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, NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.
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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#21 Arizona State (22-10, 3-2) at #14 Arizona (27-7, 2-1) – Pac-12 Series
Site: Hillebrand Stadium | Tucson, Ariz.
Date/ Game Time: Fri. March 27 (5:00 MT), Sat., March 28 (2:00 MT), Sun., March 29 (6:00 MT)
Coverage: Pac-12 Networks | Pac-12 Arizona | Live Stats (Fri. / Sat. / Sun.)
Follow them on Twitter: @ASUSoftball | @UA_Softball
Arizona State: The Sun Devils took two of three from California last weekend and split a rain-shortened Pac-12 series at Washington two weeks ago to open league play 3-2… ASU is batting .306 with five players above the .300 mark led by Abby Spiel at .396… Amber Freeman paces the offense with a team high .388 average, 40 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs and 32 RBI… Sierra Rodriguez has scored a team-leading 27 runs, while batting .341 with eight doubles, three longballs and 20 RBI… In the circle, Dale Ryndak and Breanna Macha have totaled all but 16.1 innings this season… Macha is 11-5 with a 3.54 ERA, 91 strikeouts and two shutouts in 110.2 innings of work, while Ryndak is 9-4 with a 3.43 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 96 innings.
Arizona: The Wildcats have won five straight and seven of their last eight games… In their opening Pac-12 series they took two-of-three at California two weekends ago, winning games one and three by the scores of 9-2 and 4-3… Chelsea Suitos is hitting .425 to lead a batting order that boasts every player batting above .300… Suitos is a perfect 12-for-12 and leads a UA squad that is perfect in 39 stolen base attempts… Kellie Fox (.417) has scored 31 run, knocked in 34 with six doubles, three triples and five home runs… Katiyana Mauga, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, is batting .376 with a team-best 13 home runs, 41 RBI and .817 slugging percentage… Hallie Wilson (.377) leads the squad with 37 runs and eight doubles, along with four home runs and 18 RBI… Michelle Floyd is 15-4 with a 2.38 ERA, 84 strikeouts in 20 appearances and 103 innings and has held opponents to a .216 average.
Some Additional Major Division I Games This Weekend:
#1 LSU (31-1) at #16 Kentucky (21-8) (3/27-29 at 6:00 / 12:00 / 1:00 ET) SEC+ | LSU Audio | SEC Network | Live Stats (G1 / G2 / G3)
#19 Washington (30-7) at #2 Oregon (27-3) (3/27-29 at 3:00 / 2:00 / 2:00 PT) Oregon Radio
#3 Florida (30-3) at RV Mississippi State (24-8) (3/27-29 at 5:30 / 1:00 / 11:00 AM CT) Coverage (Live Stats / SEC+) | Florida Radio
#23 Texas A&M (24-7) at #5 Alabama (23-6) (3/27-29 at 6:30 / 2:00 / 1:30 CT) Coverage
#7 Georgia (29-5) at #15 Tennessee (23-7) (3/28-30 at 3:00 / 7:00 / 7:00 ET)
RV Virginia Tech (24-6) at RV Notre Dame (20-11) (3/28-29 at 1:00 & 3:00 / 3:00 ET)
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RV Texas (20-9) at No. 22 Kansas (29-2) – Big 12 Opener
Site: Arrocha Ballpark | Lawrence, Kan.
Date (Game Time): Fri., March 27 (5:00 CT) | Sat., March 28 (2:00 CT) | Sun, March 29 (12:00)
Coverage: ESPN3 (Friday) | Audio (Jayhawk Radio Network) | Live Stats
Previews (Game Notes): Texas (notes) | Kansas (notes)
Follow them on Twitter: @TexasSoftball | @KUSoftball
Texas: The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back walk-offs in both ends of a doubleheader sweep of UTSA on Tuesday… They are 14-5 in Big 12 openers and have won the last seven… Currently, Stephanie Ceo is UT’s hottest hitter over the last 10 games, batting .476 (10-21) with seven runs, a triple, three RBI and a .577 on base percentage, which has brought her overall average to .288 with 10 RBI and 18 runs scored… Pacing the UT offense (.297 / 170 R / 229 H) is Lindsey Stephens (.330) who posts team bests with 30 hits, 24 runs, seven home runs, two triples, .637 slugging percentage and 10 stolen bases and is second with 25 RBI… Stephanie Wong is tops in batting average (.349), while Erin Shireman (.321) has six doubles, six long balls and 25 RBI and Holly Kern (.316) has knocked in a team-best 26 runs with four doubles, three home runs and 19 runs scored… In the circle, Gabby Smith is 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA, 47 strikeouts and a .208 batting average against in 45.2 innings and 10 appearances… Doing the brunt of the work is Erica Wright, who is 8-4 with a 2.15 ERA, three shutouts, 82 strikeouts and a .189 batting average against in 84.2 innings of work (18 app/12 starts)… As a staff, the Longhorns own a 2.74 ERA with 180 strikeouts and have held opponents to a .225 average.
