LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Throughout the 2015 softball season, those of us at the NFCA will feature some of the sport's highest-profile contests in our "Featured Five" Games of the Week segment.
Each weekly installment will be released on Thursday, providing live stat links, game notes, returnee info, Twitter accounts and any available broadcast links in hopes of becoming another source for fans to visit during the season for information on some of collegiate softball's best games.
As the year continues, we will attempt to expand our focus to include match-ups throughout as many divisions as possible. This week's featured games come from NCAA Division I, including a link to the Mary Nutter Classic, NCAA Division III and NJCCA (I).
We may not be able to highlight every division or big game each week, but our hope is to provide a spotlight for as many different teams and games as possible throughout 2015.
Make sure you follow the NFCA on social media through Twitter (@NFCAorg
) and on Facebook (NFCA) and let us know what you think of our new "Featured Five" segment.
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#2 Oregon (10-0) at #7 Baylor (9-0)
Tournament/Site: Baylor Invitational | Getterman Stadium | Waco, Texas
Date/ Game Time: Thursday, Feb. 19 (6:30 ET) & Saturday, Feb. 21 (4:15 CT)
Coverage: Live Stats (Thu. / Sat.) | TV (Fox Sports SW-Plus on Thursday) | Video $
Follow them on Twitter: @OregonSB | @BaylorSoftball
Previews (Game Notes): Oregon (Notes) | Baylor (notes)
Oregon: The second ranked Ducks come into the Baylor Invitation have won their first 10 games of the season, including the first four of this five-day, nine-game trek from Houston, to College Station and over to Waco… Oregon opened with doubleheader sweep of the Cougars (2-0/10-5) and follow with two victories in College Station over Sam Houston State (14-4) and the 23rd-ranked Aggies (5-1)… Through the first ten games of the season, Oregon’s offense has posted strong numbers: batting average (.401), runs (86), hits (119), slugging (.623), OBP (.483)… They are very balanced at the plate with eight starters batting, .393 or better, seven that are about .400, six with eight-plus RBI and five with eight-plus runs scored… They are led by Alyssa Gillespie’s .522 average (12-23) with three home runs, nine RBI and eight runs; Jenna Lilly (.485) with a team-best 13 runs and 16 hits; Geri Ann Glasco (.448) with team-best 11 RBI and Korai Costa (.429) with 10 RBI and a team-high four home runs… In the circle, Cheridan Hawkins (4-0) has allowed just one run (0.27 ERA) and eight hits (.095) with 44 strikeouts and three saves in 26 innings.
Baylor: The seventh-ranked Bears are off to a 9-0 start and have outscored their opponents 72-12, averaging eight runs per game and allowing just over a run per contest… They return home after participating in the NSU Demon Invitational hosted by Northwestern State and outscoring their opponents, 43-2 with three shutouts… Offensively, six players bat .393 or better with five players above the .400 mark and two recording a hit every other at bat… Lindsey Cargill is at a staggering .560 (14-25) batting average with three doubles and nine runs scored, while Kaitlyn Thumann is right at .500 (13-26) with three doubles, three triples, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a .606 OBP… Kinsey Hays (.393) has a team-0hig five home runs, 16 RBI and 1.000 slugging percentage… In the circle, four different pitcher have two or more wins led by Heather Stearns at 3-0 (0.83) with a staff-best 41 strikeouts to just four walks and two saves, while holding opponents to a .141 average in 25.1 innings... Kendall Potts has yet to allow an earned run (2 runs) in 15.2 innings and has held her opponents to a .118 average… As a staff, teams are batting just .144 and they have posted a 0.71 ERA.
Some Additional Major Division I Games This Weekend:
(at Mary Nutter Classic / Full Schedule
) - All times Pacific
#11 Kentucky (6-2) vs. #13 Arizona (9-0) (2/19 at 10:30 am) Live Stats | Audio
#10 Tennessee (9-0) at #9 Florida State (7-3) (2/19 at 12:30) Audio
#8 Georgia (10-0) vs. #25 Texas (2/19 at 12:30) Live Stats
#10 Tennessee (9-0) vs. #21 California (9-0) (2/20 at 12:30) Live Stats | Audio
#13 Arizona (9-0) vs. #14 LSU (10-0) (2/20 at 3:00) Live Stats | Audio
#9 Florida State (7-3) vs. #12 UCLA (9-2) (2/21 at 3:00) Live Stats
(at Bank of Hawaii Invitational - Honolulu, Hawaii)
#19 UCF (8-0) vs. #16 Washington (8-2) (2/20 at 3:30 HT) Live Stats
(at Diamond Devil Invitational - Tempe, Ariz.)
