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 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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#8 Michigan (3-1) at #6 Florida State (4-1)
Site: Unconquered Invitational | JoAnne Graf Field |Tallahassee, Fla.
Date/ Game Time: Sat. Feb. 14 (4:45 & 7:00 p.m.)
Coverage: Live Stats | Live Audio (FSU)
Game Notes/Previews: Michigan (notes) | Florida State (notes)
Follow them on Twitter: @FSU_Softball | @umichsoftball
* Rematch of 2014 Super Regional that Florida State won in three games. Michigan won the opener 17-3, but the Seminoles rallied with 6-0 and 4-2 victories to advance to the WCWS
Florida State Tidbits: The sixth-ranked Seminoles are hosting their second straight tournament after going 3-1 in the opening weekend, which included a split with then-No. 6 Kentucky (3-2 & 1-3)… FSU is coming off a 12-5 mid-week victory over in-state foe Florida A&M… The Noles will face No. 8 Michigan twice, No. 19 Nebraska twice and Western Kentucky… Senior pitcher Lacey Waldrop was named ACC Pitcher of the Week, opening 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, four walks and 24 strikeouts… Waldrop and Bailey Schinella combined on six-inning no-hitter against Georgia Southern… Jessica Burroughs recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts in against then-No. 6 Kentucky on February 8… Burroughs and Waldrop both have 29 strikeouts in 16 innings… The pitching trio has allowed one earned run, struck out 59 and held opponents to a .120 batting average… Jessica Warren (2 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI), Schinella (1 2B, 1 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI) and Alex Powers (2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI) are all batting .333 through five games, while Victoria East has a team-best .444 average (4-9) with four runs scored.
Michigan Tidbits: The Wolverines return to the Sunshine State for the second straight weekend… Michigan went 3-1 at the USF Softball Classic picking up victories over the host Bulls, Hampton and Illinois State, while dropping a tough, 2-1 decision to No. 1 Florida… The pitching staff put forth a strong opening weekend, combining for a 1.27 ERA, 33 strikeouts and just 16 hits allowed… Sara Driesenga posted a pair of wins and a 0.00 ERA, while Megan Betsa boasted 17 strikeouts, including a career-best 14 against Hampton… Sierra Romero, who belted her first home run of the season against Hampton moved into five on the Wolverines’ all-time list with 42… Romerio was 4-for-10 in four games with a double, home run and four RBI… In addition, Michigan will play Western Kentucky and Georgia Tech twice.
Some Additional Major Division I Games This Weekend:
#3 Alabama at Stanford (RV) (2/13-14 at 8:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. ET) Live Stats
#19 Nebraska at #6 Florida State (2/13 at 4:45 p.m.) Live Stats | Audio (FSU)
Virginia Tech (RV) vs. James Madison (RV) (2/13 at 2:30 p.m. – Jacksonville, Fla.) Live Stats
#4 Oklahoma at #21 Arizona State (2/14-15 at 10:15 p.m./3:00 p.m. ET) Live Stats | Video
#11 Tennessee at USF (RV) (2/14 at 3:45 p.m.) Live Audio & Video
#18 Missouri vs. UCF (RV) (2/14 at 11:00 a.m. ET – Clermont, Fla.)
#13 Minnesota vs. UCF (RV) (2/15 at 11:30 a.m. ET – Clermont, Fla.) Live Stats
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#20 Notre Dame (4-1) at #16 LSU (5-0)
Site: Tiger Invitational | Tiger Park | Baton Rouge, La.
Date/ Game Time: Sat., Feb. 14 (4:00 p.m. ET) & Sun., Feb. 15 (12:30 p.m. ET)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @LSUsoftball | @NDSoftball
Game Notes/Previews: LSU (notes)
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish head south after a successful 4-1 trip out west at the SoCal Collegiate Classic… Notre Dame picked up wins over co-host and then No. 7 UCLA, 8-4, Utah, Northwestern State and the other co-host Cal St. Fullerton, who moved into the top 25 this week… Katey Haus was named ACC Player of the Week after a stellar opening weekend for the Irish… She batted .625 (10-for-16) with three home runs, eight RBI, a 1.250 slugging pct and .667 OBP… Cassidy Whidden opened the season by batting .538 (7-for-13) with three doubles, two home runs, six run scored and five RBI… In the circle, Allie Rhodes went 1-1 with a 2.47 ERA and 13 strikeouts, while holding her opponents to a .214 average… As a team, ND is batting .352 with five doubles, nine long balls, a .577 SLG% and .420 OBP.
