Seattle University softball (5-11) returns to California for the second straight weekend, this time to Santa Clara for the Santa Clara Marriott Invitational from Feb. 28-Mar. 2. The Redhawks will face Boston University (3-1), UC Davis (5-13), and host Santa Clara (0-8) over the weekend. Links to available live stats are on the softball schedule page at GoSeattleU.com.
Jenny Hurst Named Featured Student-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 17-23): Jenny Hurst was named GoSeattleU.com Featured Student-Athlete of the Week after starting all four games at third base at the Amy S. Harrison Classic. Hurst also recorded a run in the team’s 10-1 five-inning victory over LMU on Feb. 22 and an RBI in the 3-1 win vs. host UC Riverside on Feb. 23.
SU Picked to Finish Second in WAC: In a vote of the league’s six head coaches, SU was picked to finish second in the league in 2014, while New Mexico State earned the top spot. Rounding out the list were Utah Valley and Bakersfield in the middle of the pack followed by Kansas City and Grand Canyon. Isabella Geronimo and Bubba Morrow also received Preseason All-WAC honors.
Redhawks Highlighted by College Sports Madness: CSM named Mandie Sugita, Brianna Guerrero, and Bubba Morrow to their First Team All-WAC and named Isabella Geronimo to Second Team All-WAC. Lindsay Davis was named Preseason WAC Freshman of the Year while Dan Powers was named Preseason WAC Coach of the Year.
Milestone Moment: Head coach Dan Powers recorded his 250th career win in his 500th career game on Feb. 16, 2013 vs. Toledo to close out the Easton Desert Classic.
Seattle U to Host 2014 WAC Tournament: Seattle U will host the 2014 WAC Tournament on May 8-10, with all five eligible teams (Grand Canyon is in DI reclassification and thus not eligible) advancing to the tournament. Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com for updates and details as the date nears.
Scouting Boston University (3-1): BU opened the 2014 season last weekend at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. with wins vs. Michigan State, Gardner-Webb, and Georgetown, falling 2-0 to host South Carolina to open the tournament. Freshman infielder Moriah Connolly and sophomore pitcher Melanie Russell were named Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the Week for their contributions. Connolly went 7-for-14 with three triples, three stolen bases, four runs, and two RBIs while Russell finished with a 1.24 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17.1 inning pitched. The Terriers were picked to finish second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, receiving three first place votes. Jayme Mask was also recently named one of 30 candidates for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award.
Scouting Santa Clara (0-8): Santa Clara is still looking for their first win of the season after opening the season at the Long Beach State Tournament, and a loss to then-No. 12 Kentucky, and hosting last weekend’s Bronco Classic. In the West Coast Conference’s first season of softball, the Broncos were picked to finish last in the league after competing in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference last season. Seniors Stephanie Fisher and Kelly Scribner were selected to the Preseason All-WCC Team. In 2013, Fisher led Santa Clara in nearly every offensive category (.320 avg, .420 ob%, .487 slg%) while Scribner hit .219 in 146 at-bats, second highest on the team, adding five doubles, six RBI, and six runs.
Scouting UC Davis (5-13): UC Davis has already been battle tested, facing six ranked opponents through the first three weekends of 2014 (then-No. 18/16 Baylor, No. 3/5 Washington, No. 12/13 UCLA, No. 17/14 Stanford, No. 24/24 Notre Dame, and No. 6/6 Oregon). Their last win came vs. LIU Brooklyn, as they went 1-4 last weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Of note, the Aggies toppled SEC foe Arkansas, who was receiving votes, to open the season, 5-4, on Feb. 7. UC Davis was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Conference in 2014 as junior pitcher Justine Vela and sophomore outfielder Jasmine Lee were named to the Preseason All-BWC Team. In 2013, Vela ended the season with the lowest ERA in the conference, leading all league pitchers with a .177 opposing batting average and finishing No. 30 in Division I shutouts. This season, Amy Nunez leads the team with a .333 avg, also recording seven runs on 17 hits, five doubles, one home run, eight RBI, a .490 slg%, and a .397 ob%.
