Quinnipiac University
University of Hartford
QU Softball Set for Home Opener Against Hartford
3/29/2017 12:20:00 PM | Softball
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (9-14, 0-0 MAAC) vs.
University of Hartford Hawks (3-18, 0-0 America East)
Date: March 30, 2017
Time: 2 P.M. & 4 P.M.
Location: QU Softball Field - Hamden, Connecticut
HOME OPENER
The Quinnipiac softball team will be having its 2017 home opener on Thursday, March 30, in a doubleheader against in-state rival Hartford at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the QU Softball Field.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Hartford is off to a slow 3-18 start to the season and have yet to play in any conference games. The team's offense is led by Lexi Wilkerson, who boasts a .322 batting average this season, with a team-high three home runs and 12 RBIs.
LAST TIME OUT
Last time time the Bobcats took the field, Quinnipiac swept Wagner in a Saturday doubleheader, 4-0 and 9-5. Miranda Magana (Santa Paula, California) and Keala Cordeiro (Huntington Beach, California) led the offensive charge for Quinnipiac, combining for five home runs and eight RBIs on the day. Junior pitcher Casey Herzog (Wappinger Falls, New York) earned the win in game one, tossing a complete-game shutout in the process. Herzog went seven complete innings, giving up only five hits and striking out three. Abbey Long (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) got the win in game two, after going four innings, giving up only three earned runs and striking out one.
MORE LIFE
Rebecca Drake (Whiting, New Jersey) has injected life into Quinnipiac's lineup this season. Drake boasts a team-best .403 batting average and has slugged four homers and driven in 17 runs.
MARVELOUS MAGANA
Miranda Magana (Santa Paula, California) has been one of the team's most consistent hitters so far this season. In 23 games, Magana has an impressive .390 batting average with five homers and 16 RBIs.
POWER SURGE
In Quinnipiac's sweep of Wagner, Keala Cordeiro (Huntington Beach, California) and Magana combined to hit five home runs on the day. In game one, Cordeiro put Quinnipiac on the board in the first inning with a two-run homerun to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Later in the game, Magana launched a solo shot in the seventh inning to cement Quinnipiac's 4-0 win.
In game two, Magana lead the game off with a solo home run. In the second inning, Magana came back to hit a two-run home run to give Quinnipiac a 4-0 lead. Cordeiro later hit a two-run home run to give Quinnipiac a 6-1 lead.
Magana now leads the team with five home runs this season, while Cordeiro has three.
ROUGHING THE RIGHTIES
Drake and Magana have hammered right-handed pitching so far this season. Drake is 26-for-40 (.433) against righties, while Magana is 25-for-63 (.397) against righties.
SEND 'EM HOME
Quinnipiac has an impressive .313 batting average with runners in scoring position this season. Drake is an astounding 11-for-22 (.500) with runners in scoring position, Erin Larsen (Kissimmee, Florida) is hitting .450 and Magana is hitting .375.
FIVE RUNS OR LESS
Quinnipiac is 9-3 on the season when it holds its opponents to five runs or less.
SEALING THE DEAL
When leading after…
Three innings, Quinnipiac is 5-0.
Four innings, Quinnipiac is 5-0.
Five innings, Quinnipiac is 6-0.
Six innings, Quinnipiac is 7-0.
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Quinnipiac is 3-0 when it scores just three runs in a game.
THE MAAC PRESEASON POLL
The Quinnipiac University softball team was picked to finish sixth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.
HAMDEN ADVANTAGE
Last season, the Bobcats registered an 11-9 home record at the QU Softball Field.
HEAD COACH JILL KARWOSKI
Head coach Jill Karwoski will guide Quinnipiac in her fourth season at the helm in the hopes of improving on a 2016 season that saw Quinnipiac finish the year at 28-29 overall, which was 10 wins better than the 18 wins the team earned in 2015.
