CU Softball Preview - vs. St. Lawrence/St. John Fisher (3/21-22)

By: March 20, 2021

Connor Koehler

Softball | 3/20/2021 12:15:00 PM

Unlike the last few years, the Clarkson University Softball team will be the last of the Golden Knights' spring sports to open up the season, as the Green and Gold head down the road to take on St. Lawrence University in a non-league doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. And thanks to a break day on Monday, Clarkson has the opportunity to take advantage of another beautiful spring day when it heads to Rochester to face St. John Fisher.

Live Stats (at SLU)

Live Stats (at St. John Fisher)
Live Video (at St. John Fisher)

The Series vs. St. Lawrence: Clarkson swept the first doubleheader ever between the two teams back in 2014 and is 8-4 overall against the Saints. The Knights have also won three straight against St. Lawrence, all shutouts, and haven't allowed a run in 21 innings. In those last three games, the Saints have just 12 hits.

The Series vs. St. John Fisher: In four games against the Cardinals, Clarkson has won just once, a 6-3 victory in the second game of a doubleheader in 2019. When the Cardinals were ranked fifth in the nation back in 2017, Clarkson was swept in a doubleheader, but performed well in a 2-1 defeat in the opener before falling 8-0 in the nightcap to one of the top pitchers Division III in recent memory, Lindsey Thayer.

Key Stats for Clarkson (0-0): The Golden Knights played a quarter of their scheduled season before things shut down last March, and a pair of sophomore bats appeared to have taken the next step. Junior Kayla Robert broke out in a big way to start the 2020 season, going 15-for-34 to create a .441/.441/.735 slash line with six extra-base hits and 10 runs batted in. Classmate Sarah Vaccaro wasn't mashing at quite the same rate, but still hit .367/.394/.467 with three doubles. Another sophomore, Maddie Brink, slugged .682 in the abbreviated season with three home runs. In the pitching circle, it was yet another sophomore who stood out, but that was nothing new. Olivia Zoeller, the Liberty League's Co-Rookie of the Year in 2019, was off to a 4-1 start with 30 strikeouts in 28 innings and a 1.25 earned run average, a similar run that she had in 2019 (107 strikeouts, 2.03 earned run average).

Key Stats for St. Lawrence (0-0): The Saints' 2020 season never got started as the team's Florida trip was cancelled and no games were ever played prior to that anticipated experience. Only half the team has seen a college diamond, but there are still several standouts from two seasons ago. Skylar Hein was a Liberty League First-Team All-Star as a sophomore, hitting .441/.496/.637 with three home runs and 11 doubles to help her drive in a team-best 29 runs. Sofia Adams scored 20 runs in 34 games and hit .284 with 10 extra-base hits and seven steals. In the circle, Gabby Slater possessed a 3.88 earned run average and struck out 36 hitters in 66.2 innings, while McKailey Lyndaker whiffed 24 in 52.1 innings for a 4.82 earned run average.

Key Stats for St. John Fisher (0-0): The Cardinals were off to a 7-3 start through 10 games in 2020, much in line to their previous runs as a team that traditionally reaches the NCAA Tournament. St. John Fisher was off to a .301/.354/.412 offensive start and six regulars were hitting .300 or better, and all of those players returned to the Cardinals for the 2021 campaign. Emily Trotman was batting .457/.525/.743 to start the year while Allie Klonowski was off to a strong start in her freshman season by hitting .429/.429/.629 with nine runs batted in. Abby Flakus also contributed with a .364/.447/.485 slash line. Trotman also did significant work from the pitching circle, posting a 2.46 earned run average with 32 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. She tossed 212 innings in 2019, recording 23 of St. John Fisher's 27 victories.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Maddie Brink: IF/C; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#4 Kayla Robert: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#10 Sarah Vaccaro: P/OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#9 Olivia Zoeller: P/OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Maddie Brink
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF/C

#4 Kayla Robert
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#10 Sarah Vaccaro
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

#9 Olivia Zoeller
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

CU Softball Preview - vs. St. Lawrence/St. John Fisher (3/21-22)

Players Mentioned

#7 Maddie Brink

#4 Kayla Robert

#10 Sarah Vaccaro

#9 Olivia Zoeller

Players Mentioned

#7 Maddie Brink

#4 Kayla Robert

#10 Sarah Vaccaro

#9 Olivia Zoeller