Friday, February 26
Harrisonburg, VA
2:30 p.m.
University of Toledo
vs
Saint Joseph's
Rockets Attend No. 10 James Madison's Invitational
2/25/2016 4:50:00 PM | Softball
Harrisonburg, VA - Toledo will travel south to Harrisonburg for four games in this weekend's Macado's Invitational hosted by James Madison University. All tournament games will be held at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Rockets will begin the tournament on Friday, Feb. 26 with a 2:30 p.m. game against Saint Joseph's.
A day later, Toledo will face SJU again at 10:30 a.m. before battling No. 10/12 James Madison at 3:00 p.m.
UT will conclude the tournament on Sunday morning when it takes on Binghamton at 10:00 a.m.
Robert Morris is also invited to the tournament but because of last-minute schedule changes, the Rockets will not face the Colonials.
MACADO'S INVITATIONAL FULL SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 26
Noon - Robert Morris vs. Binghamton
2:30 p.m. - Saint Joseph's vs. Toledo
Saturday, Feb. 27
10:30 a.m. - Toledo vs. Saint Joseph's
12:30 p.m. - Robert Morris vs. Binghamton
3:00 p.m. - JMU vs. Toledo
5:00 p.m. - Saint Joseph's vs. Binghamton
Sunday, Feb. 28
10:00 a.m. - Toledo vs. Binghamton
Noon - Robert Morris vs. Saint Joseph's
2:30 p.m. - JMU vs. Saint Joseph's
4:30 p.m. - JMU vs. Robert Morris
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
James Madison jumped up nine spots to No. 10 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll after a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational. The Duke's only loss was handed to them by No. 5 Alabama (2-1) on Feb. 13. During its undefeated stretch, JMU defeated No. 3 Auburn (3-2), No. 12 Tennessee (9-0), DePaul (8-1), Fordham (11-4) and Oklahoma State (4-1). Senior C Erica Fields led the Duke's offense with nine hits in 13 at-bats, recording a .692 batting average. Fields hit three doubles and one triple for 14 total bases in the five games.
Robert Morris currently holds a 2-7 record after losing all five games last weekend at the DeMarini Desert Classic in Henderson, NV. The Colonials were defeated by Utah (0-9), Oregon State (8-1), BYU (7-2), Nevada (9-0) and host UNLV (8-3). Robert Morris will be lead by Kristen Gabelt and Jordan Gurganus. Both athletes have recorded 10 hits at 29 at-bats for a .357 batting average. Gabelt has recorded six runs, a double and a home run and has notched three RBIs.
Binghamton opened its 2016 campaign last weekend at the Mary Nutter Tournament in Cathedral City, CA. The Bearcats sit with a 2-3 record after defeating University of the Pacific, 9-8, and Loyola Marymount University, 9-8. Binghamton dropped games to California-Santa Barbara (2-0), Utah Valley (5-4) and Arkansas (12-5). The Bearcats were led by senior C Taylor Chaffee who recorded a .500 batting average and sophomore OF Jessica Rutherford who notched a .474.
Saint Joseph's competed in Charlotte's 49er Classic and hold a 1-4 record after last weekend's games. The Hawks managed to defeat Presbyterian 8-0 before falling to the Blue Hose, 1-0, the following day. SJU was defeated by Stony Brook (3-1, 3-2) and host Charlotte (5-1). The Hawks were led by junior OF Madeline Brunck who recorded five hits, four runs, and an RBI in the tournament. Brunck recorded a team-high .313 batting average. Junior C Kaylyn Zierke notched a team-high two home runs and four RBIs over the weekend.
HOUSTON HILTON PLAZA INVITATIONAL RECAP
Toledo fell in all five games last weekend at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational.
Sophomore INF Samantha Showalter led the way offensively defensively for the Rockets with four hits in 10 at-bats, recording a .400 batting average. Showalter hit a double and a home run for eight total bases. Showalter recorded a team-high 19 putouts in the five games switching between first base and shortstop.
Senior P Marla Gooding (7.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 8 K) pitched an outstanding game against No. 24 Texas in the Rocket's last game of the invitational. After Toledo's pitchers recorded nine strikeouts in its first four games this weekend, Gooding collected eight vs. Texas.
BUTLER SAYS:
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"The team is very excited about playing at JMU this weekend," said head coach Kristen Butler. "We ended the Houston tournament with a lot of improvement so we all want to build off of that momentum."
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"Our pitchers worked really hard this week focusing on getting ahead of the hitters and I am confident that they will have a better showing this weekend.
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"This team is starting to get eager as we get closer and closer to conference play. We know what it takes to make the MAC tournament and we know what it takes to win it. That motivates us through each game and remains our focus through each practice.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's action, the Rockets will travel California for two spring break tournaments and a double header against UC Riverside (March 8). UT will take part in the SLO Cal Poly Mustang Classic from March 4-6 in San Luis Obispo and the Cal St. Northridge Tournament on March 10-12 in Northridge.
