LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Throughout the 2015 softball season, those of us at the NFCA will feature some of the sport’s highest-profile contests in our “Featured Five” Games of the Week segment.
Each weekly installment will be released on Thursday, providing live stat links, game notes, returnee info, Twitter accounts and any available broadcast links in hopes of becoming another source for fans to visit during the season for information on some of collegiate softball’s best games.
As the year continues, we will attempt to expand our focus to include match-ups throughout as many divisions as possible. This week’s featured games come from NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.
We may not be able to highlight every division or big game each week, but our hope is to provide a spotlight for as many different teams and games as possible throughout 2015.
Make sure you follow the NFCA on social media through Twitter (@NFCAorg) and on Facebook (NFCA) and let us know what you think of our new “Featured Five” segment.
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No. 4 Michigan (31-5, 5-1) at No. 14 Minnesota (29-5 / 5-1) – Big Ten Series
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium | Minneapolis, Minn.
Date (Game Time): Fri., April 3 (6:00 CT) | Sat., April 4 (1:00 CT) | Sun, April 5 (12:00 CT)
Coverage: BTN Plus (Friday) | BTN (Sat. & Sun.) | Audio | Live Stats (G1 / G2 / G3)
Previews (Game Notes): Michigan (Notes) | Minnesota (Notes)
Follow them on Twitter: @umichsoftball | @GopherSoftball
Michigan: The Wolverines are coming off a Big Ten series win over Iowa at home last weekend… Michigan won the first two games (6-0 / 7-4), but succumbed to a late game-three rally and fell to the Hawkeyes, 6-4 snapping a nine-game winning streak… UM is batting .335 with 289 runs scored, 69 home runs and 49 stolen bases in 54 attempts… The pitching staff has posted a .170 ERA, eight shutouts, 237 strikeouts and held opponents to a .199 average… The Wolverine are also stout defensively, committing just 22 errors in 889 attempts for a .976 fielding percentage… UM’s hottest hitter, Kelly Christner, is riding a nine-game hitting streak in which she is batting .552 (16-for-29/6 HR/13 RBI)… It has brought her average to .405 with eight doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 26 RBI, 47 runs scored, a .811 slugging percentage and .515 OBP… Sierra Romero continues to lead most offensive categories, batting .506 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 49 runs scored, a 1.101 slugging percentage and .688 OBP…Both Kelsey Susalla and Sierra Lawrence have launched eight home runs and knocked in 37 and 33 runs, respectively with Lawrence scoring 42 times and swiping a team-best 17 bases in 18 attempts… In the circle, Megan Betsa (14-3, 1.59 ERA, 2 SV) and Haylie Wagner (13-2, 2.15 ERA, 3 SV) see the majority of the innings… Betsa has struck out 143, recorded 10 complete games and held opponents to a .179 batting average in 97 innings… Wagner has tossed 91 innings with 71 strikeouts to 17 walks, seven complete games and a .205 batting average against.
Minnesota: The Gophers won its Big Ten series at Nebraska, opening with 8-7 and 8-3 victories, but fell in the finale, 5-3 having their program-record 15-game winning streak snapped… The series against Michigan will be the first games at home for Minnesota as it played 34 games away from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium before this weekend… The Gophers offense is batting .345 with 252 runs, 54 home runs and 69 stolen bases… Its pitching staff has posted a 2.35 ERA and held opponents to a .233 batting average… First-round NPF draft pick (Dallas Charge), Kaitlyn Richardson is batting .410 with 43 hits, nine doubles, eight hoe runs 35 RBI and 24 runs scored… Hannah Granger leads the squad with a .413 average to go along with six doubles, eight long balls and 33 RBI… Erica Meyer (.379) has posted a team-best 30 runs and 11 doubles, while Tyler Walker (.348) has attributed a team-high nine home runs and 41 RBI… Sara Groenewegen is the go to arm on the Gopher pitching staff… She is 18-3 with a 1.31 ERA, four shutouts, 14 complete games, 190 strikeouts and held her opponents to a .169 average in 128 innings of work… Groenewegen also helps out offensively with a .350 average, five double, seven home runs and 24 RBI.
Some Additional Major Division I Games This Weekend:
No. 11 Tennessee (26-7) at No. 7 Auburn (35-4) (4/2-4 at 6:00 / 6:00 / 3:30 CT) Coverage
No. 21 Missouri (22-7) at No. 9 Georgia (29-9) (4/3-5 at 6:00 / 2:00 / 2:00 ET) Coverage
No. 24 James Madison (27-6) at RV Hofstra (17-7-1) (4/3-4 at 2:00 & 4:00 / 12:00 ET) Coverage
RV South Carolina (25-12) at No. 3 Florida (32-4) (4/3-5 at 6:00 / 1:00 / 3:30 ET) Coverage
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#1 Oregon (30-4, 8-1) at #10 UCLA (30-6, 5-1) – Pac-12 Series
Site: Easton Stadium | Los Angeles, Calif.