LSU: The Tigers won all five games in their season-opening tournament and will be hosting a second straight one this weekend… LSU topped Memphis, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State and North Carolina State (twice)… Bianka Bell batted .562 (9-16) last weekend with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored… In the circle, Carley Hoover made her collegiate debut, going 1-0 with a save… She posted a 0.70 ERA with 15 strikeouts and allowed just five hits in 10 innings of work… The Tigers come into the weekend with a .366 batting average with 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs… The pitching staff posted a 1.06 ERA, held opponents to a .167 average (19 hits), struck out 41 and surrendered just one extra base hit… Allie Walljasper and Kelsee Selman each earned complete game shutouts.
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#4 Oklahoma (5-0) vs. #15 Washington (4-1)
Site: Littlewood Classic (Tournament Central) | Farrington Stadium | Tempe, Ariz.
Date/ Game Time: Fri., Feb. 13 (3:30 p.m. ET)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @OU_Softball | @UWSoftball
Game Notes/Previews: Oklahoma (notes) | Washington
Oklahoma Tidbits: The Sooners rolled to a 5-0 start, outscoring their opponents 52-5 at the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic in Honolulu… They defeated St. Mary’s, then No. 25 DePaul twice and host Hawaii twice… Freshman Paige Parker went 2-0 with a save and 20 strikeouts in 11.2 innings … The Big 12 Pitcher of the Week did not allow a run and surrendered just two hits, while tossed a perfect game in just her second collegiate start against the host Rainbow Wahine… Lauren Chamberlain was selected co-Big 12 Player of the Week after hitting .500 (6-12) with three home runs, 12 RBI, nine runs scored and nine walks (.714 OBP)… Macey Hatfield also batted .500 (5-10) for the Sooners, while Nicole Pendley knocked in six runs and scored seven… Shelby Pendley picked up the other three wins in the circle.. She struck out 13 and tossed one shutout… Along with Washington, OU will face Boston University, Illinois State and host No. 21 Arizona State (twice)
Washington Tidbits: The Huskies went 4-1 in their opening weekend at the UNLV Sportco Kick Off Classic… Washington picked up victories over CSU-Bakersfield, UC Davis, UNLV and Louisville… Junior Hailey Bator led the pitching staff with a 3-0 mark… Ali Aguilar batted .500 (9-18), two home runs and three RBI… Taylor Van Zee also batted .500 (8-16) with six RBI and a home run, while Courtney Gano belted three home runs and recorded a team-best seven RBI… Along with OU, UW will face Boston University, North Texas (twice) and Illinois State.
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Division II
#3 Dixie State (4-2) vs. #10 Cal State Monterey Bay (2-0)
Site: 2015 Desert Stinger Classic (Tournament Central) | Majestic Park | Las Vegas, Nev.
Date/ Game Time: Sun., Feb. 15 (5:00 p.m. ET)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @DIXIESTATESB | @otterathletics
Dixie State Tidbits: The Red Storm are coming off a 4-2 weekend at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Ariz… Dixie State rolled through pool play and its first bracket game by outscoring its opponents 39-3… However a seventh-inning home run (the only hit allowed) by Central Oklahoma (RV) ended its four-game winning streak with a 2-1 defeat… They would also fall to No. 1 West Texas A&M, 5-4 in eight innings… Aryn Feickert was named to the all-tournament team after going 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 18 innings of work… She allowed just five hits and held opponents to a .088 batting average… For the weekend, the Red Storm batted .350 and scored 44 runs… Courtney Hine topped the squad with a .421 batting average with six RBI and five runs scored… Janessa Bassett led the team with nine hits, six stolen bases and seven runs… DSU will also face No. 14 Augustana (S.D.), Central Washington, Western Washington and No. 19 Humboldt State.