Jenny Hurst Named Featured Student-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 17-23): Jenny Hurst was named GoSeattleU.com Featured Student-Athlete of the Week after starting all four games at third base at the Amy S. Harrison Classic. Hurst also recorded a run in the team’s 10-1 five-inning victory over LMU on Feb. 22 and an RBI in the 3-1 win vs. host UC Riverside on Feb. 23.
SU Picked to Finish Second in WAC: In a vote of the league’s six head coaches, SU was picked to finish second in the league in 2014, while New Mexico State earned the top spot. Rounding out the list were Utah Valley and Bakersfield in the middle of the pack followed by Kansas City and Grand Canyon. Isabella Geronimo and Bubba Morrow also received Preseason All-WAC honors.
Redhawks Highlighted by College Sports Madness: CSM named Mandie Sugita, Brianna Guerrero, and Bubba Morrow to their First Team All-WAC and named Isabella Geronimo to Second Team All-WAC. Lindsay Davis was named Preseason WAC Freshman of the Year while Dan Powers was named Preseason WAC Coach of the Year.
Milestone Moment: Head coach Dan Powers recorded his 250th career win in his 500th career game on Feb. 16, 2013 vs. Toledo to close out the Easton Desert Classic.
Seattle U to Host 2014 WAC Tournament: Seattle U will host the 2014 WAC Tournament on May 8-10, with all five eligible teams (Grand Canyon is in DI reclassification and thus not eligible) advancing to the tournament. Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com for updates and details as the date nears.
Scouting Boston University (3-1): BU opened the 2014 season last weekend at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. with wins vs. Michigan State, Gardner-Webb, and Georgetown, falling 2-0 to host South Carolina to open the tournament. Freshman infielder Moriah Connolly and sophomore pitcher Melanie Russell were named Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the Week for their contributions. Connolly went 7-for-14 with three triples, three stolen bases, four runs, and two RBIs while Russell finished with a 1.24 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17.1 inning pitched. The Terriers were picked to finish second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, receiving three first place votes. Jayme Mask was also recently named one of 30 candidates for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award.
Scouting Santa Clara (0-8): Santa Clara is still looking for their first win of the season after opening the season at the Long Beach State Tournament, and a loss to then-No. 12 Kentucky, and hosting last weekend’s Bronco Classic. In the West Coast Conference’s first season of softball, the Broncos were picked to finish last in the league after competing in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference last season. Seniors Stephanie Fisher and Kelly Scribner were selected to the Preseason All-WCC Team. In 2013, Fisher led Santa Clara in nearly every offensive category (.320 avg, .420 ob%, .487 slg%) while Scribner hit .219 in 146 at-bats, second highest on the team, adding five doubles, six RBI, and six runs.
Scouting UC Davis (5-13): UC Davis has already been battle tested, facing six ranked opponents through the first three weekends of 2014 (then-No. 18/16 Baylor, No. 3/5 Washington, No. 12/13 UCLA, No. 17/14 Stanford, No. 24/24 Notre Dame, and No. 6/6 Oregon). Their last win came vs. LIU Brooklyn, as they went 1-4 last weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Of note, the Aggies toppled SEC foe Arkansas, who was receiving votes, to open the season, 5-4, on Feb. 7. UC Davis was picked to finish fifth in the Big West Conference in 2014 as junior pitcher Justine Vela and sophomore outfielder Jasmine Lee were named to the Preseason All-BWC Team. In 2013, Vela ended the season with the lowest ERA in the conference, leading all league pitchers with a .177 opposing batting average and finishing No. 30 in Division I shutouts. This season, Amy Nunez leads the team with a .333 avg, also recording seven runs on 17 hits, five doubles, one home run, eight RBI, a .490 slg%, and a .397 ob%.