LaGRANGE
(Mar. 30) - Senior Kim Bandy rapped
out two hits and drove in three runs and freshman Jess Boni
collected three hits and scored two runs in helping the No.
4-ranked Emory softball to a 9-5 win in the second game and a split
of a doubleheader against LaGrange College Monday evening.
LaGrange captured the first game, 2-1, in eight innings. The
split leaves the Eagles' record at 24-6 while the Panthers stand
5-15.
Emory scored a pair of runs in the second, third and fourth innings
to take a 6-0 lead. Senior Liz White's double knocked in Boni
and then came around to score on a single by freshman Kelsey
Floyd. The Eagles upped their lead to 4-0 in the third inning
when Bandy socked a two-run home run. Bandy added her third
ribbie the following frame when her double scored freshman Jessica
Thomas. LaGrange came roaring back in its half of the fourth
with a five-run uprising that was eventually stymied when Shanon
Andersen came on in relief of starter Kelsey Floyd. Emory
added two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to close out the
game's scoring. Floyd earned the win on the mound, tossing 4
2/3 innings while Andersen picked up the save.
In the opening game, Katie Hein of LaGrange and Andersen hooked up
in a pitching duel that two saw the two hurlers allow a total of
eight hits between them. The Panthers broke a 1-1 deadlock in
the bottom of the eighth when, with one out, Hein reached first
base following an Emory error. The Panthers then loaded the bases
on back-to-back walks to Valaree Williams and Kristi
Underwood. Jennifer Knight then gave LaGrange the win when
she delivered a single on a 1-0 pitch that scored Hein. Hein picked
up the win, allowing just three hits and striking out two while
Andersen was saddled with the loss, allowing five safeties and
fanning seven. Senior Alyson Moler picked up two of the
team's three hits with a triple and double.
Emory returns to action on Thursday, Apr. 2, when it entertains
Covenant College in a doubleheader.
EMORY SOFTBALL PLACES THREE ON ALL-UAA
TOURNAMENT TEAM
(Mar. 23) - Senior Kim Bandy,
junior Cassie Walsh and freshman Jessica
Thomas were among the 16 players selected to the
All-University Athletic Association (UAA) Tournament Team, based on
their performance during the conference tournament, Mar. 10-14.
Bandy split time as the squad's first baseman and designated hitter
and ended the tourney hitting .320 with eight hits in 25 plate
appearances. She tied for the team lead and tied for second
among UAA players with nine RBIs. Five of her eight safeties
were extra-base hits including two home runs, two doubles and one
triple. One of Bandy's round trippers was a grand slam that
sparked an eight-run ninth inning in a 9-1 win over the University
of Rochester. Bandy came through with a three-run blast later
on in the tournament in a 6-2 victory over Brandeis. Bandy
also chalked up four stolen bases. This is Bandy's fourth
All-UAA honor during her career.
Thomas led the team and tied for second among conference players in
hitting, finishing with a red-hot average of .458. The rookie
left fielder paced the team and tied for fourth in the tournament
with 11 hits while her nine RBIs tied for second. Thomas went
3-for-3 with a triple and homer in sparking the Eagles to a 17-0
win over Case Western on the final day of action. She had
hits in six games including three outings of two or more
safeties.
Walsh played in seven games and finished with a .400 average with
eight hits in 20 trips to the plate. She slapped out a pair
of hits in two the Rochester games and managed to steal a pair of
bases.
This season marks the first year that the UAA will name both an
all-tournament team and an All-UAA team at the end of the
season. This is in contrast to past years, where the UAA
named a first and second team, in addition to a conference most
valuable player and rookie of the year, based solely on the results
of the conference tournament.
Emory finished the UAA Tournament tied for second place with a 5-3
record. The No. 7-ranked Eagles return to action on Thursday, March
26, when they play a doubleheader at LaGrange College.
EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT
MARYVILLE
(Mar. 22)- The No. 7-ranked Emory softball team split a
doubleheader against Maryville College on Sunday in the final day
of the Maryville College Classic. The Eagles dropped the opener,
2-1, before bouncing back to claim an 8-3 victory in the second
contest. Emory now stands at 23-5 on the year.
In the opener, junior Cassie Walsh picked up two of the team's
seven hits. Senior Shanon Andersen pitched a strong game for Emory
but was saddled with the loss. Andersen tossed six innings and
allowed just four hits while striking out seven.
Maryville got on the board in its half of the first inning when
Lindsy Little led off with a double and eventually scored on a wild
pitch. Emory tied the game in the top of the third when freshman
Jessica Thomas and Walsh worked a double steal that scored Thomas
from third. The Scots broke the deadlock in the fifth when Angela
Dillard led off the frame with a double and scored on a one-out
single off the bat of Chastity Smith. Maryville pitcher Katie
Beckham picked up the complete-game win.
In the nightcap, senior Alyson Moler highlighted a 10-hit attack
with a pair of safeties and four RBIs, including a three-run homer
in the first inning that got the Eagles rolling. Thomas and Walsh
each accounted for two hits as did senior Kim Bandy. Moler
registered her other RBI in the third inning when she walked with
the bases loaded.
Freshman Bridget Holloway and Andersen combined for a six hitter
with Holloway earning the win and Andersen the save.
Emory returns to action on March 26 with a doubleheader at LaGrange
College.