The Rockets will begin the tournament on Friday, Feb. 26 with a 2:30 p.m. game against Saint Joseph's.
A day later, Toledo will face SJU again at 10:30 a.m. before battling No. 10/12 James Madison at 3:00 p.m.
UT will conclude the tournament on Sunday morning when it takes on Binghamton at 10:00 a.m.
Robert Morris is also invited to the tournament but because of last-minute schedule changes, the Rockets will not face the Colonials.
MACADO'S INVITATIONAL FULL SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 26
Noon - Robert Morris vs. Binghamton
2:30 p.m. - Saint Joseph's vs. Toledo
Saturday, Feb. 27
10:30 a.m. - Toledo vs. Saint Joseph's
12:30 p.m. - Robert Morris vs. Binghamton
3:00 p.m. - JMU vs. Toledo
5:00 p.m. - Saint Joseph's vs. Binghamton
Sunday, Feb. 28
10:00 a.m. - Toledo vs. Binghamton
Noon - Robert Morris vs. Saint Joseph's
2:30 p.m. - JMU vs. Saint Joseph's
4:30 p.m. - JMU vs. Robert Morris
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
James Madison jumped up nine spots to No. 10 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll after a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational. The Duke's only loss was handed to them by No. 5 Alabama (2-1) on Feb. 13. During its undefeated stretch, JMU defeated No. 3 Auburn (3-2), No. 12 Tennessee (9-0), DePaul (8-1), Fordham (11-4) and Oklahoma State (4-1). Senior C Erica Fields led the Duke's offense with nine hits in 13 at-bats, recording a .692 batting average. Fields hit three doubles and one triple for 14 total bases in the five games.
Robert Morris currently holds a 2-7 record after losing all five games last weekend at the DeMarini Desert Classic in Henderson, NV. The Colonials were defeated by Utah (0-9), Oregon State (8-1), BYU (7-2), Nevada (9-0) and host UNLV (8-3). Robert Morris will be lead by Kristen Gabelt and Jordan Gurganus. Both athletes have recorded 10 hits at 29 at-bats for a .357 batting average. Gabelt has recorded six runs, a double and a home run and has notched three RBIs.
Binghamton opened its 2016 campaign last weekend at the Mary Nutter Tournament in Cathedral City, CA. The Bearcats sit with a 2-3 record after defeating University of the Pacific, 9-8, and Loyola Marymount University, 9-8. Binghamton dropped games to California-Santa Barbara (2-0), Utah Valley (5-4) and Arkansas (12-5). The Bearcats were led by senior C Taylor Chaffee who recorded a .500 batting average and sophomore OF Jessica Rutherford who notched a .474.
Saint Joseph's competed in Charlotte's 49er Classic and hold a 1-4 record after last weekend's games. The Hawks managed to defeat Presbyterian 8-0 before falling to the Blue Hose, 1-0, the following day. SJU was defeated by Stony Brook (3-1, 3-2) and host Charlotte (5-1). The Hawks were led by junior OF Madeline Brunck who recorded five hits, four runs, and an RBI in the tournament. Brunck recorded a team-high .313 batting average. Junior C Kaylyn Zierke notched a team-high two home runs and four RBIs over the weekend.
HOUSTON HILTON PLAZA INVITATIONAL RECAP
Toledo fell in all five games last weekend at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational.
Sophomore INF Samantha Showalter led the way offensively defensively for the Rockets with four hits in 10 at-bats, recording a .400 batting average. Showalter hit a double and a home run for eight total bases. Showalter recorded a team-high 19 putouts in the five games switching between first base and shortstop.
Senior P Marla Gooding (7.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 8 K) pitched an outstanding game against No. 24 Texas in the Rocket's last game of the invitational. After Toledo's pitchers recorded nine strikeouts in its first four games this weekend, Gooding collected eight vs. Texas.
BUTLER SAYS:
Â
"The team is very excited about playing at JMU this weekend," said head coach Kristen Butler. "We ended the Houston tournament with a lot of improvement so we all want to build off of that momentum."
Â
"Our pitchers worked really hard this week focusing on getting ahead of the hitters and I am confident that they will have a better showing this weekend.
Â
"This team is starting to get eager as we get closer and closer to conference play. We know what it takes to make the MAC tournament and we know what it takes to win it. That motivates us through each game and remains our focus through each practice.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's action, the Rockets will travel California for two spring break tournaments and a double header against UC Riverside (March 8). UT will take part in the SLO Cal Poly Mustang Classic from March 4-6 in San Luis Obispo and the Cal St. Northridge Tournament on March 10-12 in Northridge.
Players Mentioned
P
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