#15 Minnesota (8-1) at #19 Arizona State (8-4) (2/21 at 6:00 MT) Live Stats | Video
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#5 Michigan (8-1) at #3 Alabama (11-1)
Tournament Site: Easton Bama Bash | Rhoads Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Date/ Game Time: Friday, Feb. 20 (5:00 ET) | Saturday, Feb. 21 (1:30 CT)
Coverage: Live Stats (Fri. / Sat.) | Watch ESPN (both games)
Previews (Game Notes): Michigan (notes) | Alabama (notes)
Follow them on Twitter: @umichsoftball | @AlabamaSB
Michigan Tidbits: The fifth-ranked Wolverines moved up three spots in the NFCA poll after an impressive 5-0 weekend at the Unconquered Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla… Michigan swept a doubleheader from host and then-No. 6 Florida State by the scores of 6-5 and 2-1 and produced three run-rule victories over Georgia Tech (twice) and Western Kentucky… It will mark the third straight weekend the Wolverines match up with a higher ranked top-10 program and second straight week on that program’s home field… Last weekend Michigan’s bats came alive batting .305 which was a 93-point improvement form its opening weekend… Lauren Sweet led a septuplet of batters with a .333 average or better by posting a .500 average (5-10) with nine RBI and five runs scored to earn Big Ten Player of Week honors… In the circle, Megan Bets was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after posting a 2-0 record with just one run allowed in 11.2 inning of work last weekend… Both victories came against the Seminoles… Sierra Romero still leads the squad, batting .409 with two home runs, eight RBI, nine runs, nine walks and a .594 OBP… Betsa and Sara Driesenga are both 3-0 in five appearances… Betsa has a 1.50 ERA with 34 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .125 batting average, while Driesenga has a 18 punchouts and holding her opponents to a .213 average… In addition, the Wolverine will face Lipscomb twice and James Madison (RV).
Alabama Tidbits: The Crimson Tide remained at No. 3 for the third consecutive week after a 5-1 overall week, including 4-1 showing at the Stanford Nike Invitational… Following a 7-1 win at Samford, Alabama rolled three wins over the host Cardinal and Pacific twice… They eeked out a 1-0 eight-inning win over Cal Poly and suffered their first loss of the season to Stanford (1-4)... The Tide are playing in their first home games of the season, but their trip to Stanford is the only time they have left their home state… Along with Michigan twice, Bama will host James Madison (RV) twice and Lipscomb… Reigning SEC Player of the Week, Haylie McCleney paces the Crimson Tide offense, batting a.568 (21-36) with seven doubles, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored, a .811 slugging pct and .660 OBP, while swiping 11 of 12 bases… Right behind here is Demi Turner, who is batting .541 (20-37) with three doubles, three triples, a home run, 14 RBI, 13 runs and a .865 slugging percentage… In the circle, Sydney Littlejohn is 4-0 with a miniscule 0.28 ERA (1 ER in 25 IP) and 25 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a 131 average… Leslie Jury (3-1, 1.81) and Alexis Osoria (4-0, 2.55) have added 27 and 22 innings of work with 27 and 33 strikeouts, respectively.
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Oklahoma (9-1) vs. #8 Georgia (10-0)
Site: Mary Nutter Classic | Big League Dreams | Palm Springs, Calif.
Date/ Game Time: Fri., Feb. 20 (10:30 am PT)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @OU_Softball | @UGAsoftball
Previews (Game Notes): Oklahoma (notes) | Georgia
Oklahoma Tidbits: The Sooners stayed put at No. 4 in the NFCA Poll after a 4-1 showing at the Littlewood Classic hosted by then No. 21 Arizona State… Oklahoma picked up win over then-No. 15 Washington (8-7), Boston University (14-4), the host Sun Devils (5-1) and Illinois State (7-2) before dropping its final game to Arizona State (4-8)… … In addition to facing the undefeated Bulldogs, the Sooners will take on No. 13 Arizona, No. 11 Kentucky, San Diego State and Loyola Marymount… Big 12 Player of the Week Lauren Chamberlain is off to a torrid start after batting .533 (8-15) with seven runs, three home runs, nine RBI and five walks, posting 1.133 slugging and .650 on base percentages… For the season, she is batting .519 (14-27 with six home runs, 16 runs scored and 21 RBI, all team bests to go along with a 1.259 and .683 slugging percentage… The Sooner offense is batting .381 and is averaging nine runs per game, while allowing 2.7 per contest… Paige Parker is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA with 26 strikeouts, two saves and two shutouts in 24.2 innings, while holding opponents to a .129 average.
Georgia Tidbits: The Bulldogs moved into the top 10 last week and jumped two more spots to No. 8 in the most recent NFCA poll… Georgia’s offense has been on first through its first 10 games and will be put to the test as the Bulldogs venture out of Athens, Ga. For the first time this season… Georgia has run-ruled eight of its 10 opponents, outscoring its competition, 99-15… As a team, they are batting an absurd .453 with three players batting .567 or better and four more at ..417 or higher… The Dogs have totaled 111 hits, 21 doubles, 82 RBI, .682 slugging pct, .528 OBP and 34 stolen bases in 35 attempts… Paige Wilson (20 RBI, 18 R, .706 OBP) and Cortni Emanuel (16 R, 18 SB, .697 OBP) are chugging along at .679 (19-28) and .677 (21-31) clips, while Alex Hugo has slugged her way to a .567 average with two doubles, four triples, four home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.300 slugging percentage… Not to be overshadowed is the pitching… Chelsea Wilkinson leads the way with a 0.37 ERA (2 ER), 54 strikeouts and just six walks, while holding opponents to a .078 batting average… As a staff, teams are hitting just .111 and have struck out 81 times in 198 at bats… In addition to the Sooners, the Bulldogs face No. 25 Texas, No. 24 Notre Dame and Indiana.