EMORY SOFTBALL PLAYS AT MARYVILLE
CLASSIC
(Mar. 18) - GAME FACTS - The 2009 Emory softball team
continues its season this Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 21-22) when it
takes part in the Maryville College Classic. The Eagles will
take on Spaulding University (11:30 a.m.) and Baldwin-Wallace (1:30
p.m.) on the first day of action before playing host Maryville
twice on Sunday with the first game slated for a 1:30 p.m.
start.
THE COACHES - Emory is led by 11th-year Head Coach
Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).
Entering this weekend's action, Siqueiros claims a school and
career record of 333-109. 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 29-12 mark that included the
program's seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Art Williams is the head coach at Spaulding
University.
Tom Spencer (Bowling Green, 1984) is in his second
stint as the head coach at Baldwin-Wallace. Spencer directed
the program (2000-2002) and returned to the Yellowjackets in
2007-08. He posts a five-year school record of 94-78.
Calling the shots for Maryville College is seventh-year head coach
Danny Fish (Tennesse Wesleyan, 2001).
Heading into a Mar. 19 contest against LaGrange College, Fish owns
a school record of 143-109
RECORDS - The Eagles head into the Maryville
College Classic with an overall record of 20-4. Emory held
down the No. 6 spot in the Mar. 11 NFCA Top 25 Poll. In its most
recent action, Emory finished with a 5-3 record and tied for second
place at the UAA Tournament, Mar. 10-14, in Altamonte Springs,
Fla.
Spaulding University has a 2-4 ledger through six games. The
Golden Eagles were to play St. Mary of the Woods College in a
doubleheader on Mar. 18 before meeting Emory.
Baldwin-Wallace checks into the Classic with a 7-3 mark. In
the Yellowjackets' last action, they defeated Dubuque (11-10) and
Bethany Lutheran (17-3) on Mar. 12.
Maryville College will take an overall effort of 5-9 into its
Thursday twinbill against LaGrange. The Scots played at
Transylvania on Tuesday of this week and lost a pair of contests,
7-1 and 2-0.
SERIES RECORDS - When Emory meets Spaulding
University and Baldwin-Wallace, it will represent the initial
meetings in softball between the programs
Emory holds a 25-3 all-time mark against Maryville College.
The Eagles have won the last five meetings including 15-1 (5 inn.)
and 9-3 decisions earlier this year.
NOTES - Emory takes a team batting average of .344
into the Maryville College Classic while opponents are hitting at a
.189 clip ... Emory has already hit 15 home runs, sixth on the
school's seasonal list ... The Eagles socked seven round trippers
during the UAA Tournament with senior Kim Bandy
accounting for two of those ... Bandy has 182 career hits at Emory
and holds down sixth place on the school's all-time chart ... She
has 11 career homers to her credit, fourth highest ever at the
school ... Freshman outfielder Jessica Thomas
continues to swing a potent bat and leads the team in hitting with
a .476 mark ... She is the team leader in hits (40), doubles (10)
and RBIs (32) ... She is six RBIs shy of tying for tenth
place on the school's seasonal ladder and is just one double shy of
tying for 10th ... She has hit safely in 21 contests and has rapped
out two or more safeties in 13 outings ... Junior
Cassie Walsh heads into the weekend hitting at a
.460 clip (29-for-63) and has seven multiple-hit performances ...
Senior Liz White recorded her first home run as an
Eagle with a grand slam in the team's 17-0 win over Case during the
UAA Tournament ... Emory has 10 or more hits in 11 contests this
season ... The Emory pitching staff posts an ERA of 1.30 ... Senior
Shanon Andersen sports a won-lost ledger of 11-2
and ERA of 0.67 ... Andersen's 32 career victories at Emory ranks
fifth on the Eagles' all-time list in that category while her 326
strikeouts is good for fourth place ... Freshman Jen
Haag's grand slam vs. Case on Mar. 11 represented her
first career home run.
NO. 8-RANKED EMORY SOFTBALL
TEAM SPLITS FINAL TWO GAMES OF UAA TOURNAMENT
(Mar. 14) - The Emory University
softball team closed the final day of the University Athletic
Association Tournament with a split of two games. The No. 8-ranked
Eagles opened with a
17-0, five-inning win against Case Western Reserve University
before dropping a 4-0 decision to Washington University. The split
left Emory's overall record at 20-4, 5-3 in the league which tied
it for second place with the University of Rochester.
Emory slugged out 18 hits against the Spartans of Case and received
home runs from freshmen Jessica Thomas and Jess Boni and senior Liz
White. Emory scored a run in the second inning before exploding for
11 runs in the top half of the third. Thomas smacked a two-run
homer and White came through with a grand slam later on in the
barrage. The Eagles added two more runs in the fourth thanks to a
two-run round tripper by Boni. Thomas finished the game with three
hits and three RBIs while Boni recorded a pair of safeties and
three RBIs. Freshman Bridget Hollway earned the win, going four
innings and allowing just two hits and fanning four.
In the second game, the Bears' Claire Voris kept the Emory bats in
check, allowing just three hits and striking out nine. Nicole
Perez, Kim Bandy and Cassie Walsh accounted for the Eagles' hits.
Wash U. got on the board in the top of the second when Corissa
Santos homered. The Bears added three runs, two of which were
unearned, in the third that eventually closed out the game's
scoring. Wash U finished the UAA Tournament in first place with a
7-1 record.
