Softball Takes On Local Rivals To Close Season
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University’s softball team wraps up the 2011 season with five games this week starting with a doubleheader at Palm Beach Atlantic on Thursday night. Lynn will then host a three-game weekend series with longtime rival Barry University. First pitch on April 28 is scheduled for 6 pm while Saturday’s single game with the Buccaneers will start at 2 pm.
Sunday’s 1 pm doubleheader against the Bucs is ‘Senior Day’ for the Blue & White, who will honor seniors Jordan Angel, Brittany Gross and Katrina Lavadan prior to game time.
The Fighting Knights enter the week at 10-37 overall and 5-16 in the Sunshine State Conference. Gross broke Lynn’s all-time record for steals with 32 after swiping a pair of bases against Nova Southeastern Friday night. The native of Jensen Beach, Fla., leads the team with a .359 average, 27 runs and nine stolen bases.
Mandi Brown has continued to hit the ball hard and now leads the Fighting Knights with ten extra-base hits and 26 RBIs and is second to Jordan Angel’s three home runs with two.
In the circle, Callie Darlin has been a workhorse with a team-high six victories and 4.63 ERA. Her 26 complete games is tops in the SSC while her 169.1 innings is also among league leaders.
Palm Beach Atlantic hosts Florida Tech prior to facing the Knights and enter the week 22-16 overall. The Sailfish are nearly hitting .300 as a team led by Lauren Powell’s .358 average. Four other players are also hitting over .300 and all have the ability to take pitchers deep. From a power standpoint, Caitlin Bouschet paces the ‘Fish with a team-high five home runs and 30 RBIs to go with ten doubles and three triples.
LU has dropped three of four meetings to PBA this season and should expect to face Chris Donovan (14-6, 1.77 ERA) and Lauren Bubeck (7-7, 2.84 ERA) in the circle. Neither are big strikeout pitchers as they have fanned 66 and 65 batters, respectively, in over 100 innings of work.
The Bucs (29-11, 15-5 SSC) host Northwood for a doubleheader tomorrow before making the short trip to Boca on Saturday. Grace Collins, Alyssa Goldsmith and Jessica Tabor are all hitting well over .400 to lead a hot-hitting team. Tabor also leads the team with five homers, 38 RBI and 15 doubles while Goldsmith has collected 14 extra-base hits and 32 runs batted in. Brooke Asher is also a power threat with five round-trippers despite hitting just .228.
Brianna Smith has been dominant in the circle with a 1.13 ERA and strikes out nearly one batter an inning. Paula Mackin has also been impressive with a 9-3 record while sporting a 2.73 earned run average.
Fans can follow the action of all five games this week by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com and clicking on “Game Central.”
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