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Softball April 29, 2016

CU Softball Preview - vs. Union/SUNY Canton (4/30-5/1)

Softball April 29, 2016

CU Softball Preview - vs. Union/SUNY Canton (4/30-5/1)

Still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the conference tournament, the Clarkson University Softball team will need at least a split against Union College and some help to gain its first Liberty League postseason berth in the program's three-year history.

The Golden Knights enter the weekend with a record of 19-13 overall and 4-6 in the Liberty League. Oddly enough, a split could get the Golden Knights into the conference tournament if everything else fell right, but if certain scenarios went the other way, a sweep of the Dutchwomen on Saturday could still see the Green and Gold shut out of the postseason. Regardless, Clarkson's season won't end on Saturday as the Knights have a non-league doubleheader set for SUNY Canton on Sunday.

Clarkson has already set a record for wins in a season with 19 through 32 games this year and the team has also easily surpassed its former standard in stolen bases with 71 swipes in 2016. The top two base stealers in the conference are at the top of the lineup for the Golden Knights as sophomores Raeanna Dunn and Summer Lancette have each stolen 23 bases this year. Lancette is hitting .409/.475/.602 with all five slash stats ranking in the top seven in the conference, and Dunn is batting .374/.442/.477 with a league-best 33 runs scored. Junior Jamie Bridge is putting up another impressive all-around season with a line of .374/.400/.458 while also posting a 3.08 earned run average with eight wins, three saves and 81 strikeouts from the pitching circle.

Union is the only team that has been eliminated from the Liberty League postseason picture already, entering the weekend with a record of 7-21 overall and 2-8 in the Liberty League. The Dutchwomen have struggled on offense this year, hitting a combined .244/.314/.303 and averaging just over three runs per game. Kara Brown is the team's top hitter overall with a .368/.403/.412 line, while Courtney Chase is batting .337/.387/.442 with 29 hits, 18 runs batted in and six steals. Both of Union's pitchers have been hittable this year as Dana Dolinko and Dani Hennel have allowed 258 hits in 172.1 innings, but the duo has limited that damage by allowing only 48 walks.

Clarkson earned a sweep of SUNY Canton earlier this season, winning a lopsided first game 14-5 before squeaking out a 4-3 win in the second contest. The Kangaroos can hit, batting .325/.379/.462 collectively in 24 games this year. Chloe Solomon has the most impressive slash stats at .461/.506/.632, but Shannon Dowling is the team's most dangerous hitting with three home runs and 27 driven in and an accompanying slash line of .436/.470/.641. Rhea Coad has certainly produced as well with a .394/.449/.563 line. Jordan Podkladek is the team's top pitcher with a 3.25 earned run average. Podkladek doesn't strike many hitters out, whiffing just 33 in 90.1 innings, but she minimizes the damage with only 14 walks allowed.
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Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

P/OF
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

IF
5' 4"
Sophomore
L/R
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

OF
5' 2"
Sophomore
L/R

Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
P/OF
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

5' 4"
Sophomore
L/R
IF
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

5' 2"
Sophomore
L/R
OF