Emory returns to action next Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 21-22) when
it plays in the Maryville College Classic.
NO. 8-RANKED EMORY SOFTBALL FALLS TO
ROCHESTER
(Mar. 13) - The University of Rochester
received three solo home runs Friday morning in recording a win
over No. 8-ranked Emory in the University Athletic Association
Tournament. Rochester upped its overall record to 7-5 (2-3
UAA) following a 6-4 triumph over the Eagles who slipped to 19-3,
4-2 in the league.
Lindsay Maculso staked the Yellowjackets to a 1-0 lead after she
led off the game with a homer. Emory tied the game in its
half of the inning when senior Kim Bandy stroked a two-out double
and then scored following a single by classmate Carey
Smith-Marchi.
Rochester bolted to a 4-1 advantage after putting up three unearned
runs in the top of the second. Macaluso picked up her second RBI of
the game with a single while Nikki Lee DiSalvio also knocked in a
run via a single. Kim Grimes came through with UR's second
round tripper of the contest in the top of the fifth that enabled
UR to assume a 5-1 cushion. However, the Eagles got back into
contention in their half of the frame with three runs. Bandy
accounted for the key blow of the inning with a two-run double that
scored freshman Jessica Thomas and junior Cassie Walsh. Bandy
would eventually score to draw Emory to within 5-4. Erin
Clark gave the Yellowjackets an insurance run with her homer
pushing their lead to 6-4.
Senior Shanon Andersen was saddled with the loss for Emory, going 4
1/3 innings and allowing five runs, two of which were earned, and
striking out six. Beth Ameno earned the win in relief for
Rochester.
Emory closes out the UAA Tournament on Saturday with games against
Case Western (10:00 am) and Washington University (12:30 pm).
NO. 8-RANKED EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS TWO
GAMES AT UAA TOURNAMENT
(Mar. 12) - Senior Kim Bandy's
three-run homer was the key blow in a four-run ninth inning and
sparked the No. 8 Emory softball team to a 6-2 win over Brandeis
and a split of a pair of contests at the University Athletic
Association Tournament. The Eagles opened the day with
a 3-0 setback to No. 15 Washington University. Emory now
stands 19-2 overall this season, 4-1 in the league.
Against the Judges of Brandeis, Emory scored single runs in the
third and sixth innings to go up by a 2-0 margin. Freshman outfield
Jessica Thomas knocked in the squad's first run while senior Carey
Smith-Marchi's single drove in Thomas in the sixth inning.
However, Brandeis tied the game in the bottom on the seventh to
force extra innings. In the decisive ninth frame, the first
two Emory batters were retired before junior Cassie Walsh singled
and advanced to second following a throwing error. Walsh
eventually scored after a pair of wild pitches.
Subsequent walks to Thomas and Nicole Perez then set the table for
Bandy's blast. Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen earned the win
in relief, tossing 2 2/3 innings and striking out four while
allowing one hit.
In the day's initial contest, the Eagles were kept in check by Wash
U. hurler Claire Voris who gave up just three hits in hurling the
complete-game shutout. Bandy, junior Caitlin Fitzgerald and
Perez picked up the team's safeties. The Bears recorded the
only run they would need in the first inning when a double by
Carter Malouf scored Alyssa Abramoski. Wash U. added some
insurance when it pushed across two unearned runs in the bottom of
the sixth.
Emory continues UAA Tournament play on Friday (Mar. 13) when it
takes on Rochester in a 10:00 a.m. start.
NO. 8-RANKED EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS CASE
WESTERN RESERVE IN UAA TOURNAMENT
(Mar. 11) - Freshman Jennifer Haag collected
a pair of hits and drove in five runs on Wednesday in leading the
No. 8-ranked Emory softball squad to a victory over Case
Western Reserve in the University Athletic Association Tournament
in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Emory raised its record to
18-1, 3-0 in the UAA following a five-inning, 8-0 triumph over the
Spartans.
Haag picked up her first RBI in the bottom of the second inning
when her double scored sophomore Zara Louy with the game's first
run. Haag later crossed the plate following a double by
freshman Jessica Thomas. Thomas also rapped out a pair of
safeties and knocked in a pair of RBIs.
The Eagles broke the game open in the third when they scored five
runs. Haag provided the big blow with a grand slam homer
while Thomas added the other RBI with a single that enabled
sophomore Nicole Perez to cross the plate.
Emory added its other marker in the fourth inning when senior Carey
Smith-Marchi socked a homer.
Freshman Bridget Holloway took to the mound for the Eagles and
secured the victory, hurling all five innings and allowing four
hits while striking out two.
Emory continues UAA Tournament play on Thursday (Mar. 12) with a
10:00 a.m. contest vs. No. 15 Washington University and a 12:30
bout against Brandeis.
EMORY SOFTBALL OPENS UAA TOURNAMENT
WITH TWO WINS
(Mar. 10) - Emory senior Kim Bandy
hit a grand slam home run in the top of the ninth inning to snap a
1-1 tie and propel the No. 8-ranked Eagles to a 9-1 victory over
Rochester in the team's second game of the UAA Tournament today in
Altamonte Springs, Florida. Emory opened the tourney with a
3-2 decision over Brandeis. The two wins boosted Emory's overall
won-lost slate to 17-1 (2-0 UAA).
