Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, March 22
South Bend, Ind.
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Notre Dame
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Take on No. 23 Notre Dame in Tuesday Tilt
3/21/2016 10:47:00 AM | Softball
The Eagles will travel to South Bend, Ind., March 22
| Softball at No. 23 Notre Dame | |
| Date | Tuesday, March 22 |
| Location | South Bend, Ind. | Melissa Cook Stadium (1,250) |
| Game Notes | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | und.com/gametracker |
| Live Stream | WatchND |
| @EMUSoftball | @EMUAthletics | |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team returns to the diamond Tuesday, March 22, in South Bend, Ind. for a non-conference tune-up against No. 23 Notre Dame. The Eagles are coming off of a 2-3 showing at the College of Charleston Invitational, March 18-20, and will look to snap a three-game skid at Melissa Cook Stadium before opening Mid-American Conference play this weekend. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish come into the meeting with an 18-game win streak. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Fans can follow the game via live stats or through the free live stream at WatchND.tv.
KEYS TO VICTORY: Through the first 23 games on the season, several things have proven to be indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Green and White hold a 6-2 record when scoring in the first inning and sit at 8-1 on the year when outhitting its opponent. Additionally, the Eagles are 5-0 when leading after six innings and 6-2 when scoring six or more runs.
EMU AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED: Coming in at No. 23 in this week's polls, the University of Notre Dame is the second nationally ranked opponent the Eagles will face this season. The Green and White fell by a final tally of 14-1 in Ann Arbor last week, March 16, to the second-ranked Wolverines of the University of Michigan. A win over the Fighting Irish would give the Eagles their first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 22, 2009 when the Green and White knocked off No. 22 Louisville, 3-2, thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Stacie Skodinski in the top of the sixth inning.
TALE OF THE TAPE: Tuesday evening's contest between the Eagles and the Fighting Irish will pit the two squads against each other for the 20th time in program history. The two teams first met during the April 5, 1999. The Eagles won the first game of the doubleheader, 5-4, before the Fighting Irish took game two, 8-2. Notre Dame holds a 17-2 lead in the all-time series after taking the latest meeting, 10-2. Eastern Michigan is looking to capture its first victory over Notre Dame since the 2007 season, when they escaped with a 2-1 win at Melissa Cook Stadium, April 10.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles are coming off of a 2-3 showing at the College of Charleston Invitational, March 18-20. Eastern Michigan opened the weekend with wins over Brown and Central Connecticut before falling in its final three games of the weekend.
LOOKING FOR A PERFECT 10: Over the past nine games, junior Michelle Kriegshauser has seen her batting average rise from .273 to .333. With 10 hits in 22 at bats, Kriegshauser has recorded three doubles and a homerun over the stretch to go along with five RBIs and five runs scored. Should Kriegshauser reach base in Tuesday's game at Notre Dame, the junior will have done so in 10 consecutive games, marking the longest streak of the season for any Eagle.
FINDING HER STRIDE: Freshman Olivia Logan appears to have found her stride at the plate, as the Riverview, Mich. product is now hitting .281 on the season. Just nine games ago, Logan's batting average sat a hair above .200. Since EMU's final game in Clearwater, Fla., Logan has registered three two-baggers and driven in four on nine hits, all while compiling a .391 batting average since leaving the Sunshine State. The freshman first baseman registered her fourth multi-hit game of the season versus UConn, March 19, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a RBI.
NOTRE DAME BY THE NUMBERS: Since starting the year 4-3, Notre Dame has rattled off 18 consecutive wins, propelling it into the top-25. A potent offense paired with a strong pitching staff has the Fighting Irish outscoring opponents by 120 runs this season.
Notre Dame's team batting average stands at a staggering .356 with six different players hitting above .350 this season. Melissa Rochford leads the way with a team-best .471 batting average while driving in a team-high 29. Meanwhile, Caitlyn Brooks has blasted five home runs to lead the Fighting Irish. UND has been just as dangerous on the base paths as it has been at the plate, swiping 47 bases on 51 attempts this season. Karley Wester has been the Fighting Irish's top speed threat, with 22 steals to her credit this season.
In the circle, Notre Dame has received contributions from five different hurlers this season. Together, the pitching staff has compiled a 2.55 earned run average with five shutouts. Additionally, UND has fanned 161 batters while holding opponents to a .221 clip at the plate.
LATE INNING BREAKDOWN: Late innings have proven to be a thorn in the side of the Green and White this season. While the Eagles have outscored opponents 51-36 in innings two and three, EMU has been outscored 78-32 in the final four frames through the first 23 games.
GROWING PAINS: The young Eagles squad committed 35 errors through the first 18 games of the season but has since cleaned up its defensive play. Over the past five games, the Eagles have totaled just two miscues, both of which came in EMU's loss to Connecticut, March 19.
ON DECK: After Tuesday's trip to South Bend, Ind. the Eagles will open Mid-American Conference play, March 25-26, in Akron, Ohio. The Green and White will play three games versus the Zips to begin the MAC schedule with the first game set for Friday, March 25, at 3 p.m.
