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Clarkson University Athletics

PeltonKatie2017FLA

Softball March 28, 2017

CU Softball Preview - at Alfred/St. John Fisher (3/29-30)

It's only late-March, but the Clarkson University Softball team's games against Alfred University and St. John Fisher this week would mark the midway point of the Golden Knights' season.

Despite some wet conditions on playing surfaces across the state, the Golden Knights hope to get four games in against the Saxons and Cardinals on Wednesday and Thursday in Western New York.

Clarkson challenged itself with a more difficult schedule in Florida and comes back with a record of 9-7 overall. Though the offensive numbers aren't as gaudy as in years past, the Golden Knights have already hit double figures in home runs, circling the bases 12 times through 16 games, just three short of their total from the previous three seasons (97 games). Freshman Michele Winn started off strong and has already hit five home runs and driven in 19 runs. In an odd twist, Winn became Clarkson's all-time home run leader in her first weekend with the Knights, striking four home runs, but after Florida she has temporarily relinquished the crown to senior Ali Schwenzfeier, who hit three home runs in two days. Winn and Schwenzfeier own the top two slugging percentages on the team, mashing at .727 and .674 rates, respectively. Senior Jamie Bridge is leading the team with a .385 batting average, while Summer Lancette has the top on-base percentage at .464. The duo has combined for nine steals so far, one behind Raeanna Dunn, who has already swiped 10 bags.

That offense is going to be difficult to maintain on Wednesday at Alfred. The Saxons have a team earned run average of 1.67 through 12 games. Shannon Schaefer is 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA through 33.1 innings, while Kerri Keeler has posted a 1.55 ERA in 31.2 innings. Alfred does just enough on offense and makes those runs hold up thanks to its pitching. Liz Thompson is easily the team's top offensive threat, batting .350/.447/.750. Thompson has scored 16 times and driven in 14 with five home runs and seven steals. The Saxons' other two top hitters, Amanda Shaffer and Sophia Chiavatti, also post .340+ batting averages, though both numbers are due to contact approaches rather than sheer mashing, with just two extra-base hits combined between the two.

Alfred's 1.67 ERA seems gargantuan compared to that of St. John Fisher. The fifth-ranked Cardinals (10-2) have allowed only seven earned runs (out of 17) for an ERA of 0.60. Junior Lindsay Thayer is a big part of the Cardinals staff, having struck out 86 hitters in 46.1 innings with an earned run average of just 0.30. The two-time All-American has already struck out 847 hitters in 501 innings for her career, and this year opponents are more likely to gain a walk (15) than a hit (13). If Thayer isn't hurling for the Cardinals, Monica Moss is no slouch either, having gone 4-0 with 29 strikeouts in 32.1 innings with a 1.08 ERA. On offense, Katie Mazierski leads the team with a .514/.548/.595 slash line while Julia Sortisio is close with a .465/.500/.581 line. Emma Saves has the top slugging percentage at .700 thanks to five extra-base hits, and Kristina Balsano is close with a .655 slugging percentage on five extra-base hits, including a home run. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .363/.420/.477 with two home runs and 26 steals, while opponents are batting .134/.196/.166 with three steals.
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Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

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

#5 Raeanna Dunn

IF
5' 4"
Junior
L/R
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

OF
5' 2"
Junior
L/R
Ali Schwenzfeier

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

UT
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Michele Winn

#3 Michele Winn

C/IF
5' 6"
Freshman
L/L

Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

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

#5 Raeanna Dunn

5' 4"
Junior
L/R
IF
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

5' 2"
Junior
L/R
OF
Ali Schwenzfeier

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
UT
Michele Winn

#3 Michele Winn

5' 6"
Freshman
L/L
C/IF