Emory trailed by a 1-0 margin heading into the top of the seventh
against the Yellowjackets before knotting the game on the strength
of a two-out single by junior Cassie Walsh that scored junior
Caitlin Fitzgerald. In the decisive ninth inning, the Eagles
loaded the bases following a single, a Rochester error and
intentional walk. After an Emory out, Bandy delivered her
blast that gave the Eagles a 5-1 edge. Emory tacked on four
more runs in the frame with a two-run single by freshman outfielder
Jessica Thomas a key blow. Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen
went the distance in picking up the win, allowing just three hits
and striking out nine.
In the Brandeis game, the Judges jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the
top of the first with Erin Ross driving in Melisa Cagar. The
Eagles took the lead in their half of the fourth when freshman Jess
Boni, pinch hitting for Zara Louy, singled up the middle that
scored Fitzgerald and senior Alyson Moler. After Brandeis
tied the contest in the top of the fifth, the Eagles put the game
way in the bottom of the seventh when Fitzgerald led off the frame
with a single. After moving to second following a sacrifice
bunt, and following a ground out, she advanced to third following a
single by Walsh. Thomas then delivered Fitzgerald home with
the game-winning RBI with a single. Freshman hurler Kelsey
Floyd earned the win came on in relief to record the win, going
five innings and surrendering one run and three hits while fanning
three.
Emory continues action in the UAA Tournament on Wednesday (Mar. 11)
with a 12:30 game against Case Western.
EMORY SOFTBALL GEARS UP FOR ROAD
ACTION
(Mar. 5) - GAME FACTS - The 2009 Emory softball team heads
to Florida where it will play its next 12 contests. Next up
on the Eagles' schedule are Sunday and Monday (Mar. 8-9) games at
the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida. Emory will
battle The College of New Jersey (9:00 a.m.) and Cortland State
(11:00 a.m.) on Sunday before meeting Emerson College (9:30 a.m.)
and Haverford College (1:30 p.m.) on Monday.
THE COACHES - Emory is led by 11th-year Head Coach
Penny Siqueiros (Florida State, '92).
Entering this weekend's action, Siqueiros claims a school and
career record of 324-106. 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 29-12 mark that included the
program's seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Sally Miller (Iowa, 1989) is in her 14th season as
head coach at The College of New Jersey. While with the Lions, she
has compiled a 357-159 won-lost ledger. She has guided the program
to five trips to the NCAA Tournament and captured the national
championship in 1996.
In her 14th season leading the Cortland State program is
Julie Lenhart (Ohio Northern, 1980). Prior
to this weekend, Lenhart has chalked up an impressive mark of
435-191-1 with the Red Dragons while claiming a career effort of
555-268-1. Her Cortland teams have qualified for the NCAA
Tournament eight times and have four College World Series
trips.
Emerson College is led by ninth-year head coach Phil
McElroy who has a school record of 189-110. In 10 years of
college coaching, he stands 205-133.
The Fords of Haverford College are guided by fifth-year head coach
Jen Ward (Haverford, '04). At the start
of the weekend, Ward has a total of 82 wins to her credit and has
posted 20-win seasons in each of the past three years.
RECORDS - The Eagles have gotten off to a fine
start with a won-lost effort of 11-1. Emory won three of four
games last weekend in Mississippi, defeating Millsaps College twice
while splitting a pair of games against Mississippi College.
The College of New Jersey will be playing its first games of the
2009 season on Saturday (Mar. 7) when the Lions meet Ohio Northern
and Northland College. TCNJ finished the 2008 campaign with
an overall mark of 26-17.
Cortland State will be making its season debut on Sunday when
it takes on Emory. The Red Dragons posted an impressive
ledger of 39-13 last season that included a spot in the College
World Series.
Before Monday's matchup with Emory, Emerson College will tangle
with the University of Rochester and SUNY Plattsburgh on
Sunday.
Haverford College has a pair of Sunday games on the docket, vs.
Moravian and Simmons (Mass.) before its encounter with Emory the
following day. The Fords recorded a won-lost slate of 23-16
last season.
SERIES RECORDS - When Emory meets Haverford,
Emerson and Cortland State, it will represent the initial meetings
in softball.
Emory and The College of New Jersey have met on one occasion with
the Eagles claiming an 8-2 victory on March 23, 2002, in Salem,
Va.
NOTES - The Emory bats have been hot with the
Eagles checking in with an impressive team batting average of .364
... Emory has already hit seven home runs this year ... The Eagles
have collected 10 or more hits in seven contests ... While Emory's
offense has been in high gear, the team's pitching staff has been
solid with an ERA of 1.38 while striking out 75 opposing batters in
78 innings of action ... Senior hurler Shanon
Andersen sports a glittering ERA of 0.39 along with a 7-0
record ... Andersen has tossed 46 innings and has fanned 57 while
walking just 13 ... During her career at Emory, Andersen has struck
out 287 and stands fifth on the school's all-time chart in that
category ... Emory has outscored the opposition by a 91-20 margin
through 12 games ... Freshman outfielder Jessica
Thomas continues her assault on opposing pitching with her
.556 batting average leading the team ... Thomas has hit safely in
all 12 games and has nine multiple-hit contests to her credit ...