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Division III
Chapman (2-3) at #5 East Texas Baptist (3-0)
Site: ETBU StrikeOut Cancer Doubleheader | Taylor Field | Marshall, Texas
Date/ Game Times: Sun. Feb. 22 (2 & 4 p.m. CT)
Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
Preview: East Texas Baptist
Follow them on Twitter: @ChapmanSports | @ETBU_Softball
Chapman Tidbits: After an easy 10-1 run-shortened win over Cal Lutheran two weeks ago, the Panthers won just one of four games last weekend, splitting a pair of non-conference games with George Fox and dropping a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) twinbill at Whittier. … Sophomore shortstop Amber Perez led the offense, with two hits in the first game (a 5-3 loss) against George Fox and a triple and the lone run in the nightcap (an 1-0 win). She then went 5-for-8 with three doubles in a pair of one-run losses to Whittier and is hitting a team-high .600 in Chapman’s five games this season. … Other players off to a good start offensively include freshman first baseman Kristen Weiser (.400, two doubles, six RBI) and senior third baseman Taylor Cartwright (.385, 5-for-13, three runs). … In the circle, senior Cassie Oregel (19 hits, nine runs and 17 strikeouts in 16.1 innings) and junior Natalie Both (11 hits, nine runs and three walks in 15 innings) have split time equally.
East Texas Baptist Tidbits: The Tigers have seemingly picked up where they left off last season, outscoring Hardin-Simmons, 31-5, in their three-game American Southwest Conference series last weekend, after posting a school-record 45 wins and tying for fifth at the NCAA Division III Championship in 2014. … NFCA All-American designated hitter/right fielder Jayme Perez (.556, two homers, six RBI), now a sophomore, is again providing the power and junior Kelly Jo McLendon (2-0, 0.00 ERA, three hits, one unearned run, 10 strikeouts and one walk in 10 innings) and graduate student Shelby Parker (1-0, 2.57 ERA, seven hits, four runs, eight strikeouts and no walks in seven innings) are still controlling in the circle. … Senior outfielder Sara Clements (.571, doubles, three RBI, four steals) is back from an injury that ended her 2014 season and sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Hollingshead (.667, two doubles, five RBI), senior outfielder Kayla Garcia (.556, two doubles, two RBI, three steals) and senior third baseman Maranda Westbrook (.500, two RBI, three runs, three steals) are all off to a good start.
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NJCAA I
#4 Chattanooga State CC (9-1) at #4 Tallahassee CC (9-2)
Site: TCC Softball Complex | Tallahassee, Fla.
Date/ Game Time: Sat., Feb. 21 (1:00) - DH
Coverage: Live Stats
Social Media: @ChattStateCC | TCC Eagles (Facebook)
CSCC Tidbits: Chattanooga State won its first six games of the season and is currently on own a new winning streak of three games heading into the weekend… The Tigers are coming off an impressive 2014 season in which they went 55-8, won the Region VII Championship and place third at the NJCAA National Championships… This year, CSCC return 10 sophomores, added two transfers and welcomed six freshmen… The Tigers are batting .323 (95 hits) with 17 doubles, 15 home runs and 92 runs scored… Lizabeth McCurry is batting a team-best .407 (11-27) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 13 RBI and six runs scored… Katy Richardson comes in at a .400 (10-25) clip with three doubles, a home run seven RBI and 12 runs scored… Lindsey Stickrod (.378) has tallied a team best four home runs with 10 RBI and 11 runs scored, while Courtney Styles (.357) has added a team-high 13 runs, along with four doubles, three long balls and eight RBI… In the circle, Sharlene Godoy paces the staff at 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 29 innings of work.
TCC Tidbits: Tallahassee is ranked No. 4 in the softball coaches’ poll… The Eagles slipped one spot after a 4-2 week that included a split of four games at the Florida Public Utilities Classic, hosted by Chipola… The Eagles swept a pair of games at Santa Fe on February 12 then picked up a win against NJCAA No. 16 Walters (Tenn.) State Community College during its weekend in Marianna… The Eagles are batting .292 as a team led by Brooke Marendino who is batting a team-best .379 with seven RBI and five runs scored. Danielle Patterson (.366) leads the squad with 12 runs scored and three doubles, while Brianna Tourtillott (.333) knocked in at team-high 12 runs with two doubles and a triple and Taesha DuBoise is batting .364 with a double, triple, eight RBI and six runs scored… Alexandra Cooks (4-0) has posted a microscopic 0.27 ERA, allowing one earned run and striking out 29 in 26 innings of work and is averaging almost eight punchouts per game… Gabrielle Decker is 3-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work, while Mariah Rivera is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 16.1 innings… The staff has posted a 0.61 ERA.