Kansas: The Jayhawks have won 10 straight and 17 of their last 18 contests and have opened their home slate with an unblemished 8-0 record… They are ranked for the first time since 2011 and have held their ranking in the poll for four consecutive weeks… Offensively, seven members of the starting lineup are hitting above .300 and contributing to a team .347 batting average, second best in the Big 12… The Jayhawks have outscored their opponents 219-87 and are 23-0 when scoring first… Chaley Brickey and Lily Behrmann pace the offense posting .418 and .407 averages, respectively… Brickey has posted a team-best 41 hits, six home runs, 38 RBI and .684 slugging percentage to go along with eight doubles and 30 runs scored. Behrmann has scored 30 runs, knocked in 23 with four double, a triple and four long balls… Maddie Stein (.393) has a team-high 10 doubles, while Briana Evans (.381) is tops with 34 runs and 11 stolen bases and Daniella Chavez (.341) leads the squad with six homers and 36 RBI… The workhorse in the circle is Alicia Pille, who has toed the rubber in 122.1 of the 199 innings this season… She is 18-0 with five shutouts, 131 strikeouts, 16 complete games and held opponents to a .186 average, making 23 appearances and 19 starts.
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#8 Auburn (33-3, 6-0) at #20 Missouri (21-5, 4-2) – SEC Series
Site: University Field | Columbia, Mo.
Date/ Game Time: Fri. March 27 (6:30 CT), Sat., March 28 (7:00 CT), Sun., March 29 (12:00 CT)
Coverage: TV – SEC Network (Sat. & Sunday) | Live Stats (G1 / G2 / G3)
Follow them on Twitter: @Auburn_Softball | @MizzouSoftball
Auburn: The Tigers are off to their best SEC start at 6-0 and are the only undefeated team left in the league after sweeping then-No. 12 Kentucky for the first time since 2008… They had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a mid-week non-conference road test at No. 11 Florida State… Auburn split with the Seminoles, taking game two, 10-4 after falling 10-7 in the opener… The Tigers lead the nation with 66 home runs led by Jade Rhodes (15), Emily Carosone (14) and Kasey Cooper (11) and are also batting .372, which is second in the SEC… Tiffany Howard leads the Tigers and is second in the SEC with a .533 average (56-105) with a team-best three triples and .617 OBP, along with 48 runs scored and seven doubles… Carosone (.458) also leads her team with a league-best 52 runs and 50 RBI, which is tied for second in the league… Kooper is batting .390 with a team-high nine doubles to go along with 39 runs scored, 38 RBI and a team-best five stolen bases… Rachael Walters tops the three-arm pitching staff with a 12-0 mark, 1.98 ERA, 23 appearances, four complete games and .223 batting average against… Lexi Davis is 14-1, suffering her first loss against the Seminoles, with a 3.00 ERA, 68 strikeouts in 77 innings of work…She has appeared in 22 games, started 14 and held her opponents to a .236 average.
Missouri: The Tigers are looking to rebound from a 1-2 SEC series at Tennessee last weekend that snapped an 11-game winnings streak… They got off on the right foot with a 17-5 mid-week win over Illinois in St. Louis, heading into their series with Auburn… Missouri is batting .317 with 34 doubles, 36 home runs and 54 stolen bases after the first 26 games… The Tigers are led by Sami Fagan, who is batting .381 with 39 hits, six doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBI and 32 runs scored… Taylor Gadbois is right behind her teammate at .370 with 24 runs scored and a team-best 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts… In the circle, Mizzou has posted a 2.86 ERA and held opponents to a .237 average… Paige Lowary is 10-0 with a 2.46 ERA and 66 strikeouts, and has held opponents to a .223 average in 65.1 innings and 13 appearances (11 starts)… Tori Finucane comes in at 10-5 with a 3.53 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 71.1 innings and 19 appearances (14 starts).
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Division III
RV Linfield (16-6) at No. 25 George Fox (20-4)
Site: Morse Athletic Field | Newberg, Ore.
Date/Game Time: Sun., March 29 (3:00 & 5:00 ET)
Follow them on Twitter: @linfieldsports | @GFUSoftball
Linfield: The Northwest Conference doubleheader is a rematch of the split between the two schools on March 9 at the Wildcats’ Del Smith Stadium in McMinnville, Ore. … Linfield has gone just 6-4 since that day, but posted a split with current No. 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps during that stretch. … Sophomore middle infielder Alissa Buss (.407 average, three triples, 11 steals), freshman left fielder Cheyenne Fletcher (.362, five doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, .655 slugging percentage), sophomore third baseman Erin Kinney (.353, six doubles, two homers, 14 RBI) and senior outfielder Grace Middelstadt (.351, 21 runs, two doubles, 14 steals) all are hitting above .350 as regulars in the lineup, while sophomore first baseman Danielle Duman (nine homers, 30 RBI), senior catcher McKenna Spieth (four homers, 14 RBI) and senior outfielder Erin Carson (19 RBI) are key RBI threats. … Senior left-hander Montana McNealy (12-1, 0.49 ERA, 18 walks, 69 strikeouts over 71.2 innings) and junior righty Maddy Dunn (4-4, 4.70 ERA, 28 earned runs in 41.2 innings) have seen the lion’s share of the work in the circle.