She tops the squad in hits (25), doubles (6), RBIs (20) and is tied
for first in runs scored (13) ... Junior Cassie
Walsh heads into the weekend hitting at a .500 clip
(15-for-30) and has at least one hit in all 10 games that she has
batted in ... Senior Carey Smith-Marchi,
tied for the team lead with three homers, holds down the No. 2 spot
on the team's sheet with 17 RBIs ... Smith-Marchi has knocked in
runs in nine outings and has five games of two or more RBIs.
ON THE HORIZON --- Following the Sunday and Monday contests, Emory will take part in the University Athletic Association Tournament, Mar. 10-14, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Eagles' will play a pair of games on the opening day of action, vs. Brandeis (10:00 a.m.) and the University of Rochester (12:30 p.m.).
EMORY'S KIM BANDY NAMED UAA SOFTBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Mar. 4) - Senior Kim Bandy (Duluth, GA)
has been selected as the University Athletic Association Softball
Co-Player of the Week after helping the Eagles to wins in three of
four contests. It is the first time this year and third in her
career she has been selected for the honor. She shares this
week's award with Beth Ameno of the University of Rochester.
Over the weekend, Bandy hit .428 with six hits in 14 plate
appearances, scored four runs, and drove in four. In a 5-3
win over Mississippi College on Friday, she blasted a triple that
drove in a run. The following day, she recorded four hits in
five at-bats, scored three times, and registered two RBI in a 16-4
triumph over Millsaps College. In the final game of the
weekend, she contributed the team's lone RBI in a 6-1 setback
against Mississippi College. The Eagles raised their overall record
to 11-1 on the year.
So far this year, Bandy is hitting .341 (14-of-41) and ranks third
on the squad in runs scored (12) and RBIs (13). The Eagles'
next action takes place this Sunday (Mar. 8) when they battle The
College of New Jersey (9:00 a.m.) and Cortland State (11:00 a.m.)
in Clermont, Florida.
EMORY SOFTBALL SPLITS TWO GAMES
(Feb. 28) - The Emory softball team
notched its 11th straight win on Saturday morning with a resounding
16-4 six-inning win over Millsaps College before Mississippi
College posted a 6-1 decision over the Eagles in the afternoon,
handing the Eagles their first setback of the campaign.
Seven different players recorded two more hits in the
opener led by freshman outfield Jessica Thomas and senior first
baseman Kim Bandy, both of whom came through with four safeties in
five trips to the plate. Bandy also scored three runs and
dove in a pair while Thomas crossed the plate twice. Senior
Alyson Moler picked up three hits and three RBIs while sophomore
Zara Louy finished with three RBIs, two of those coming on a triple
that sparked a five-run first inning. Holding a 7-0 lead, the
Eagles added four more runs in the fourth with sophomore Nicole
Perez coming through with a two-run single and Louy an RBI
double. Emory then tacked on five runs in the sixth frame
which eventually closed the contest out. Senior Shanon
Andersen picked up the win on the mound, tossing 5 1/3 innings and
allowing just one run while striking out seven.
Mississippi College turned the tables on the Eagles, scoring five
times in the top of the first inning with Lauren Coleman two-run
double the big blow. The Choctaws made the five runs stand up
as pitcher Whitney Warren held the Eagles to just six hits.
Emory's lone run of the contest came in third inning when a Bandy
single scored junior Cassie Walsh. Suffering the loss for the
Eagles was freshman Bridget Holloway who hurled two innings before
giving way to fellow freshman Kelsey Floyd who tossed the remaining
five innings.
EMORY SOFTBALL WINS TWO
GAMES
(Feb. 27) - Senior Kim Bandy's eighth-inning single scored Shanon
Andersen to give the Eagles a 2-1 win over Millsaps College in the
second of two games played in Clinton, Mississippi on
Friday. The Eagles opened the day with a 5-3 triumph
over Mississippi College. The two victories raised Emory's
record to 10-0.
In the contest against Millsaps, the Eagles fell behind by a 1-0
count after Millsaps scored an unearned run in its half of the
third. Emory was kept in check by Millsaps pitcher Kasey
Thibodeaux until the sixth inning when it tied the contest
following a single by Carey Smith-Marchi that scored sophomore
Nicole Perez. The Majors threatened in the seventh frame
after putting their first two runners on, however Eagle pitcher
Shanon Andersen got out of the jam by striking out the following
two batters and getting a ground out. Millsaps had ample
scoring opportunities in the contest, ending up with 16 runners
left on base. In the eighth inning, and with Andersen
on second, freshman outfield Jessica Thomas singled to left
advancing Andersen to third. Following an out, Bandy then
ended the game with her hit. Andersen got the win after
coming in relief of starter Kelsey Floyd in the first inning.
She tossed eight innings and allowed seven hits while fanning
11.
Smith-Marchi homered and Andersen picked up the win against
Mississippi College. Thomas contributed three hits to aid in
the victory.
Emory will move down the road on Saturday when it tangles with
Millsaps (11:00 am CST) and Mississippi College (1:00 p.m. CST) in
Jackson, Miss.
EAGLES' SOFTBALL SQUAD PREPARES
FOR FIRST ROAD TRIP
(Feb. 25) -- The Emory University softball
team ventures to the state of Mississippi for its first road games
of the 209 season. On Friday, Emory will be in Clinton,
Miss., to battle Mississippi College at 2:00 p.m. before taking on
Millsaps at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, the scene shifts to
Jackson, Miss., where the Eagles will play Millsaps at 11:00 a.m.,
before closing out the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. contest against
Mississippi College.
