SEASON PREVIEW
GAME 1: Saint Peter's (0-0) at Coastal Carolina (6-3)
WHEN: Sat. Mar. 1, 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: CCU Softball Field, Conway, S.C.
opening pitch… The Saint Peter's softball team opens up the 2014 campaign on Saturday when the team competes in the Coastal Carolina Invitational.
scouting the chanticleers… Coastal Carolina comes into Saturday's tilt following games against Marshall and Maryland Eastern Shore on Friday. CCU is currently 6-3 overall, boasting a 5-1 home record. Bri Chiusano leads the team in hits (11) and runs (9). Kory Hayden leads the team in RBIs (12) and total bases (26). Pitcher Kiana Quolas is 4-2 overall with a 1.65 ERA.
GAME 2: Saint Peter's (0-0) vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (2-7)
WHEN: Sat. 1, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: CCU Softball Field, Conway, S.C.
scouting the hawks… Maryland Eastern Shore comes into Saturday's contest following games against Marshall and Coastal Carolina. UMES is currently 2-7 overall this season. Morgan King paces the Hawks in hits (13), runs (10) and RBIs (14). Trenece Nash and Emily Diseroad each have recorded nine hits on the season.
last time we met… The Peacocks dropped three of four games against the Hawks last season down in Maryland. Saint Peter's won the final game, 12-7, sparked by a homerun from Francesca D'Amato in the first inning. Lee Harrison finished with two hits and two runs in the ballgame.
GAME 3: Saint Peter's (0-0) vs. Marshall (2-8)
WHEN: Sun. Mar. 2, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: CCU Softball Field, Conway, S.C.
scouting the herd… Marshall currently stands at 2-8 on the season. The Herd is set to face Saint Peter's following games against Coastal, Samford and UMES. Kaelynn Greene leads the team in batting average (.444) and hits (16). Shaelynn Braxton leads the team in RBIs with 11.
GAME 4: Saint Peter's (0-0) vs. Samford (13-4)
WHEN: Sun. Mar. 2, 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: CCU Softball Field, Conway, S.C.
scouting the bulldogs… Samford is 13-4 this season, boasting a 6-1 record on a neutral field. Megan Dowdy is the offensive leader in batting average (.400), hits (24) and runs scored (8). Hannah Taylor leads the team in RBIs with 12. Grey Adams is 4-0 as a starting pitcher this season with a 3.99 ERA.
bringing back the offense… The Peacocks return its top three hitters in Lee Harrison, Francesca D'Amato and Chelsea Crews. Harrison led the Peacocks in hits (49), RBIs (24), homeruns (9), doubles (13), runs scored (30), batting average (.312) and slugging percentage (.567). D'Amato amassed 47 hits and 19 RBI. Crews recorded 40 hits and 15 RBI last season.
pitching staff intact… Saint Peter's returns three of its four starting pitchers from a year ago in Erica Colon, Tori Feorenzo and Harrison.
back on the field… Saint Peter's returns to action Mar. 8 when the team travels to Florida to compete in the Rebel Games.
preseason poll... The Saint Peter's softball team was picked 11th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Poll Marist was selected as preseason favorite to win the conference. Fairfield was picked second, followed by Monmouth, Siena, Canisius, Iona, Quinnipiac, Niagara, Manhattan, Rider and Saint Peter's to round out the poll.
new coaching staff… Saint Peter's welcome Ken Passante to the dugout in 2014. He brings years of experience, previously serving as an assistant coach at Adelphi University. He also had head coaching stints at Briarcliffe College and Suffolk Community College.
returning to the dugout… The Peacocks returns 12 players, including Erica Colon, Stephanie Gilronan, Taylor Corretjer, Francesca D'Amato, Tori Feorenzo, Lee Harrison, Kristi Kaneyuki, Nicole Olmedo, Aimee Schnecker, Michelle Tinajero and Amber Velasquez.
new to the flock… Head coach Ken Passante has added freshmen Crystal Carlucci, Candice Koch, Alyssa Ruiz and Samantha Storms to the 2014 squad.