Date/ Game Time: Fri. April 3 (5:00 PT), Sat., April 4 (2:00 PT), Sun., April 5 (12:00 PT)
Coverage: Pac-12 Networks | Live Stats | ESPN2 (Sunday) | Live Audio
Preview (Notes): Oregon (Notes) | UCLA (Notes)
Follow them on Twitter: @OregonSB | @UCLASoftball
Oregon: The newly minted No. 1 Ducks won four of five games last week, including a league series win over Washington… They are atop the Pac-12 standings, and along with UCLA own the fewest losses (1), but have three-games in hand on the Bruins as this will be their fourth series… Cheridan Hawkins threw her first career perfect game in Friday’s opener against the Huskies and the Ducks belted a program-record eight home runs in the series finale… Five of those long balls came in the third, tying a NCAA record… Oregon is batting .369 with 264 runs scored, while the pitching staff has allowed 97 runs and is posting a 2.26 ERA… The Ducks balanced offense has 11 players (50-plus AB) batting above .300, four at .400 or better, five with 24-to-29 RBI, six scoring between 21 and 37 runs and 12 players leaving the yard… Janie Takeda, who was drafted by the NPF’s Dallas Charge on Wednesday, tops the Ducks in batting average (.438), hits (46), triples (3) and stolen bases (26-27), to go along with 34 runs, six doubles and 19 RBI… Jenna Lilly is batting .408 with a team-leading 37 runs, 10 doubles, 29 RBI, 20 walks and a .516 OBP In just 51 at bats, Gwen Svekis is batting .451 with 23 hits, 18 runs, five doubles, three triples, four home runs, 22 RBI, a .908 slugging percentage and .508 OBP… Hailey Decker leads the Ducks with eight home runs… Hawkins is 15-2 with six shutouts, a 0.43 ERA, 10 complete games, 122 strikeouts, six saves and a .123 opponents batting average in 97 innings.
UCLA: The Bruins are coming off a light week in which they dropped the final game of their series at Washington and defeated Cal State Northridge in 10 innings… The Bruins did take the series from the Huskies, winning games one and two… Two Bruins seniors were drafted in the sixth round on Wednesday night in the 2015 NPF Draft; Ally Carda (Dallas Charge) and Stephany LaRosa (Chicago Bandits)… UCLA bats .360 with 271 runs and 32 home runs, while its pitching staff has a 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts and 266 strikeouts… Eight players bat .308 or better led by Allexis Bennett (.515) and Delaney Spaulding (.404).. Bennett tops the squad in average, hits (53), OBP (.536) and stolen bases (13-15) to go along with 32 runs and five doubles… Spaulding leads UCLA with 38 runs, 14 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI and a .750 slugging percentage… Ally Carda paces the pitching staff with a 16-3 record, 1.43 ERA, 25 appearances, 14 starts, seven shutouts, three saves (tie), 171 strikeouts, 117.2 innings and a .139 opponents batting average.
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#5 Alabama (27-7, 8-4) at #13 Kentucky (24-9, 3-6) – SEC Series
Site: John Cropp Stadium | Lexington, Ky.
Date/ Game Time: Fri. April 3 (5:00 ET), Sat., April 4 (12:00 ET), Sun., April 5 (3:30 ET)
Coverage: SEC Network+ (Fri.) / ESPNU &WatchESPN (Sat.) / SEC Network & SEC+ (Sun.) |Live Stats (G1 / G2 / G3) | Audio (Alabama)
Follow them on Twitter: @AlabamaSB | @UKsoftball
Alabama: The Crimson Tide are coming off a pair of mid-week run-rule victories over Mississippi Valley State (17-1) and Southern Miss (12-1)… Prior to that, Alabama took two-of-three in a SEC home series versus Texas A&M (13-0 / 8-5 / 5-11)… The Tide offense is batting .332 with 236 runs and 68 stolen bases, while the pitching staff has a 1.93 ERA, 11 shutouts, 234 strikeouts and a .201 opponents batting average against… Defensively, Alabama has committed just 21 errors in 852 attempts for a .976 fielding percentage… Haylie McCleney (.489) and SEC Freshman of the Week Demi Turner (.468) pace an offense that has six starters batting .302 or better… Along with batting average, McCleney leads the team in runs (40), doubles (10), walks (31), stolen bases (24), slugging (.691) and OBP (.614)… Turner has a team-best 51 hits and four triples, to go along with 30 runs, five doubles, two long ball, 30 RBI and14 stolen bases… Marisa Runyon has launched a team-high six long balls and knocked in a team-high 34 runs… Alexis Osorio (11-3, 2.02 ERA) leads the pitching staff with 93.1 innings, 11 wins (tie), 110 strikeouts, 18 appearances, 15 starts and 11 complete games and has held opponents to a .179 batting average… Sydney Littlejohn is 11-1 with a 1.29 ERA, four shutouts, 54 strikeouts, .178 opponents batting average against in 65.1 innings.
