Games 36 and 37: Mount St. Mary's (10-25, 3-5 NEC) at Saint Francis (Pa.) (15-19, 4-6 NEC)
When: Sat, Apr. 14, 2012, 1 p.m.
Where: Red Flash Field, Loretto, Pa.
Series Information: Saint Francis (Pa.) leads 42-21
Last Meeting: Mount (8-7) 4-17-11
First Meeting: Mount (12-0) 4-9-87
Last Saint Francis (Pa.) Win: (4-2) 3-28-09
Opening Pitch: Saturday's doubleheader between Mount St. Mary's and Saint Francis (Pa.) marks the 64th and 65th meetings in the all-time series dating back to the 1987 season. The Red Flash leads the series 42-21, but the Mount has won the last three meetings in the series including sweeping the twinbill last season in Emmitsburg. Saint Francis (Pa.)'s last win in the matchup was a 4-2 decision in the second game of a doubleheader in 2009.
About The Red Flash: Saint Francis (Pa.) comes into the twinbill 15-19 overall and 4-6 in Northeast Conference play after splitting a doubleheader with Cleveland State on Thursday. Taylor Darneille paces the team with a .385 batting average, 20 hits, nine runs scored, three doubles, three homers and nine RBIs. Kaitlin Andler ranks second with a .303 batting average, 30 hits, 13 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs while Brianna Garcia is hitting .284 with 27 hits, 13 runs scored, five doubles and eight RBIs. Brooke Koch fuels the pitching staff with a 6-3 record, a 2.53 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 74.2 innings pitched.
Last Time We Met: Chloe Mizianty hit two homers and knocked in six runs in the opener while Courtney Zingle hit a bases-clearing double in the nightcap to propel Mount St. Mary's to a doubleheader sweep against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Apr. 17, 2011. The Mount won the opener 17-3 and then rallied to take the nightcap, 8-7. Mizianty went 4-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored in the first game and then added a hit, two runs scored and an RBI in the nightcap. Zingle posted two hits, three RBIs and a homer in the opener, but the senior big moment on the day came when she broke a 4-all standstill with a bases-loaded bases-clearing double in the sixth to help the Mountaineers complete its first sweep of the year. Beth Everist added three hits and four RBIs, including smacking her fifth home run of the year and the 17th of her career in the first inning of the opener to give Mount St. Mary's the lead it would not relinquish. Nicole Reeder contributed three hits, three runs scored and an RBI in the two games. Taylor Daneille paced the Red Flash with three hits, five RBIs and two runs scored while Megan Layne posted four hits, two runs scored and an RBI on the day.
Games 38 and 39: Robert Morris (22-16, 7-3) at Mount St. Mary's (10-25, 3-5 NEC)
When: Sun, Apr. 15, 2011, 2 p.m.
Where: Our Lady of the Meadows Field, Emmitsburg, Md.
Series Information: Robert Morris leads 33-6
Last Meeting: Robert Morris (14-0) 5-8-11
First Meeting: Robert Morris (11-1) 4-12-92
Last Mount Win: (5-4) 4-6-07
Opening Pitch: Sunday's twinbill between Mount St. Mary's and Robert Morris marks the 40th and 41st meetings in the all-time series dating back to the 1992 season. The Colonials lead the series 33-6, including eight-straight wins in the series. The Mount's last win in the matchup was a 5-4 decision in 2007.
About the Colonials: Robert Morris comes into the weekend 22-16 overall and 7-3 in Northeast Conference play after splitting a doubleheader with Canisius on Tuesday. Sarah Capps leads the team with a .381 batting average, 43 hits, 13 runs scored, four doubles, six home runs and 31 RBIs. Jaci Timko ranks second with a .354 batting average, 35 hits, 24 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, two homers and 12 RBIs while Jessica Calderone is batting .297 with 30 hits,. 19 runs scored, three doubles and five RBIs.
