Softball Plays Back-To-Back Conference Doubleheaders This Weekend

Scouting the Hawks
Monmouth posts a 17-10 overall record this season, with an 8-1 record in Northeast Conference play. Their conference record ranks the Hawks first in the NEC, as their only loss came against Wagner on April 11. The team most recently swept non-conference opponent, Lehigh, in a doubleheader on April 14. Senior catcher Jessica Nicola leads the team offensively, as she bats .368 through 27 games played with 32 hits and 16 RBI. Junior RHP Melissa Mehrer has seen the most time on the circle for Monmouth this season, as she posts a 3.09 ERA through 18 appearances with 59 strikeouts.

Scouting the Mountaineers
The Mount currently holds a 21-16 record on the year, with a 4-4 even record in NEC action. Their .500 record in conference play currently ties them in fifth place just behind Quinnipiac in fourth. The team most recently dropped two consecutive doubleheaders against Wagner and Long Island on April 10 and 11. Junior Beth Everist leads the team from the plate as she bats .352 with 31 hits and 23 RBI. Sophomore Amanda Sadowl has pitched in 24 games this season for the Mount, posting a 3.91 ERA with 57 strikeouts.

Eight is Great
Freshman pitcher Alex Alba (Sylmar, Calif.) pitched in her ninth appearance of the season against Fairfield on April 15. The rookie pitched six complete innings and allowed one run on four hits. Alba set her career-high mark for strikeouts in a game as she fanned eight batters on the day. She bested her previous mark set against Western Michigan on Mar. 6 when she struck out six in the match-up.

Key Connections
The Bobcats outhit Fairfield in their non-conference game, 8-5, yesterday afternoon. It was the 15^th game this season that Quinnipiac has outhit their opponent. Outfielders Lauren Salgado (Covina, Calif.) and Heather Maffeo (Milton, Mass.) led the team offensively as they each tallied two singles on the day.

One Down...Ten to Go
Sophomore RHP Heather Schwartzburg (Mission Viejo, Calif.) came in for one inning of relief against Fairfield on April 15. Schwartzburg struck out one batter in six faced on the inning, boosting her season tally to 196 K's on the year. The California-native is just ten strikeouts away from matching the Quinnipiac single season record in which she set in 2009. She is 77 K's away from the NEC single-season record set in 2001.

Top Ten Worthy
Freshman infielder Bridget Figmic (Stratford, Conn.) came up with an impressive defensive play against Fairfield on April 15. In the top of the third inning, Stags' left fielder Meghan Borst hit a line drive over the head of Figmic at shortstop. Figmic tipped the ball with the top of her glove, slowing its' momentum and caught the deflection on its way to the ground to prevent the hit. Figmic also posted three putouts and two assists against Fairfield.

Looking For Luck on the Road
The Bobcats have yet to collect a win on the road this season, though they have picked up nine victories at neutral sites. They will look to earn their first 'W' against the first-place Hawks who recorded a loss in their last conference match-up on April 11, or against the Mount, who are currently on a four-game losing streak.

Defensively Difficult
Out of the 11 teams in the Northeast Conference, Quinnipiac ranks third amongst all teams in team pitching and second in team fielding. In the team pitching category, the Bobcats pitching arsenal posts a 2.80 ERA behind Long Island (2.16) and Sacred Heart (2.55). In the team fielding category, Quinnipiac ties with Monmouth in second with a .962 fielding percentage just behind Sacred Heart and Robert Morris who are tied in first with a .963 percentage.