Head Coach Penny Siqueiros and her squad are off to an impressive
start with an overall record of 8-0. The Eagles recorded four
wins last weekend at the Emory Classic as they notched a pair of
wins apiece against Huntingdon College and Rhodes College.
Emory had its offense in high gear as it scored 34 runs while
surrendering two just.
Senior Carey Smith-Marchi (San Francisco, CA) was
named UAA Player of the Week, after battering opposing pitchers for
a .636 average, picking up seven hits in 11 plate
appearances. In addition, she drove in a total of nine runs
and crossed the plate six times herself. In the opening game
of the Classic, she socked a solo home run and drove in two runs in
a 7-0 decision over Huntingdon College. In the following game
against Rhodes College, she collected three safeties, including a
three-run triple, that sparked a 9-0 win.
Freshman left fielder Jessica Thomas (Springfield,
VA) continued her torrid hitting pace with 10 hits in 16 at-bats
(.625) as well as driving in five runs. Thomas has rapped out
two or more hits in all eight contests and is hitting at a .621
clip.
Also enjoying a big offensive weekend was junior Cassie
Walsh (Palm City, FL) with eight safeties in 12 trips to
the plate (.667). Walsh scored six runs over the weekend and
totaled three RBIs in a 9-0 triumph over Rhodes.
Freshman pitcher Bridget Holloway (Sparta, IL)
earned a pair of wins in a starting capacity, throwing a total of
nine innings and striking out eight batters. Holloway hurled
five innings and allowed just two hits while fanning three in the
Classic opener against Huntingdon. Senior Shanon
Andersen notched one win as a starter and one in relief,
whiffing 17 batters in a total of 11 1/3 innings.
EMORY SOFTBALL DEFEATS
HUNTINGDON
(Feb. 22) - Senior Alyson Moler and junior Cassie Walsh each
recorded three hits and senior Carey Smith-Marchi knocked in three
runs in helping the Emory softball team to an 8-1 win over
Huntingdon College in the final game of the Emory Classic.
The Eagles ran their record to 8-0 following an 8-1 decision over
the Hawks who fell to 1-5.
Holding a 2-1 lead heading into its half of the fourth inning,
Emory exploded for four runs to stake itself to a 6-1 lead.
Smith-Marchi knocked in a pair of runs with Moler and senior Kim
Bandy picking up the other RBIs. The Eagles added two more
runs in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by senior Liz White scoring
Smith-Marchi and a single by freshman Jessica Boni scoring
Moler.
Senior Shanon Andersen earned the win on the mound after coming in
relief of starter Kelsey Floyd and holding the Hawks scoreless over
5 1/3 innings of action. Andersen allowed just one hit and
struck out five in raising her record to 4-0.
EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS RHODES COLLEGE
(Feb. 22) - Senior Kim Bandy and freshman
Jessica Thomas each picked up two hits and drove in three runs in
sparking the Emory softball team to a win over Rhodes College
Sunday morning. The Eagles raised their record to 7-0
following a five-inning, 10-1 triumph over the Lynx who slipped to
3-2.
Freshman pitcher Bridget Holloway earned the win, allowing five
hits and striking out five in boosting her season mark to
4-0. Freshman Shannon Andersen tossed the final inning.
Rhodes scored a run in the top of the first when a double by
Allison Conn scored Caroline Cooper. The Eagles roared back with
three runs in its half of the fourth with Bandy and senior Carey
Smith-Marchi each picking up an RBI. The Eagles then exploded
with seven runs in the fifth inning with the big blows being a
two-run double by Bandy and a three-run triple by Thomas that
closed the game out.
Emory battles Huntingdon in a 2:30 p.m. start later today.
EMORY SOFTBALL RACES BY RHODES
COLLEGE
(Feb. 21) - Senior Carey-Smith Marchi and
junior Cassie Walsh each drove in three runs in leading the
Emory softball team to a win over Rhodes College Saturday
afternoon. The Eagles raised their record to 6-0 following a
five-inning, 9-0 triumph over the Lynx who slipped to 3-1.
Senior pitcher Shanon Andersen earned the win, allowing three hits
and striking out 12 in boosting her season mark to 3-0. So
far this year, Andersen has fanned 31 opposing batters in 19 1/3
innings of work.
The Eagles put a two-spot up on Rhodes in the second inning when a
bases-loaded walk to senior center fielder Cassie Walsh forced in a
run and a single by sophomore Nikki Perez drove in the other.
Emory pushed its advantage to 4-0 the following inning when a
two-out single by Walsh scored Alyson and Carey Smith-Marchi.
Emory then put the game away with a five-run explosion in the fifth
frame with the big blow being a bases-loaded triple down the right
field line by Smith-Marchi that ended the contest.
Emory battles Rhodes College on Sunday (Feb. 22) morning starting
at 9:30 a.m. before battling Huntingdon at 1:30 p.m.
EMORY SOFTBALL TOPS HUNTINGDON
(Feb. 21) - Freshman Bridget Holloway tossed five
shutout innings while senior Carey Smith-Marchi and junior Caitlin
Fitzgerald each homered in sparking the Emory softball team to a
win over Huntingdon College on Saturday. The Eagles raised
their record to 5-0 following a 7-0 triumph over the Hawks who
slipped to 0-3.
