UPDATE: Friday's home games against Mercyhurst have been moved to Erie due to an unplayable home surface. That doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. Saturday's home games against Edinboro have been pushed back one day to Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
Click for updated schedule.
Original preview is below.
INDIANA, Pa. – Coming off a sweep of Clarion, the IUP softball team (9-9, 2-0 PSAC West) returns to play a pair of double headers against Mercyhurst (18-7, 1-1) on Friday and Edinboro (3-12, 1-1) on Saturday. The Crimson Hawks host the doubleheader Friday at Podbielski Field with a first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday IUP hosts the Military Appreciation Game with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
>> The Crimson Hawks swept the doubleheader against Clarion on Apirl 2. IUP took the first game 6-3 and the second game 10-8
>> Freshman
Elizabeth Kasper entered in relief in the 1st inning to shut out the Golden Eagles in 6.2 innings of work and earning her first win of the season.
>> Renne Wall had her first homerun of the season to boost the Crimson Hawks to the extra innings win.
Series notes
>> IUP leads the all time series against Mercyhurst 31-15, including a 3-1 record in last year's regular season.
>> IUP is 15-4 against Edinboro since 2011. The Hawks won the 2021 regular season series 3-1.
Matchup notes
>> The Lakers are 10th in the PSAC with a .295 batting average and 12th with a .390 slugging percentage.
>> Mercyhurst team ERA of 2.17 is ranked 3rd in the PSAC. The Crimson Hawks are 16th at 5.20.
>> Mercyhurst features Madison Fry, who is ranked 2nd in the PSAC with a .506 batting average logging 39 hits in 77 at bats.
>> The Lakers also have Morgan Hilty, who is ranked 6th in the PSAC with an ERA of 1.70 in 61.2 innings of work.
Rhue having career season
>>
Jenna Rhue is one of the top sluggers in Division II, ranking 4th in HR/game (.44), 11th in slugging percentage (.833), and 16th in RBI/game (1.22).
>> She leads the PSAC in HR/game and RBI/game, and is 2nd in slugging and total homers (8).
>> She's averaging a home run every 7.5 at-bats, which is ahead of the current IUP single season record set by
Kaitlyn Beers (8.7) last year.
>> Rhue is hitting .400 on the year with six multi-hit games, including three games with 3+ hits.
>> She was a All-PSAC Central selection as catcher her freshman year (2019). Last season she suffered through mid-season injury, only playing in 20 games with 19 starts last season.
Speed to burn
>> The Crimson Hawks have 29 stolen bases in 31 attempts this season, a percentage of .935.
>> 24 of those steals are from newcomers, including a perfect 10-10 performance from
Allyssa Schmidt.
>> IUP has more than doubled its pace from last year when the Hawks stole 25 bases in 32 games.
Hitters, hitters, hitters
>> IUP has six players hitting over .300, including three that are above a .400 batting average.
>>
Haleigh Zimmerman recently returned to the lineup and is hitting a team-best .409, with four of her nine hits going for extra bases.
>>
Allyssa Schmidt is batting .405 and
Jenna Rhue is hitting .400 with an. 883 slugging percentage.
>> Other top hitters are all newcomers -
Jordan Sylvia at .385,
Joelle Snyder at .362, and
Sara Tailford at .333.
Finding a place in the circle
>>
Amanda Fischer leads IUP's pitching in ERA (4.30), strike outs (20), and opponent batting average (.270).
>> After only 3 starts her freshman year Fischer leads the Crimson Hawks with a 6-3 record in her 8 starts.
>> She is batting .267 and has 2 RBI's.
