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Clarkson University Athletics

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Softball April 17, 2015

CU Softball Preview - vs. Rochester/RIT (4/18-19)

Eight games remain on the Liberty League slate for the Clarkson University Softball team and not much headway has been made in clearing up the conference playoff picture, but that should all change this weekend when numerous teams are in action, including a pair of home doubleheaders for the Golden Knights when they take on the University of Rochester and RIT at Scott Field.

The Golden Knights enter the game with a record of 16-5 overall and 2-2 in the Liberty League after a split against Union College on Thursday. Rochester is 18-7 overall and 4-0 in conference games and RIT is 5-15 overall and 1-5 in league contests. Clarkson was swept by both teams in the program's initial season.

Clarkson enters the game with the top earned run average in the Liberty League at 1.92, and the duo of Jamie Bridge and Katie Pelton have combined to strike out 151 hitters against just 22 walks. Bridge ranks second in the league in earned run average with a mark of 1.52 and is also second in strikeouts (93) and opponents' batting average (.199). Pelton is fourth in the league in ERA (2.40) and sixth in whiffs (58).

The Knights' offense is second in the league in batting (.315), slugging (.398), on-base percentage (.395), stolen base (38) and runs per game (5.95 rpg). Freshman Chelsea Elliott leads the team in the three slash stats (.412/.468/.529) among players with enough plate appearances to qualify for league category leaders and she also has posted 28 hits and 16 runs batted in. Classmate Raeanna Dunn is fourth among hitters in the league with a .394 average and just trails Elliott in slugging (.515) and on-base percentage (.429) while also placing second in the league in stolen bases with nine. Sophomore Ali Schwenzfeier is second in the league in runs driven in (18) and is batting .377/.403/.464 with 26 hits. Freshman Summer Lancette is first in steals (11) in the league and ranks second in both walks (14) and runs (22).

Rochester has the best offense in the Liberty League with a .338 average, .404 on-base percentage and .554 slugging percentage, as well as 28 home runs and 6.4 runs per game. The Yellowjackets have won eight straight thanks to the offensive prowess of six starters with averages above .360 and seven player above a .450 slugging percentage, including Brittany Grage. With a .451 batting average, .939 slugging percentage and 39 runs batted in, Grage leads the conference in virtually every power-oriented offensive category. She also has blasted 10 home runs, more than any other team in the league, and has 19 extra-base hits and 77 total bases. Shelby Corning is hitting .410 and has five triples in only 39 at bats. Kayla Kibling is also hitting .385 with a .564 slugging percentage and a .490 on-base percentage (second in the league) with 30 hits and a league-high 23 runs scored. Rochester has six of the top 10 hitters in the conference, making for a formidable offense.

The Tigers, conversely, have struggled on offense, ranking last in the league in hitting (.221), slugging (.277) and on-base percentage (.270). Sarah Wolcott is the team's top hitter with a .341 average, .386 slugging percentage, and .396 on-base average, while Tori Blaker is just under .300 with a mark of .298 and couples that figure with  a .383 slugging percentage. Sierra Valentine is the team's top pitcher, posting a 3.12 earned run average with 49 strikeouts in 65 innings. Lauren Mahar works as the Tigers' number-two starter with a 4.32 earned run average and 37 whiffs in 56 innings of work. 
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Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

P/OF
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Katie Pelton

#4 Katie Pelton

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

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

UT
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

IF
5' 4"
Freshman
L/R
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

OF
5' 2"
Freshman
L/R
Chelsea Elliott

#15 Chelsea Elliott

IF
5' 6"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jamie Bridge

#6 Jamie Bridge

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
P/OF
Katie Pelton

#4 Katie Pelton

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

#13 Ali Schwenzfeier

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
UT
Raeanna Dunn

#5 Raeanna Dunn

5' 4"
Freshman
L/R
IF
Summer Lancette

#14 Summer Lancette

5' 2"
Freshman
L/R
OF
Chelsea Elliott

#15 Chelsea Elliott

5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
IF