Last Time We Met: Robert Morris defeated Mount St. Mary's in a pair of softball games on May 8, 2011. The Colonials downed the Mount 4-0 and 14-0 in five innings. Courtney Zingle paced the Mount with three hits while Beth Everist added two hits in the twinbill. Everist pitched the opener and took the loss with four strikeouts while Amanda Hanson took the loss in the second game.
Last Time Out: Niagara swept a doubleheader on Apr. 6. The Purple Eagles won 2-1 and 4-1 on the afternoon. Liz Christiansen had an RBI double in the opener for the Mount while Lindsey Ruhle posted a run-scoring double in the nightcap. Danni Cummings took the loss in the first game after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with six strikeouts.
Next On Tap: Mount St. Mary's will host Coppin State on Wednesday. The Mount will then travel to Fairleigh Dickinson on Apr. 21 before returning home to play LIU Brooklyn on Apr. 22.
Leaders On Top Of The Mountain: Redshirt junior Liz Christiansen leads the team in hits (25), doubles (4), home runs (6), RBIs (23) and total bases (47) while ranking second in runs (11). Freshman Holly Buckel leads the team in batting average (.282) and ranks third in hits (22). Sophomore Cat Clifford leads the team in hits (25) and runs scored (12) while ranking second in home runs (5) and RBIs (18). Redshirt sophomore Nicole Pagano is the squad's top hurler with a 7-7 record, a 1.55 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 103.2 innings pitched.
The New Home Run Queen: Redshirt junior Liz Christiansen smacked four home runs at the Dawg Pound Invitational to establish a new program record at the Mount for career home runs with 19 and now stands at 21 bombs.
Perfect No-No Pagano: Redshirt sophomore Nicole Pagano became the first Mount player in Division I history to toss a perfect game against Rhode Island on Mar. 16 in an 8-0 five inning win. She faced 15 batters in five innings and had eight strikeouts. Pagano is the first Mount player to toss two no-hitters in her career in Mount Division I history after tossing a five-inning no-hitter in an 11-0 win against UMBC on Mar. 10. It was the squad's first no-hitter since Amanda Hanson had a five inning no-hitter in a 30-0 win against Coppin State on Mar. 27, 2008. Mount St. Mary's has recorded five no-no's in its Division I era.
Pagano Honored: Nicole Pagano was named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 20-26. It marked the second time the redshirt sophomore has received the league's weekly award. Pagano opened the season 1-1 with 11 strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA in a pair of complete-game efforts against Stetson. The redshirt sophomore handed the Hatters its first loss of the season and controlled a Stetson offense that averaged 7.6 runs per game in its first six games. Pagano tossed a one-hit shutout with five strikeouts in a 1-0 win against the Hatters on Friday for the Mount's first win of the season. She then faced the Hatters again on Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in her second complete-game of the season in a 2-0 loss. Pagano started the campaign with 12 scoreless innings.
Pagano Honored Again: Nicole Pagano was named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of Mar. 19-25. It is the second time this season the redshirt sophomore has earned the honor and the third time in her career.Pagano went 1-2 in the week with a 0.36 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. She tossed one-hitter in an eight-inning 1-0 win against Quinnipiac on Mar. 23 with six strikeouts. The redshirt sophomore stayed on the mound in the nightcap and held the Bobcats to one unearned run over four innings with one strikeout in a 2-0 loss. She held Quinnipiac off the scoreboard for 11 innings before it scored an unearned run in the fourth and threw 171 pitches on the day. Pagano allowed one run on five hits with four strikeouts in a 1-0 loss against Sacred Heart on Mar. 25.
Preseason Poll: The Mount St. Mary's softball team has been picked 10th in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches Poll. Robert Morris, the defending NEC regular season champion, nabbed six first-place votes to be tabbed as the preseason favorite. Quinnipiac garnered three first-place nods to finish second in the poll while the defending NEC Tournament champions Sacred Heart received one first-place vote to place third. Bryant, LIU Brooklyn, Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner, the Mount and Saint Francis (Pa.) rounded out the 11-team poll. Monmouth received the final first-place vote.