Kentucky: The Wildcats are in the midst of four straight weekend SEC series against top-10 programs (Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Florida) … Kentucky is coming off a big weekend in which it took two-of-three from then-No. 1 LSU, winning the first two games of the series (3-1 / 5-2) before dropping the finale (0-2)… Prior to the weekend, UK picked up mid-week road win over in-state rival Louisville (4-0)… Christian Stokes leads the Wildcat offense with a .378 average, 42 hits, 26 Runs, six doubles, six home runs, 613 slugging percentage and .440 OBP… NPF Draft Pick (Akron Racers) Griffin Joiner is batting .333 (31-93) with five doubles a triple, six home runs an team-best 30 RBI, .602 slugging percentage and .438 OBP… In the circle, Kelsey Nunley does most of the work, logging a staff-high 102 innings with 21 appearances and 13 starts… Nunley is 11-5 with a 1.65 ERA, 90 strikeouts, three saves and a .209 batting average against.
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Division II
No. 1 Valdosta State (36-2, 19-1) at No. 13 Alabama-Huntsville (25-8, 14-5) – Gulf South Series
Site: Charger Park | Huntsville, Ala.
Date/Game Time: Fri., April 3 (12:00 / 2:00 CT) | Sat., April 4 (1:00 CT)
Coverage: Audio (Valdosta State) | Live Stats
Previews: Valdosta State | Alabama-Huntsville
Follow them on Twitter: @VStateSoftball | @UAHChargers
Valdosta State: The Blazers ascended to No. 1 two weeks ago and were the near unanimous choice this week… VSU is riding a NCAA-best 26-game winning streak after posting a pair of non-conference mid-week wins over Young Harris (12-0 / 6-3)… It is their longest winning streak since a 36-game streak in 2012… The Blazers are 19-1 in league play with their only and last lost coming at the hands of Shorter on Feb. 14 and are the front-runners (4.5 game lead over North Alabama) to host the Gulf South Conference Tournament should they maintain their hold on the No. 1 spot… The Blazers’ offense is batting .323 with 60 home runs, 295 runs scored and 64 stolen bases… The pitching staff is another big reason for their success as it has posted a 1.28 ERA, held opponents to a .163 batting average and just 50 runs scored this season… Three-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA DII National Pitcher of the Week, Caitlyn Calhoun is the ace of the staff… She is 21-1 with a 0.80 ERA, 176 strikeouts/20 walks, 14 shutouts, four no-hitters and 22 complete game in 22 appearances, while surrendering just 64 hits and holding her opponents to a .133 batting average in 140 innings… Huntyre Elling has a no-hitter to her credit as well and is 10-0 with a 1.89 ERA and held her opponents to a .196 batting average in 66.2 innings of work… Despite the loss of All-American Courtney Allbritton (.500/12 HR/34 R/21 RBI) 15 games ago to an injury, the offense is still producing… Jaime Phillips leads the way, batting .438 (39-for-89) with 50 runs scored, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBI, 1.000 slugging percentage, 36 walks and a .614 OBP… Brandy Morgan (.330) has left the yard nine times and knocked in a team-best 40 runs, while Fran Johnson (.350) leads the squad in runs scored (41) and stolen bases (18-for-18), along with eight long balls and 32 RBI… Defensively, the Blazers have committed just 21 errors in 914 attempts for a .978 fielding percentage.
UAH: The Chargers are looking to bounce back from being swept by North Alabama last weekend in a Gulf South series… Prior to that series, UAH was just a game in the loss column behind Valdosta State, but now trail the Blazers by 4.5 games… UAH will welcome the return to Charger Park, where it bats .355, 25 points higher than its overall season mark… Along with the .329 batting average, the Chargers are one of the top teams in Division II in swiping bases (85/2.48 per game)… Offensively, Brianna Sullivan leads the Chargers, batting .419 (44-for-1-5) with five doubles, 16 RBI, 25 RBI and is 23-of-26 in stolen bases… Michal Robertson (.400) has eight doubles, a triple, seven long ball, 28 RBI and 22 runs scored… Kaitlyn Bannister (.355) leads the squad with nine doubles, eight long balls, 40 RBI and 29 runs scored… All four pitchers have made 10-plus appearances and between six and 12 starts… It is led by Kimberly Jack, who is 9-3 with a 0.92 ERA, three saves, two shutouts, 42 strikeouts and a .189 opponents batting average against in 76 innings… Taylor Doriety (4-0, 1.01 ERA, 41.2 IP), Tyler Harrison (7-2, 2.52, 50.0) and Emily Glover (5-3, 2.64, 45.0) make up the rest of the Charger staff.
