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Clarkson University Athletics

WoolleyBridgetUR2016

Softball March 2, 2017

CU Softball 2017 Preview

After three years of recruiting and creating a team an identity, the Clarkson University Softball team is ready to advance at least one more step in 2017 as the Golden Knights hope that this is the year the team breaks through with a Liberty League post-season berth.

The Golden Knights were selected fifth in the seven-team pre-season poll, but the difference between third and fifth was fairly insignificant and it appears that the league's coaches think the last two final spots are up for grabs. With a veteran pitching staff and plenty of upperclassmen peppered all over the field at key positions, Clarkson is armed and ready to see a playoff push come to fruition.

Last year, the Golden Knights, guided by fourth-year head coach Kristen McGaughey and assistant Jessica Kusnierz, were in the playoff hunt on the final day of the season, just missing out with a record of 20-14 overall and 5-7 in the Liberty League. Clarkson's 2017 schedule is littered with home games at Scott Field.

The Golden Knights will look to veteran leadership from the pitching circle with seniors Jamie Bridge and Katie Pelton expected to toss many of the innings. Both Bridge and Pelton captured Liberty League All-Star honors in their junior seasons thanks to low earned run averages and excellent control. Bridge recorded 10 wins and three saves with a 3.04 ERA and 95 strikeouts over 89.2 innings, finishing the season as one of only two players in the conference with more than a whiff per inning, while Pelton tacked on six wins and a save with a 2.72 ERA in 67 innings. Pelton's pitching is more about contact and control, as she struck out just 33, but allowed only 16 walks, the second lowest walks per seven rate in the league. Sophomore Maggie Stark also claimed one win and had a 4.50 ERA in limited time. Classmate Callie Cushman also hopes to see some time in the circle, while freshman Leah Allen adds to the Knights' pitching depth and may be the hardest thrower on the staff.

Offensively, Clarkson will look to repeat its solid numbers in 2017. The Golden Knights ranked second in the league in average (.307), on-base percentage (.368) and slugging percentage (.395), but it is Clarkson's aggressiveness on the base paths that can often win games. The Knights swiped 73 bases (2.15 sbpg), ranking 17th in the nation in that category and averaging a full stolen base more than any other team in the conference last year. Not surprisingly, Clarkson had the top two base stealers in the league in top of the order hitters, and Liberty League First-Team All-Stars, Summer Lancette and Raeanna Dunn. Lancette led the league with 24 steals while Dunn was caught only one in 24 tries for 23 thefts. The duo also led the team in hitting, with different approaches. Dunn often employed a slapper mentality and batted .371 (11th in the Liberty League) with a .434 on-base percentage and .466 slugging average, helping her rank second in the league in runs scored with 34. Lancette was fourth in the conference in all slash line stats, hitting .432/.495/.611 to go along with three home runs and a team-best 28 runs batted in. Bridge also contributed to the offense with a .374/.403/.461 slash line, ranking her 10th in the conference in batting average.

Lancette normally patrolled centerfield and Bridge saw time in the outfield when she wasn't pitching. Joining them as an offensive threat and outfield roamer is junior Bridget Woolley. Proving her .429 on-base percentage in 22 games as a freshman wasn't a mirage, Woolley was even better in her sophomore year, boosting her batting average (.318) and slugging percentage (.470) to go along with a .416 on-base average. Clarkson will have even more depth in the outfield this year. Sophomore Karlie Neuhausser got a handful of at bats last season and could play a little infield as well, while freshman Danielle Whitham will be plugged into the outfield as well when Coach McGaughey wants to get creative by pulling Lancette or Bridge into the infield. Whitham is another player that will add to Clarkson's speed with the potential to swipe 15 bags in her first collegiate season. Samm Swiez also possesses a solid bat and will get an opportunity in the outfield.

Clarkson's infield also has a lot of returning players. Besides Dunn, who will be playing in the middle infield once again, sophomore first baseman Liz Caggiano, a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star, is back to improve upon her solid offensive numbers. Caggiano batted .327/.394/.357 as a freshman and is poised to increase her power numbers without any strikeout detriment, as she whiffed just seven times in more than 100 plate appearances. On the opposite corner, Erika Jensen is back and hitting the ball better than ever. For now, second base is a bit of a question mark, but Kyrstin Messier looks to answer it emphatically in her freshman season as she is more than capable of playing either side of the keystone sack. Potentially adding to the offense on the corners are Katie Pelton (.259/.279/.345), junior Katie Scott (.296/.328/.370 in 2015), and freshman Michele Winn. The latter name could find herself hitting in the cleanup spot and playing as the DP rather than in the field, but her bat is certainly an added weapon for the Knights.

Clarkson also has plenty of depth behind the dish. Senior Ali Schwenzfeier was a Liberty League First-Team All-Star in 2015, but missed nine games last season due to ROTC commitments, and her numbers dropped a little to a still very respectable (.316/.345/.443). In addition to Schwenzfeier, Jensen and Winn could play a little at the catcher spot, as will sophomore Hannah Sheehan and freshman Hannah Isaacson.
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Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

P/OF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Liz Caggiano

#21 Liz Caggiano

IF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Callie Cushman

#20 Callie Cushman

P/IF
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

IF
5' 4"
Junior
L/R
Erika Jensen

#17 Erika Jensen

UT
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

OF
5' 2"
Junior
L/R
Karlie Neuhausser

#10 Karlie Neuhausser

OF/IF
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Katie Pelton

#4 Katie Pelton

P/IF
5' 6"
Senior
R/R
Ali Schwenzfeier

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

UT
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Katie Scott

#7 Katie Scott

C/IF
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Hannah Sheehan

#8 Hannah Sheehan

C/IF
5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Maggie Stark

#16 Maggie Stark

P/OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
P/OF
Liz Caggiano

#21 Liz Caggiano

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Callie Cushman

#20 Callie Cushman

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
P/IF
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

5' 4"
Junior
L/R
IF
Erika Jensen

#17 Erika Jensen

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
UT
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

5' 2"
Junior
L/R
OF
Karlie Neuhausser

#10 Karlie Neuhausser

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
OF/IF
Katie Pelton

#4 Katie Pelton

5' 6"
Senior
R/R
P/IF
Ali Schwenzfeier

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
UT
Katie Scott

#7 Katie Scott

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
C/IF
Hannah Sheehan

#8 Hannah Sheehan

5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
C/IF
Maggie Stark

#16 Maggie Stark

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
P/OF