Softball Set to Take on No. 25 South Florida in Midweek Action

Softball at No. 25 South Florida
Date	Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 \| 6 p.m.
Venue	USF Softball Stadium \| Tampa, Fla.
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

TAMPA, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) - Out to its best start since the 2013 season, the Eastern Michigan University softball team faces a tall task Wednesday, Feb. 22, as EMU takes on No. 25 South Florida at USF Softball Stadium in Tampa, Fla. First pitch between the Eagles and Bulls is set for 6 p.m.

LEVEL PEGGING THROUGH SIX: The Eagles began the 2017 season 3-1 through four games, matching its best record to open the season since 2009. After dropping its final two games of opening weekend, EMU sits at 3-3, the best six-game mark to start the season since 2013.

STARTING THE SEASON OUT THE RIGHT WAY: With a 7-6 walk-off win over Boston in its season opener, Eastern Michigan moved to 19-17-1 all-time in lid lifters. Additionally, the Eagles won their season opener for the first time since 2014.

WALK-OFF WINNERS: Of EMU's three wins over the weekend, two of them came in the final at bat of the game.
   First, in the Eagles season opener, EMU trailed Boston, 6-4, going into the bottom of the seventh. Then, after an RBI single pulled EMU within one, senior Michelle Kriegshauser stepped to the plate. Battling in the box, a wild pitch brought home the tying run, before Kriegshauser ripped a 3-2 delivery into the outfield to score Ariana Chretien from third. The walk-off single, gave the Eagles a 7-6 win.
   In its second win of the weekend, Eastern came out on top in a back-and-forth game against Siena. Trailing 9-7 after the Saints plated four in the top of the sixth, the Eagles showed patience at the plate. Drawing a two walks and reaching on an error, the Eagles loaded the bases for Kriegshauser. The New Lenox, Ill. native came up clutch again, earning a free pass to walk in the winning run, sealing a 10-9 victory for EMU.

I'LL CASH YOU OUT ON THE BASES, HOW BOW DAH: Through the first six games of the 2017 season, it seems as though opponents have forgotten that EMU catcher Taylor Wagner led the Mid-American Conference in runners caught stealing back in 2015. Recovering from injury and only appearing in limited action last season, Wagner appears to be back in Second Team All-MAC form. The Marshalltown, Iowa product threw out five base runners at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational, Feb. 17-19. Thanks in large part to Wagner's quick release and cannon behind the plate, opponents are just 5-of-11 in stolen base attempts this season, including an impressive 3-for-8 against Wagner.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Wednesday night's single game showdown pits the Eagles and Bulls against each other for the 14th time since the series began in 1986. Eastern trails in the all-time tally, 9-4, with the last meeting coming back during the 2009 season.
   South Florida blanked Eastern, 5-0, back on Feb. 20, 2009.
The Eagles managed only three hits in the contest, with Stacie Skodinski going 2-for-3 at the plate. Jaclyn Caro was the only other Eagle to record a hit. The last time the Green and White defeated USF was March 13, 1993, when EMU came away with a 7-4 victory at the South Florida Tournament.

SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA: South Florida welcomes the Eagles to USF Softball Stadium boasting a 6-3 overall record, with its only losses coming to ranked opponents.
   As a team, the Bulls are hitting a hefty .300 at the plate and average just over five runs per game. Astin Donavon is hitting a team-high .448 at the plate, while three Bulls have 5-or-more RBIs so far this season.
   In the circle, USF owns a team earned run average of 2.48. Kalen McGill has been a force for the Bulls, striking out 21 over a team-high 23.1 innings.

EMU AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED: The Eagles are 0-15 against ranked opponents since knocking off No. 23 Louisville during the 2009 season. EMU upended the Cardinals, 3-2, Feb. 22, 2009.

SENIORS SHOW THE WAY: Seniors Abbie Minsker, Michelle Kriegshauser, and Taylor Wagner led the way for the Eagles on opening weekend. Minsker allowed just two runs over 11.0 innings of work, while Wagner and Kriegshauser paced the Green and White at the plate. Wagner hit a team-best .438 over the weekend, and Kriegshauser ranked second on the tean with a .381 batting average.

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Eastern Michigan's defense was costly in 2016, as the Green and White finished the season with a Mid-American Conference-worst .964 fielding percentage. EMU committed a total of 78 errors over the course of the season, the most of any team in the conference. To say this season's defense is much improved would be an understatement. In fact, the Eagles have been charged with just three errors through their first six games, compared to nine in the first six games of the 2016 season. Furthermore, the Green and White lead the league with a .982 fielding percentage this season, the 18th-best in the nation.

EAGLES IN THE SUNSHINE STATE: Since the 2014 season, the Eagles hold a 21-23 record when playing in the state of Florida. After compiling a 4-11 mark in Head Coach Melissa Gentile's first season at the helm, the Eagles have won 17-of-29 games in the Sunshine State since. This season, EMU is 3-3 in games played in Florida.

NEARING THAT CENTURY MARK: Two EMU hurlers are approaching the century mark in career strikeouts. Sophomore Nicolle Miranda sits at 94 for her career, while junior Trisha Trujillo is just behind her with 93 career K's.

EAGLES VERSUS THE AMERICAN: The Green and White have squared off with teams from the American Athletic Conference 37 times in the program's history. The Eagles sit at 11-26 against the Providence, R.I.-based conference. Eastern Michigan has played against five of the league's seven teams, including Central Florida, Connecticut, East Carolina, South Florida, and Tulsa. EMU leads in the one-game series with Tulsa, having beat UT, 5-0, back in 1995. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan trails in the series with UCF (0-5), UConn (0-3), and USF (4-9). Despite six wins against East Carolina, the Eagles still trail, 6-9, all-time.

RECORD WATCH: Senior Michelle Kriegshauser heads into Wednesday's game against USF one double shy of tying the EMU career record. With 43 career doubles to her credit, Kriegshauser trails McKenna Russ' program standard by one.

LEAVING HER MARK: Throughout her career, senior Michelle Kriegshauser has become one of the best offensive players to come through Eastern Michigan. She currently sits fifth with 20 home runs, is tied for second all-time with 43 doubles, and 10th all-time with 83 runs batted in. The New Lenox, Ill. native is also just outside the top-15 in career hits and runs, while her career batting average of .357 is the top mark in program history.

ON DECK: After Wednesday night's showdown with No. 20 South Florida, the Eagles return to Madeira Beach, Fla. for their second and final weekend of play at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational, Feb. 24-26. EMU will play Georgetown, Brown, Columbia, Stony Brook, and Detroit Mercy in its final weekend of action in Florida.

Softball Set to Take on No. 25 South Florida in Midweek Action

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Players Mentioned

Ariana Chretien

Michelle Kriegshauser

Abbie Minsker

Nicolle Miranda

Trisha Trujillo

Taylor Wagner

Eastern Michigan Athletics