All-Conference Returners: While the Mount did not receive any All-Northeast Conference selections last season, redshirt junior Liz Christiansen returns in 2012 after missing the 2011 campaign due to an injury. Christiansen was named to the 2010 All-NEC first team and the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year, but will miss the season due to an injury.
The Roster: The 2011 softball roster is composed of three seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores and eight freshmen.
New To The Mountain: Head coach Anna Nagro has added eight newcomers to her team in 2012. Casey Beck, Holly Buckel, Danni Cummings, Kendra Hayward, Maria Santiago, Kayla Spataro, Hayley Stankan and Rachel Teti have joined the team in 2012.
Christiansen Powering Up On The All-Time Charts: Redshirt junior Liz Christiansen returns for the 2012 season after missing the 2011 campaign due to injury. Christiansen became the program's all-time career leader in home runs after hitting a solo shot against Niagara on Mar. 11 and now stands at 21 career homers. The redshirt junior also ranks fourth in RBIs with 85 and can move into third place with three RBIs. Christiansen has moved into ninth place for total bases with 179 and can move up a spot with six total bases. She also cracked the Top-10 in walks with 41 and can move into ninth place with one base on balls. The redshirt sophomore is also creeping up on the Top-10 for doubles with 20 and needs four to move into the 10th spot in the category.
Taylor Made For Top-10: Senior Taylor Beebe ranks third in career doubles with 32. Next on the list is former teammate Lisa Curreri (34, 2007-10) in second place while former teammate Amanda Burk (39, 2006-09) is the program's all-time leader. The senior also ranks fourth in runs scored with 89, one away third place. Beebe moved into eighth place in games played with 156 and can move into seventh place with five games played. She is also moving closer to the Top-10 in hits, sitting at 113 hits and 12 away from the Top-10.
Sadowl Pitching Her Way Into The Top-10: Senior Amanda Sadowl ranks sixth in career wins (23), one win away from Reanna Tuczynski (24, 2009-11). The senior also sits in fourth place for games pitched with 91, four away from Reanna Tuczynski (95, 2004-07). Sadowl is ninth in strikeouts with 170, trailing former teammate Amanda Hanson (192, 2008-11). She is also seventh in innings pitched with 408.0. Next on the list is Jess Miller (416.1, 1998-01).
Here Comes Pagano Too... Redshirt sophomore Nicole Pagano has moved into fifth place in career strikeouts with 231 and can move ahead of Jess Miller (267, 1998-01) with 26 strikeouts. She also moved into eighth place for career wins with 20. Next on the list is Sue Merolla (22, 1985-88). Pagano became the eighth 20-game winner in program history with her 3-1 win against Central Connecticut State on Apr. 1.
Local Products: Freshman Holly Buckel, a 2011 graduate of North Carroll, and freshman Rachel Teti, a 2011 graduate of Linganore, have joined the team this season and hail from Carroll County and Frederick County, respectively.
Family Tradition Continued: Freshman Holly Buckel is the second Buckel to play at Mount St. Mary's. Holy's sister, Amanda, was a four-year letterwinner on the Mount softball team and a 2010 graduate of the Mount. Amanda Buckel was named to the All-NEC first team in her senior season.
Zingle Returns: Courtney Zingle, a 2011 graduate of the Mount, returns to her alma mater to serve as an assistant coach in 2012. Zingle ranks in the Top-10 in program history in games played (190), at bats (571), runs scored (88), hits (165), runs batted in (88), doubles (27), home runs (10) and total bases (222).
About The Coach: Anna Nagro enters her second season as the head coach of the Mount softball team. The Mount is 26-55 overall and 8-20 in Northeast Conference play under the coach.