Other Highlighted DII Games
No. 4 Dixie State (31-6) at No. 19 California Baptist (32-6) (4/3-4 at 5:00 & 7:00 / 12:00 & 2:00 PT) Live Stats
No. 24 Sonoma State (27-10) at No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay (30-8) (4/3-4 at 1:00 & 3:00 / 12:00 & 2:00 PT) Live Stats | Audio
RV LIU Post (11-6) at No. 20 Southern New Hampshire (11-3) (4/3 at 3:30 & 5:30 ET) Live State (G1 / G2)
No. 15 Southern Indiana (23-3) at No. 11 Indianapolis (24-6) (4/4 at 12:00 & 2:00 ET) Live Stats
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Division III
No. 21 Christopher Newport (17-6) at No. 2 Salisbury (20-1)
Site: SU Softball Field | Salisbury, Md.
Date/Game Times: Sat., April 4 at 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. ET
Coverage: Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Live Video: Game 1 | Game 2
Follow them on Twitter: @CNUSoftball | @SalisburySB
Christopher Newport: The No. 21 (17-6) Captains are powered by NFCA Third Team All-American Sabrina Hill, who has a team-best four home runs and 25 RBI to accompany a .329 average, 17 runs, three doubles and just one error in 154 chances at first base. … Other key lineup contributors with senior Hill include freshman shortstop Brittney Walters (.449, nine doubles, two homers, 22 RBI), junior outfielder Meagan Jones (.408, 25 runs, four doubles, three homers, 22 RBI, seven steals) and junior second baseman Tori Clarke (.391, 17 runs, five doubles, three homers, 18 RBI, one error in 71 chances). … In the circle, junior left-hander Hanah Marshall (9-2, 2.65 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 71.1 innings) and sophomore righty Krista Lewis (8-4, 3.37 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 72.2 innings) have split time equally, combining for 84 strikeouts and just 47 walks in 144 innings, while allowing 2.7 runs per game. … The Captains come into the doubleheader off Wednesday’s run-rule sweep of Mary Washington that extended their win streak to six games.
Salisbury: NFCA First Team All-Americans Kim Dorsey, Paige Knussman and Rachel Johnson fuel the attack for the (20-1) Sea Gulls, the current No. 2-ranked team in the NFCA Division III Top 25 and last season’s runner-up to two-time reigning NCAA titlist Tufts. … Junior shortstop Dorsey (31 runs, eight doubles, six homers, 14 walks, four steals) is batting a team-best .492 for Salisbury, while junior first baseman Knussman (.418, 18 runs, three doubles, four homers, two steals, team-best 31 RBI), freshman outfielder LeAnne Collins (.418, 20 runs, three doubles, seven RBI, three steals) and junior designated player/pitcher Annah Brittingham (.400, two doubles, two homers, 11 RBI) are all key contributors in a lineup hitting .358 as a unit. … Senior right-hander Johnson, meanwhile, has continued to be one of the most dominant pitchers in Division III, compiling a 13-1 record with a 0.70 ERA, five shutouts, 11 runs (eight earned), 12 walks and 112 strikeouts in 80.1 innings this season. She struck out 15 of 21 batters in an 1-0 perfect-game victory over Stevenson in the first game of a twinbill sweep on Wednesday. … Brittingham has started five games in place of Johnson and has a 7-0 record in 10 appearances with a 1.15 ERA, two shutouts, 22 walks and 47 strikeouts over 54.2 innings. … The Sea Gulls’ lone loss this season was a 3-1 defeat in the second game of a March 10 doubleheader at then-No. 10 Virginia Wesleyan.
Other highlighted Division III games:
Bates at No. 1 Tufts (4/5 at 1 & 3 p.m. ET)
Concordia at No. 3 East Texas Baptist (4/2 at 7 p.m. ET, 4/3 at 1 & 3 p.m. ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
Texas-Dallas at No. 3 Texas-Tyler (4/2 at 7 p.m. ET, 4/3 at 3 & 5 p.m. ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
No. 5 Luther at Coe (4/4 at 3 & 5 p.m. ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
No. 6 Rowan at No. 25 College of New Jersey (4/2 at 3 & 5 p.m. ET) LIVE STATS
No. 20 Augustana (Ill.) at No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan (4/4 at 1 & 3 p.m. ET) LIVE STATS