Holloway allowed just two hits and whiffed three batters in
recording her third win of the young season. She received all
the run support she needed in the bottom of the first when a
sacrifice fly by senior Kim Bandy scored Jessica Thomas.
After the Eagles added a run in the second, they stretched their
lead to 3-0 when Smith-Marchi hit a solo blast to straight-away
center field. Emory blew the game wide open with a four-run
fifth inning that was highlighted by Fitzgerald's three-run
homer.
Freshman Jessica Thomas continued her hot-hitting ways, picking up
three of Emory's 10 hits. Freshman Kelsey Floyd came on in
relief of Holloway and pitched the final two innings, striking out
a pair of Hawks.
Emory will face Rhodes College later on today in a 1:30 p.m. tilt
at Cooper Field.
EAGLES' SOFTBALL HOSTS EMORY
CLASSIC
(Feb. 19) -- Looking to continue its momentum after
a successful opening weekend, the Emory softball team returns to
Cooper Field this Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 21-22) to host the
Emory Classic. Other participating teams include Huntingdon
College and Rhodes College.
The Eagles will play two games each day and get things started on
Saturday with a 9:30 a.m. contest against Huntingdon.
Following that game, Emory takes on Rhodes beginning at 1:30
p.m. On Sunday, Emory will tangle with Rhodes at 9:30 a.m.
before closing out the Classic with a 1:30 p.m. game against
Huntingdon.
Head Coach Penny Siqueiros and her squad were impressive last
weekend in registering a 4-0 mark at the Emory Invitational.
The Eagles outscored their four opponents by a 33-4 margin and
rapped out 43 hits, including four home runs, compared the
opposition's total of 15 safeties.
Freshman Jessica Thomas (Springfield, VA) was
tabbed as the UAA Player of the Week following an explosive
performance that saw her hit .615, picking up eight hits in 13
plate appearances, sock three round trippers and driving in 14
RBIs. Thomas came through with a pair of four-baggers and
totaled eight RBIs in the squad's season-opening 15-1 triumph over
Maryville College.
Aiding Emory's offensive attack were seniors Liz
White (Burke, VA) and Alyson Moler
(Purcellville, VA). White hit a keen .500, going five-for-10
at the plate, while Moler checked in with an average of .455 with
five safeties in 11 at-bats.
In the pitching department, senior Shanon Andersen
got off to a fine start, registering a pair of wins while not
surrendering an earned run and striking out 19 batters in 14 1/3
innings of action. Freshman Bridget Holloway
(Sparta, IL) was credited with the other two victories, picking up
one in relief and the other as a starter.
EMORY CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Saturday, Feb. 21
Emory vs. Huntingdon -- 9:30 a.m.
Huntingdon vs. Rhodes -- 11:30 a.m.
Emory vs. Rhodes -- 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22
Emory vs. Rhodes -- 9:30 a.m.
Huntingdon vs. Rhodes -- 11:30 a.m.
Emory vs. Rhodes -- 1:30 p.m.
EMORY SOFTBALL TO
HAVE SELECTED HOME GAMES WEBCAST
(Feb. 18) - Fans of the Emory
University softball program will be able to follow the
team via the worldwide web with four of the Eagles' home
games slated to have live streaming video.
The first games slated to be webcast will Feb. 21 when Emory
hosts Huntingdon College (9:30 a.m.) and Rhodes College (1:30
p.m.). The final two contests that will be picked up will be
the doubleheader against LaGrange College on Sunday, April 5,
beginning at 1:30 p.m.
In order you view the webcast, you need to have RealPlayer©
version 10 or newer installed on your computer. To download
the free version of RealPlayer©, go to www.real.com, and click on the "Get
RealPlayer© - Free" button on the upper-left side of the
screen.
After you click on the link, RealPlayer© should open automatically, and you should see the live video running on your computer. If you get an error message saying "Requested file not found," it means that the webcast has not yet been initiated, and you should try to access the webcast again, closer to the start of the event.
EMORY SOFTBALL POUNDS OUT WINS AGAINST
GREENSBORO AND MARYVILLE
(Feb. 15) - The Emory softball team
continued its hot-hitting ways in the final day of the Emory
Invitational on Sunday as it picked up wins against Greensboro
College and Maryville College. The Eagles opened the day with
an 8-0 win (6 innings) over the Pride of Greensboro before posting
a 9-3 triumph against Maryville. The two victories raised Emory's
record to 4-0.
The Eagles rapped out a total of 22 safeties including six
extra-base hits, over the two games. Freshman Jessica
Thomas followed up her Saturday performance with another big
effort, going a combined 4-for-6 at the plate with five RBIs.
Senior Kim Bandy registered five hits in eight plate appearances
while senior Liz White and Cassie Walsh each picked up safeties in
each contest.
In the decision over Greensboro, Bandy accounted for four of club's
11 hits and knocked in three runs, two coming a four-run third
inning that gave the Eagles a 7-0 edge. Thomas added a pair of RBIs
as well as two hits.
Emory used the long ball against the Scotts of Maryville with
Thomas and senior Carey Smith-Marchi coming through with their
third and first round trippers of the year, respectively.
Smith-Marchi's bomb came in the third inning and snapped a 1-1
tie. After the Scots battled back with a pair of runs in the
top of the fourth to tie the game, Thomas socked her third homer of
the season, a two-run blast, that put the Eagles ahead for
good. Emory added three more runs in the fifth and another in
the sixth for insurance.