Cal State Monterey Bay Tidbits: The Otters swept their season opening doubleheader with 1-0 and 9-1 (5) home victories over Hawaii-Hilo on Wednesday… Madison Casto Went 4-for-6 with a double and two RBI in the twinbill… Anneliese Lopexz and Danica Arterburn each scored twice, while Cori Reinhardt knocked in three runs… Reinhardt twirled a complete game shutout in game one, scattering six hits and striking out five… In the nightcap, Lindsey Clarkson allowed just one hit and an unearned run to picked up the victory… Reinhardt and Clarkson were named to the Schutt Sports NFCA Division II National Player of the Year Watchlist… The Otters were tabbed to repeat as CCAA Champions following a 48-12 campaign in 2014… They return eight position starters and as well as both pitchers…. CSUMB will also play Azuza Pacific, Western Oregon, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Western Washington.
Some Additional Major Division II Games This Weekend:
#3 Dixie State vs. #14 Augustana (2/13 at 9:50 p.m. ET – Las Vegas, Nev.) Live Stats
#14 Augustana vs. #19 Humboldt State (2/14 at 9:00 p.m. ET – Las Vegas, Nev.) Live Stats | Live Video
#25 Wingate at #9 North Georgia (2/14 at 4:00 p.m. ET) Live Stats
#16 St. Mary’s at #4 Southeastern Oklahoma State (2/14 at 11:00 a.m. ET)
#2 Valdosta State at Shorter (RV) (2/14-15 at 1/3 pm & 1:00 pm ET) Live Stats
#3 Dixie State vs. #19 Humboldt State (2/15 at 2:30 p.m. ET – Las Vegas, Nev.) Live Stats
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NAIA
#7 LSU Alexandria (5-0) at #2 William Carey (3-1) – DH
Site: Joseph & Nancy Fail Field | Hattiesburg, Miss.
Date/ Game Time: Sat., Feb. 14 (2:00 p.m.)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @lsuagenerals | @CareyAthletics
LSU-Alexandria Tidbits: The Generals are 4-0 which includes wins over Division I Grambling State (13-0) and Alcorn State (14-2 & 5-0) as well victories against Houston Victoria (12-8) and Central Baptist College (9-0)… LSUA finished 2014 at 35-5 winning the Association of Independent Institution (AII) championship and reaching the NAIA Softball World Series… The Generals are under first-year head coach Erica Harwell… They return six all-conference players in Kaylee Prather, Paulean Gonzalez, Julinn Torres, Brooke Thomas, Taylor Simon and Heather Bunn… Thomas was the league’s co-player of the Year… Torres, the Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Week, leads the Generals with a .556 average, two home runs and nine RBI.
William Cary Tidbits: The Crusaders opened the season splitting a twinbill with longtime rival Spring Hill College on Tuesday… William Carey earned the split with a 9-3 win in game two after dropping the opener, 3-2… The Crusaders are under first-year head coach Craig Fletcher, who has been an assistant with the program since 2006 and was last year’s NFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year… The Lady Crusaders finished 2014 52-12 and was the runner-up at the NAIA Softball World Series… They return five starters, including all three pitchers.. Relanda McFarland, who was named All-SSAC and to the NAIA World Series team, had a sensational 2014 season hitting .430 with 92 hits, 4 triples, 11 doubles, and 25 RBI… Starting pitchers Brittany Lang and Brittany Leblanc had strong 2014 campaigns… Lang was 25-4 with a 1.37 ERA, while LeBlanc posted a 22-8 mark with a 1.99 ERA and 134 strikeouts.
Some Additional Major NAIA Games This Weekend:
#17 Oregon Tech vs. #14 Biola (2/13 at Simpson Tournament | Redding, Calif.)
#11 Belhaven vs. #18 Houston-Victoria (2/13 at Cowtown Classic – Fort Worth, Texas)
#6 St. Gregory’s vs. Central Baptist (RV) (2/13 at Oklahoma Baptist Valentine Festival | Shawnee, Okla.)
#21 College of Idaho vs. #14 Biola (2/13 at Simpson Tourn. | Redding, Calif.)
#15 Concordia (Calif.) vs. #10 Simpson (Calif.) (2/14 – Simpson Tournament | Redding, Calif.)
#10 Simpson (Calif.) vs. #21 College of Idaho (2/14 Simpson Tournament | Redding, Calif.)
#15 Concordia (Ore.) vs. #14 Biola (2/14 Simpson Tourn. | Redding, Calif.)
Our Lady of the Lake (RV) vs. #5 Oklahoma City (2/14 – Cowtown Classic – Fort Worth, Texas)