CU Softball Preview - vs. St. Lawrence University (4/14)

Yesterday was the start of a busy week for the Clarkson University Softball team as the Golden Knights swept a doubleheader, but now the games that truly count begin when the Green and Gold kick off Liberty League play with a pair of games against Route 11 rival St. Lawrence University.

Clarkson enters Thursday's fray with a record of 15-5 overall, including 15 wins in its last 16 contests, while St. Lawrence is 8-11 through 19 games. Both teams play four more games this weekend and will quickly be at the halfway point of the conference slate by the end of Sunday.

After a slow start, Clarkson's offense has clicked to the tune of a .302/.372/.381 slash line, leading the conference in on-base percentage and runs per game (5.4 rpg). The team also has excelled in the pitching circle, holding opponents to a lead-best .267 batting average.

Sophomore Summer Lancette has been hot as of late and ranks in the top 10 in the conference in all three slash categories, hitting .426 (fourth), on-base percentage (.518) and slugging (.596). She also has swiped 12 bases and produced 29 runs with 16 scored and 14 more driven in. Sophomore Raeanna Dunn isn't far behind with .397/.479/.540 production, including a league-best 17 steals. Jamie Bridge, Clarkson's three-hole hitter, is also batting .368/.397/.441. Clarkson is far and away the conference leader in stolen bases, succeeding on thefts 48 out of 55 attempts.

Bridge and Katie Pelton have combined to toss 92.1 of Clarkson's' 129.2 innings, with a record of 11-1. Bridge is fifth in the conference with 50 whiffs and is fourth in earned run average at 2.46, while Pelton is second in earned run average at 2.23 and opponents' batting average (.213), while ranking first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (24-6).

St. Lawrence has proven to be a station-to-station kind of offense through 19 games with only three stolen bases in five tries (in comparison, Clarkson has four individuals with more steals and attempts). Allie Courtwright is the team's top hitter, batting .352/.417/.444, and also sees plenty of time in the pitching circle with a 4.02 earned run average and 33 strikeouts in 54 innings. Carly Dziekan (.333/.350/.333) and Kylee Knight (.328/.388/.443) trail Courtwright on offense. St. Lawrence lost its number-one starter from last year to graduation, but Emma Gailey has stepped up nicely in her sophomore season with a 2.57 earned run average and 51 strikeouts in 60 innings.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Jamie Bridge: P/OF; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#5 Raeanna Dunn: IF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; L/R

#14 Summer Lancette: OF; 5' 2"; Sophomore; L/R

#4 Katie Pelton: P/IF; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#6 Jamie Bridge
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: P/OF

#5 Raeanna Dunn
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF

#14 Summer Lancette
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#4 Katie Pelton
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: P/IF