George Fox: The Bruins have gone 11-1 since their earlier meeting with Linfield and moved into the NFCA Division III Top 25 this week after receiving votes for the first time this season a week ago. … George Fox’s lone loss during that stretch was 8-7 in eight innings to Lewis & Clark. … Freshman utility player Annie Veatch (.453 average, 16 runs, five doubles, three homers, 19 RBI), junior middle infielder Kayla Anderson (.414, 25 runs, nine doubles, five homers, 30 RBI) and freshman utility player Alex Parker (.408, four doubles, two homers, 15 RBI) top an offense hitting .322 and averaging more than six runs a game. … Junior catcher Courtney Howard (22 runs, three doubles, two triples, three homers, 14 RBI), sophomore outfielder Ashley Bunce (six doubles, three homers, 15 RBI) and freshman middle infielder Rebecca Pridmore (three doubles, three triples, nine steals) help round out the balanced attack … Freshman right-handers Abbie Bergerson (11-2, 1.91 ERA, six complete games, 80.2 innings) and Madison Sorensen (7-1, 1.89 ERA, 58 strikeouts in 55.2 innings) have seen the bulk of the work in the circle, while junior righty Amanda Woods (2-1, 4.71 ERA in 19.1 innings) has also seen time.
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NAIA/Division II
RV #1 Oklahoma City (23-1) at Oklahoma Christian (15-12)
Site: Tom Heath Field at Lawson Plaza | Oklahoma City, Okla.
Date/Game Time: Sat., March 28 (1:00 & 3:00 CT)
Coverage: Live Stats
Follow them on Twitter: @ocustars | @OCEagles
Oklahoma City: The Stars, under the direction of recent NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee Phil McSpadden, have come out the gates hot and earned the No. 1 spot in the first NAIA Coach’s Poll that was released last week… OCU won its first 23 games before falling in the second game of a doubleheader to Houston-Victoria… McSpadden, in his 28th season, has guided the Stars to over 1,400 wins and eight NAIA National Championships… The Stars are batting .371 with 211 runs, 37 doubles, 41 home runs and 56 stolen bases through 24 games, while their pitchers have posted a 1.42 ERA and held opponents to a .202 batting average… OCU’s starting lineup has five players above the .400 mark and three more at .333 or better… Jamie Rateliff tops the squad with a team-best 36 hits, eight doubles, 10 home runs, 28 RBI, 1.014 slugging percentage and .565 OBP… Cheyanne Terry comes in a .459 with five doubles, 28 runs and a .534 OBP, and is tied with with two other teammates with seven steals… Jocelin Diaz (.433 / 21 R /6 2B / 4 HR / 21 RBI), McRae Cayton (.426 / 11 R / 3 HR) and Kyndra Holasek (.407 / 4 HR / 30 R/ 25 RBI) are also producing above a .400 clip… A balanced trio is the circle consists of Abby Meador (10-1, 1.04, 54 IP), Maria Gomez (8-0, 1.67, 50.1 IP) and Maci-Brooke Lambert (5-0, 1.67, 46.0 IP).. Meador leads the staff in wins, ERA, shutouts (3), strikeouts (88) and opponent’s batting average (.126)… The Stars will face SAC foe Mid-America Christian on Friday before facing the Eagles on Saturday… It will be the third member of the Division II Heartland Conference that OCU will face this season… The Stars defeated Lubbock Christian and Texas-Permian Basin at the Mansfield North Texas Softball Bash in February.
Oklahoma Christian: The Eagles are a member of the Heartland Conference and are currently transitioning from NAIA to full NCAA Division II membership… They are riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping a Heartland series from Oklahoma Panhandle State… Kendra Pierce leads an offense that is batting .313 as a squad… She is hitting .533 (49-92) with 11 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI, .870 slugging and .560 on base percentages, all team bests… Haley Squier is second on the squad with a .408 average, while Moniques Elliot (.388) has scored a team-high 27 runs… In the circle, Shea Coats has seen the majority of the work with 17 appearances, 11 starts and 83.1 innings… She is 7-6 with 1.43 ERA, three saves, 11 complete games, 101 strikeouts to just 17 walks and has held her opposition to a .208 average… OC has a strong defensive squad making just 16 errors in 705 chances for a .978 field percentage.
