CLERMONT, Fla. – The Post University softball team will open up the 2014 season with the NTC Spring Games held in Clermont, Fla. The Eagles will play 10 games in five days starting on Sunday, March 2.
Post's first opponent of 2014 will be Lake Erie on Sunday at 9 a.m. followed by Notre Dame (Ohio) at 11 a.m. The Eagles will then play Wheeling Jesuit on Monday, March 3 at 1 p.m. and Rollins at 5 p.m. The next day Post meets #4 Grand Valley State at 9 a.m. and then Dowling as the latter part of a double header.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Eagles will play Southern Connecticut State and Cedarville (Ohio) at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Post will wrap up the NTC Spring Games with Findlay (9 a.m.) and Queens (11 a.m.) on Thursday, March 6.
Preseason Prognostications:
The Eagles were selected to finish ninth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Preseason Poll as announced by the conference office on Monday, Feb. 4. The Eagles received 85 points in the poll. Defending conference champion Caldwell garnered 12 out of the 14 possible first-place votes to earn the top spot in the poll. Dominican received the other two first-place votes and earned the second spot.
Scouting the NTC Spring Game Opponents:
Lake Erie struggled in 2013 with an overall record of 2-36. The Storm look to improve this season under the guidance of new head coach Stephanie Smith. Notre Dame (Ohio) finished 16-16 last season, and the Falcons were chosen to finish eighth in the Mountain East Conference this season.
Wheeling Jesuit finished 2013 with a 20-32 record and 13-14 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Second-Team All-WVIAC catcher Jarah Ice returns for the Falcons. Rollins is already deep into the 2014 season and is 11-5 overall. The Tars' Kristie Hoeffer is hitting .467 with 5 homeruns so far this season.
Grand Valley State is currently ranked #4 in the nation with a 2-2 record thus far. The Lakers cruised to a 46-9 record last season and made the College World Series for the first time since 2002. Four starters return for the Lakers led by shortstop Briauna Taylor. Dowling was chosen to finish third in the East Coast Conference (ECC) after the Golden Lions finished 30-19 a season ago.
Southern Connecticut had a successful 2013 campaign finishing 32-22 overall and 14-7 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Owls were predicted to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 this season. Cedarville was picked to finish second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) in 2014. After going 26-21 last season, the Yellow Jackets are off to a 2-1 start thus far.
Findlay finished 2013 at 27-15 overall and was chosen to finish eighth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC) this season. First team All-GLIAC second baseman Tori Allen returns for the Oilers. Queens ended with a 14-25 record a season ago and 12-16 in the ECC. The Knights return their top two hitters from 2013, Kaitlyn Crowley and Monique Roberge, who both hit .358 last season.
All-Time Series…:
With Grand Valley State:
The Eagles have played Grand Valley State twice, falling to the Lakers in 2010 and 2011 at neutral sites.
Results:
3/6/11 ….….….….N.….…..….L, 8-0
3/7/10 ….…..…….N.….…..….L, 10-2
With Dowling:
Post has struggled against Dowling, but the two squads have not met since 2008. The Eagles' only win over the Golden Lions came in 2005.
Results:
4/20/08 ................. A ................L, 6-2
4/20/08 ................. A ................L, 7-4
4/2/06 ................... A ................L, 3-0
4/2/06 ................... A ................L, 6-1
4/10/05 ................. H................L, 6-0
4/10/05 ................. H.............. W, 3-0
5/10/03 ........... N (ECAC)..........L, 3-0
With Southern Connecticut State:
Post will meet Southern Conn. for the first time since 2006. The Eagles hold a 2-1 series advantage.
Results:
3/29/06 ................. A ................L, 2-1
3/29/06 ................. A .............. W, 3-2
3/17/06 ................. N ............. W, 8-7
With Cedarville:
The Eagles have played Cedarville in each of its last two seasons and dropped both contests.
Results:
3/4/13 ................... N ...............L, 8-3
3/5/12 ................... N ...............L, 7-4
With Findlay:
Post and Findlay made its first meeting in 2013, an 11-0 victory for the Eagles.
Results:
3/5/13 ................... N ........... W, 11-0
With Queens:
Overall Post is 4-4 all-time against Queens. The Eagles have won four of the last five meetings including the last two games against the Knights.
Results:
3/21/10 ................. A .............. W, 6-3
3/21/10 ................. A .............. W, 3-0
4/9/09 ................... H................L, 2-0
4/9/09 ................... H.............. W, 4-1
4/17/08 ................. A .............. W, 4-0
4/17/08 ................. A ................L, 3-2
4/19/07 ................. H................L, 4-1
4/19/07 ................. H................L, 7-1
Senior Leadership:
The Eagles return six seniors in 2014, all of whom made at least 31 starts a season ago. All five of Post's top hitters in 2013 are back for their senior campaigns. Seniors
Stephanie DeMartino and
Rebecca Erb both led Post with a .315 batting average last season. Fellow senior
Christina Udris led the Eagles with six homeruns and 31 RBIs in 2013.