DOUBLE MACHINE: Exactly half of freshman Amanda Akles' hits on the season have been of the extra-base variety. In fact, the La Habra, Calif. native is tied for third in the conference with six doubles. Additionally, her half a dozen leaves her 11 short of the EMU record for doubles in a season with 32 games to play.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Michelle Kriegshauser may just be starting her third season donning the Green and White but the New Lenox, Ill. product has powered her way into the EMU record books. Coming into the season, Kriegshauser had recorded 25 doubles, tied for 16th in EMU history. With six two-baggers through EMU's first game, Kriegshauser has catapulted herself into a tie for ninth place with 31 career doubles. She is just six doubles behind Val Canfield in the eighth spot and trails the program record holder, McKenna Russ, by 13.
Fans can follow the game via live stats or through the free live stream at WatchND.tv.
KEYS TO VICTORY: Through the first 23 games on the season, several things have proven to be indicators of Eastern Michigan's success. The Green and White hold a 6-2 record when scoring in the first inning and sit at 8-1 on the year when outhitting its opponent. Additionally, the Eagles are 5-0 when leading after six innings and 6-2 when scoring six or more runs.
EMU AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED: Coming in at No. 23 in this week's polls, the University of Notre Dame is the second nationally ranked opponent the Eagles will face this season. The Green and White fell by a final tally of 14-1 in Ann Arbor last week, March 16, to the second-ranked Wolverines of the University of Michigan. A win over the Fighting Irish would give the Eagles their first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 22, 2009 when the Green and White knocked off No. 22 Louisville, 3-2, thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Stacie Skodinski in the top of the sixth inning.
TALE OF THE TAPE: Tuesday evening's contest between the Eagles and the Fighting Irish will pit the two squads against each other for the 20th time in program history. The two teams first met during the April 5, 1999. The Eagles won the first game of the doubleheader, 5-4, before the Fighting Irish took game two, 8-2. Notre Dame holds a 17-2 lead in the all-time series after taking the latest meeting, 10-2. Eastern Michigan is looking to capture its first victory over Notre Dame since the 2007 season, when they escaped with a 2-1 win at Melissa Cook Stadium, April 10.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles are coming off of a 2-3 showing at the College of Charleston Invitational, March 18-20. Eastern Michigan opened the weekend with wins over Brown and Central Connecticut before falling in its final three games of the weekend.
LOOKING FOR A PERFECT 10: Over the past nine games, junior Michelle Kriegshauser has seen her batting average rise from .273 to .333. With 10 hits in 22 at bats, Kriegshauser has recorded three doubles and a homerun over the stretch to go along with five RBIs and five runs scored. Should Kriegshauser reach base in Tuesday's game at Notre Dame, the junior will have done so in 10 consecutive games, marking the longest streak of the season for any Eagle.
FINDING HER STRIDE: Freshman Olivia Logan appears to have found her stride at the plate, as the Riverview, Mich. product is now hitting .281 on the season. Just nine games ago, Logan's batting average sat a hair above .200. Since EMU's final game in Clearwater, Fla., Logan has registered three two-baggers and driven in four on nine hits, all while compiling a .391 batting average since leaving the Sunshine State. The freshman first baseman registered her fourth multi-hit game of the season versus UConn, March 19, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a RBI.
NOTRE DAME BY THE NUMBERS: Since starting the year 4-3, Notre Dame has rattled off 18 consecutive wins, propelling it into the top-25. A potent offense paired with a strong pitching staff has the Fighting Irish outscoring opponents by 120 runs this season.
Notre Dame's team batting average stands at a staggering .356 with six different players hitting above .350 this season. Melissa Rochford leads the way with a team-best .471 batting average while driving in a team-high 29. Meanwhile, Caitlyn Brooks has blasted five home runs to lead the Fighting Irish. UND has been just as dangerous on the base paths as it has been at the plate, swiping 47 bases on 51 attempts this season. Karley Wester has been the Fighting Irish's top speed threat, with 22 steals to her credit this season.
In the circle, Notre Dame has received contributions from five different hurlers this season. Together, the pitching staff has compiled a 2.55 earned run average with five shutouts. Additionally, UND has fanned 161 batters while holding opponents to a .221 clip at the plate.
LATE INNING BREAKDOWN: Late innings have proven to be a thorn in the side of the Green and White this season. While the Eagles have outscored opponents 51-36 in innings two and three, EMU has been outscored 78-32 in the final four frames through the first 23 games.
GROWING PAINS: The young Eagles squad committed 35 errors through the first 18 games of the season but has since cleaned up its defensive play. Over the past five games, the Eagles have totaled just two miscues, both of which came in EMU's loss to Connecticut, March 19.
ON DECK: After Tuesday's trip to South Bend, Ind. the Eagles will open Mid-American Conference play, March 25-26, in Akron, Ohio. The Green and White will play three games versus the Zips to begin the MAC schedule with the first game set for Friday, March 25, at 3 p.m.
DOUBLE MACHINE: Exactly half of freshman Amanda Akles' hits on the season have been of the extra-base variety. In fact, the La Habra, Calif. native is tied for third in the conference with six doubles. Additionally, her half a dozen leaves her 11 short of the EMU record for doubles in a season with 32 games to play.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Michelle Kriegshauser may just be starting her third season donning the Green and White but the New Lenox, Ill. product has powered her way into the EMU record books. Coming into the season, Kriegshauser had recorded 25 doubles, tied for 16th in EMU history. With six two-baggers through EMU's first game, Kriegshauser has catapulted herself into a tie for ninth place with 31 career doubles. She is just six doubles behind Val Canfield in the eighth spot and trails the program record holder, McKenna Russ, by 13.
Players Mentioned
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Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25