Freshman pitcher Bridget Holloway tossed five solid innings against
Greensboro, allowing just three hits, in earning her second
win. Against Maryville, senior Shanon Andersen picked up the
victory after hurling 3 1/3 innings of relief, striking out four
and not allowing a hit.
Emory gets back into action next Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 21-22)
when it hosts the Emory Classic.
EMORY SOFTBALL OPENS 2009 SEASON WITH
TWO WINS
(Feb. 14) - Freshman left fielder
Jessica Thomas, playing in her first collegiate
contests, turned in a memorable afternoon in helping the Emory
softball team to a pair of victories on Saturday. The
Eagles came away with a 15-1 decision against Maryville College in
their first outing of the Emory Invitational before posting a
hard-fought 1-0 win in eight innings over Greensboro
College.
Thomas, a native of Springfield, Virginia, socked two
homers and drove in eight RBIs in the win over Maryville with her
RBI total representing the third-highest game mark in school
history. Her first blast came in the second inning and keyed
a four-run frame that put the Eagles ahead by a 5-1 margin.
The following inning she drove in five more runs with a grand slam
and a walk that forced in a run.
Emory recorded 15 safeties in the game with junior Caitlin
Fitzgerald and sophomore Zara Louy each
recording three hits while scoring a pair of runs. Junior
Shanon Andersen went the distance in the
five-inning affair, allowing four hits and striking out nine.
The second game of the afternoon was an entirely different story as
Andersen and Greensboro's Brittany Evans waged a pitching
duel. The Pride stranded a pair of runners in the third
inning while the Eagles left a pair in their half of the seventh
frame. Andersen went six innings and surrendered just four
hits while whiffing six. Freshman Bridget
Holloway earned the win in relief, tossing the final two
innings.
In the decisive eighth inning, with Zara Louy placed on second
base, junior Cassie Walsh bunted for a hit which
moved Louy to third. After Walsh swiped second base, Thomas
knocked in the game-winning run with a hard shot through the left
side of the infield. Evans went the distance for Greensboro
in defeat, giving up six hits and striking out one.
Emory, 2-0, returns to action on Sunday (Feb. 15) when it plays
Greensboro at 9:30 a.m. and Maryville at 1:30 p.m.
EMORY SOFTBALL OPENS 2009
CAMPAIGN
(Feb. 13) -- The Emory University softball team opens its
2009 campaign this weekend (Feb. 14-15) when it hosts the Emory
Invitational. Also participating in the Invitational are
Greensboro College and Maryville College. The Eagles will
play two games each day and get things started on Saturday with an
11:30 a.m. contest against Maryville College. Following that
tussle, Emory gets right back on the field for a 1:30 p.m. bout
against Greensboro. On Sunday, Emory will tangle with
Greensboro at 9:30 a.m. before closing out the Invitational with a
1:30 p.m. game against Maryville.
Emory Head Coach Penny Siqueiros begins her 11th season directing
the fortunes of the Eagles' program looking to land the program's
fourth consecutive and eighth overall bid to the NCAA
Tournament. The Eagles finished the 2008 campaign with an
overall record of 29-12 and were ranked 27th in the nation.
Emory returns 12 letterwinners from a year ago and has an
experienced cast of players with seven returning starters at the
positional spots.
On the mound, senior Shanon Andersen returns after
an outstanding 2008 campaign that saw her land a second-team berth
to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team. Andersen finished with
a 21-6 won-lost mark with her victory total establishing an Emory
seasonal record. She fanned 230 opposing batters, another
Emory record, and she finished among the top 25 nationally in
strikeouts per game (9.0). Also likely to see considerable
time on the mound this year will be freshmen Bridget
Holloway and Kelsey Floyd.
The outfield corps will be led by junior Cassie
Walsh, a two-time First Team All-University Athletic
Association honoree. Walsh was the lone Eagle to start all 41
games last season and finished with a batting average of .333 while
leading the team and UAA players in runs scored (44). Senior
Alyson Moler, a starter in 39 games last season,
will patrol the right field position while freshman Jessica
Thomas has impressed Siqueiros with her play in left field
during the preseason.
The infield will have familiar faces with senior Kim
Bandy at first base, junior Caitlin
Fitzgerald at second base, sophomore Nicole
Perez at shortstop and senior Liz White
at third. Those four players accounted for 144 games played
last season, 134 in a starting capacity. Bandy, a first-team pick
to the All-UAA squad, hit .411 in 2008, her second straight season
of .400 or better, and drove in 34 runs. Fitzgerald, a
starter in all 40 games in 2008, posted a batting average of .358
en route to second team all-region honors. She topped the
squad with 35 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 10 doubles.
Perez made a fine showing during her rookie season, registering a
.371 average while stealing 14 bases, second on the team, and
scoring 32 runs. White provided the team a solid defense presence
at the hot corner, appearing in 23 games, and looks to boost her
offensive production this year.
Sophomore Zara Louy enters the year as the starter
behind the plate after making the most of her playing opportunities
in 2008. She started 14 of the 25 games she saw action in and
hit .460 while displaying defensive prowess by handling 89 of 90
chances.
Emory hopes to receive another big effort from senior designated
player Carey Smith-Marchi who enjoyed a breakout
season in 2008. A starter in 38 of 39 contests, she came
through with a classy .396 batting average and was the team's lone
representative on the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team.