Feb. 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University softball team will open its 2009 season on Friday at the FIU Tournament in Miami, Fla. This marks the Hoyas fourth season of play in Division I and first season of play in the BIG EAST Conference.
A year ago, their last as an Independent, the Hoyas won 21 games, the most in program history. SS Samantha Peters earned All Independent Player of the Year, while infielder Demetria Cipriano earned First Team All Independent. RHP Jennifer Connell earned All Independent honorable mention. All three return to a team that loses just one player from a year ago. With five incoming freshmen and transfer 2B Kelsie Hanson, head coach Pat Conlan will have depth for the first time in program history.
Each team the Hoyas play over the course of the weekend will be one they are meeting for the first time:
Feb. 13, 10 a.m. vs Temple The Hoyas will meet the Owls for the first time in program history on Friday morning at 10 a.m., as both teams open their 2009 season. The Owls will be led by new head coach Joe DiPietro, who had spent his previous six seasons at LaSalle University. DiPietro will see the Hoyas for the second consecutive year, as GU swept a doubleheader from his Explorers, 4-2, 8-6 at Guy Mason Field on March 25, 2008.
Temple will return a strong core of upperclassmen, including senior 1B Courtney Norene, the Owl's all-time leading home run hitter. Senior Katie Burdeaux led the team in 2008 batting .333 with four home runs, while also posting a 6-12 record with a 3.68 ERA on the mound. Junior C Krystle Metzler also adds experience and punch to the lineup, batting .260 and five home runs in 2008.
Feb. 13, noon vs. Florida Gulf Coast The Eagles fell to South Florida, 4-3 in the Championship game of the Louisville Slugger Tournament to finish its opening weekend with a 3-2 record. UFGC received help from the bats of senior 3B Cheyenne Jenks, who batted .500 (6-for-12) with two home runs and eight RBI's and senior 1B Jessica Carter who also batted .500 (5-for-10) a home run and five RBI's.
Freshman Cassidy Rash made her collegiate debut going 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in three appearances, while holding opposing hitters to a .222 batting average. Junior pitcher Catherine McDaniel earned the Eagles other two victories.
Feb. 14, 4 p.m. vs. Michigan State When the Hoyas and Spartans meet at 4 p.m. on Feb. 14 it will mark not only the first time the two squads meet, but the first time Georgetown will take on a BIG TEN opponent.
The Spartans return four starters from a squad that went 27-29 a year ago. Senior 2B Gina Mondo is the club's leading returning hitter, having batted .337 (58-for-172) with seven home runs and 32 RBI's last year. MSU also returns C Kara Weigle, who batted .294 (45-for-153) and started 49 games behind the plate a year ago.
Feb. 14, 8 p.m. vs. FIU FIU opened its season with losses to Louisville and North Carolina, two teams the Hoyas will meet later in the season, in the first day of the FIU Combat Classic. The Golden Panthers did bounce back winning two of their next three, defeating Texas A&M CC and Jacksonville, while falling to Auburn. Seniors Jessica Landau and Katie Bell each hit .333 (5-for-15) in the opening weekend. Freshman Jennifer Gniadak went 1-2 with a 0.42 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a .164 batting average. Junior Paige Cassady went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA holding opposing hitters to a .174 batting average.
GU will take on the host Golden Panthers under the lights on Feb. 14. FIU marks the third Sun Belt Conference team the Hoyas have met, holding a 2-2 record against the conference, with two victories against Alabama State a year ago.
Feb. 15, 12:30 p.m. vs. St. John's The Hoyas will play the Red Storm for the first of three times when they meet at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. The two teams meet again for two games at Guy Mason Field on May 2. St. John's finished 20-35 overall and 5-17 in the BIG EAST a year ago and will be the Hoyas introduction to BIG EAST competition in 2009.
The Red Storm return five starters, led by sophomore catcher Kacee Cox. As a freshman Cox batted .329 (53-for-161) with nine home runs and 34 RBI's. Sophomore RHP Kat Lawrence is St. John's went 10-16 with a 3.24 ERA in her freshman season, logging 164.1 innings and striking out 163 batters.
