Live Stats | Live Video Feed | Tournament Program
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State softball team will welcome Fairleigh Dickinson, George Washington, Iona, Monmouth and Morgan State to the NSU Softball Field for the three-day Spartan Invitational Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
As usual, admission is free to the public. The tournament starts Friday when NSU and Morgan State play a 7 p.m. contest under the lights. On Saturday and Sunday, action gets underway both days at 9 a.m. and will last throughout the entire day. Check below for the complete schedule.
In addition, live stats and a live video feed will be made available for the entire tournament. Click here to access the live stats, and click here to sign up for the live video feed.
The Complete Schedule (Home Team Listed First)
Friday, Feb. 25
7 p.m. – NSU vs. Morgan State
Saturday, Feb. 26
9 a.m. – George Washington vs. Monmouth
11 a.m. - NSU vs. George Washington
1 p.m. – NSU vs. Monmouth
3 p.m. – Morgan State vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
5 p.m. – Iona vs. Morgan State
7 p.m. – Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Iona
Sunday, Feb. 27
9 a.m. – Monmouth vs. Morgan State
11 a.m. – Iona vs. Monmouth
1 p.m. – George Washington vs. Iona
3 p.m. – NSU vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
5 p.m. – Fairleigh Dickinson vs. George Washington
Scouting the Spartans
Norfolk State posted a 14-28 overall mark last year with a 3-9 MEAC record. NSU opened the 2011 campaign with a 2-2 record last weekend, defeating NC Central, 11-5, 20-6, on Saturday before falling to Coppin State in a pair of games, 4-0, 9-2, on Sunday.
The Spartans lost several of their top hitters from a year ago, but welcomed back junior Danielle Wright, who posted a .298 batting average with 20 runs, 34 hits, 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Junior Elizabeth Castaneda hit .310 in 42 at bats.
Sophomore Gipsy Ramirez is back after hitting .268 last season in her freshman campaign with 18 runs and 33 hits. Sophomore Meagan Long (.250) and senior Jeanette Sauceda (.243, 17 runs, 15 RBI) also return for 2011.
In the circle, senior Alyssa Velazquez had a 2.95 ERA with an 8-17 record as she started 26 of the team's 42 games. Castaneda went 4-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 28 appearances. NSU welcomed six freshmen and two transfers to this year's team.
Last Time Out
NSU pounded out 30 hits in the doubleheader sweep of NC Central on Saturday before Coppin State and MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Paige Arnold shut down the NSU offense on Sunday. Center fielder Danielle Wright hit 5-for-9 with five runs scored, two home runs and 10 RBI in the sweep of the Eagles. On the season, she owns a .400 average and is a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts.
Third baseman Jeanette Sauceda batted 8-for-12 last weekend with five runs, a pair of doubles and four RBI. Freshman catcher Kathy Cortez (.385), freshman first baseman #Melina Valles3 (.333) and junior second baseman Candice Vasquez (.333) also started all four games and each tallied three RBI in the opening weekend of play.
Sauceda Breaks Career Doubles Record
Jeanette Sauceda entered the year tied with Ursel Bruton for the all-time program record for doubles with 26. Sauceda smacked a two-bagger in the third inning in the first game of the season against NC Central to move into sole possession of first place. Bruton, though, still owns the career marks for triple and home runs at NSU.
In addition, Alyssa Velazquez is 17.1 innings away from tying the program record for career innings pitched with 508.
Offensive Output
NSU tallied 20 runs in the first game against North Carolina Central last Saturday. The Spartans had not scored that many runs in almost 10 years. The last time NSU put at least 20 on the scoreboard occurred March 27, 2001, when NSU defeated UMES, 27-2.
About Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights will make their season debut here at the invitational after finishing last year 16-32 overall and 6-14 in the Northeast Conference. FDU's top two hitters - Mikayla Fernandez (.326 average, 25 runs, 23 RBI) and Caitlin Bradac (.314, 27 RBI) - are back, while Bradac was also the team's top pitcher with a 12-11 record on a 4.58 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 148.1 innings.
About George Washington
The Colonials will also make their season debut this weekend after limping to a 6-39 record last year and a 3-17 Atlantic 10 mark. Lauren Wilson was the team's top hitter in 2010 with a .226 batting average, 24 hits and nine runs scored. Kara Clauss started 24 games and posted a 4.63 ERA. The Colonials struggled at the plate, though, hitting a collective .175 on the year.
About Iona
The Gaels opened up the year 2-2 at the 49er Round Robin two weeks ago, with wins over host Charlotte and UNC Wilmington. Iona had a 13-3 MAAC record in 2010 on the way to a 28-26 overall campaign. The three-headed monster of Allyssa James (.350 average, 23 runs, 12 doubles, 28 RBI), Eileen McCann (.348, 11 HR, 34 RBI) and Jodi Petersen (.345, 31 runs, 8 HR, 30 RBI) is back, as is top pitcher Sarah Jackson (18-8, 1.96 ERA, 196 SO in 171.2 innings).
About Monmouth
The Hawks start their season off here in Norfolk riding momentum from a 30-18 campaign in 2010 with a 15-4 Northeast Conference record. Emily deLong led the Hawks with a .348 average, 42 runs and eight home runs and ranked second with 33 RBI. Kayla Weiser (.325, 34 RBI), Lauren Sulick (14-5, 2.43 ERA, 112 strikeouts) and Melissa Mehrer (16-10, 3.37 ERA, 96 strikeouts) provide Monmouth with a good returning nucleus.
About Morgan State
The Bears own a 4-6 record this year, with a pair of wins at South Carolina State on Feb. 18. Morgan State went 7-23 overall last year and 3-9 in the MEAC. Tamra Griffin easily led all players with a .378 batting average and added 11 doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI. Megan Johnson started 12 games last year and owned a 4.05 ERA in 55.1 innings.
Up Next
The Spartans will welcome Delaware State to the NSU Softball Field next Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
