Mid-Week Schedule
Tuesday: NSU Baseball vs. Youngstown State, 1 p.m., Marty L. Miller Field
Tuesday: NSU Softball vs. George Mason (DH), 2 p.m., NSU Softball Field
Wednesday: NSU Softball at North Carolina A&T (DH), 2 p.m., Lady Aggies Softball Complex
Live Stats (Baseball) | Live Stats (vs. George Mason) | Live Video (Both) | Live Stats (at A&T)
NORFOLK, Va. – Following a successful spring break trip to Savannah State and South Carolina State, the Norfolk State softball team will return to the NSU Softball Field for a doubleheader Tuesday against George Mason at 2 p.m. The Spartan baseball team, meanwhile, will look to regroup with a non-conference game against Youngstown State Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Marty L. Miller Field.
Fans can follow all of the action for both teams live on www.nsuspartans.com with the department's live video stream. In addition, live stats will be provided for the home games for both baseball and softball.
Following Tuesday's games, the softball team will turn right around and head to Greensboro, N.C., for a pair of games against North Carolina A&T Wednesday at 2 p.m. Live stats will be available for the doubleheader here.
The softball team (5-5) is coming off a 3-1 trip against two MEAC Southern Division teams, as the Spartans split with Savannah State on Wednesday, losing 3-2 before bouncing back with a 4-3 win. The Tigers used a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory in the first game. NSU also swept a doubleheader from South Carolina State on Thursday, winning 4-0 and 10-0.
Spartan baseball (1-12) dropped a three-game series to Delaware State over the weekend at home, losing 4-1 both on Saturday and in the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday. In the first game Sunday, the Hornets batted around in the second and fifth innings for an eventual 11-0 victory.
Solid Pitching
The baseball team has gotten plenty of solid pitching to start the year, as the Spartans have allowed four or fewer runs in nine of the team's 13 games. NSU boasts a 3.85 staff ERA so far in 2012, with Justin Bhatti (1.59 ERA, 22.2 innings) and Jordan Egan (2.01 ERA, 22.1 innings) leading the way. Each has struck out 18 batters, but Chris Horne tops all players with 21 K's in 18.0 innings of work.
Not to be outdone, the two-player pitching staff of Jamie Schulle and Liz Riley has done even better for softball. The duo own a collective 3.45 ERA, with Schulle carrying a 2.54 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. Riley is coming off a pair of solid outings, as she gave up just three runs, two earned, in 12 innings of work in wins over Savannah State and S.C. State.
About Youngstown State
Like NSU, the Penguins also stand 1-12 on the season, but unlike the Spartans, Youngstown State has struggled in the pitching department. The team carries a 9.05 staff ERA into the game, allowing the opposition to hit at a .345 clip.
The Penguins are hitting .249 and are led by the powerful bat of Jeremy Banks. Batting .481 on the year, Banks has tallied eight doubles, five home runs and 23 RBI and is slugging at a .923 clip. Drew Dosch is hitting .365 with three doubles two home runs and seven RBI.
About George Mason
The Patriots own a 6-10 record this season and have won five of their last seven. Five different pitchers have gotten a start, with Casey Herring owning six of those starts with a 4-2 record and 3.53 ERA. Stephanie Maher has made 11 appearances and owns a 2.70 ERA in 23.1 innings, and Miranda Cranford has started four games in the circle with a 3.82 ERA.
Brooke Blankenship has been the team's best hitter with a .396 average and a team-leading two home runs and nine RBI. Samantha Barney (.367) and Tori Dudley (.348) are also hitting above .300 with regular spots in the lineup. As a team, George Mason is hitting .268.
About North Carolina A&T
The Aggies stand 4-12 on the season, with two of those wins coming against Hampton last weekend at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. Like NSU, the Aggies have used a two-player pitching rotation of Ashira Dobison and Alexandria McAfee. Dobison has started 12 of the 16 games and owns a 4.63 ERA and a 4-8 record.
Dominique Smith owns a team-best .326 batting average with eight RBI, and Tranea Jones is also hitting above .300, adding one home run and eight RBI on a .311 average. As a team, though, A&T is hitting at a .217 clip.
Up Next
Baseball will stay at home and host Northern Division foe UMES Saturday and Sunday at Marty L. Miller Field. The Spartans will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday.
Softball, meanwhile, will take part in the Delaware Invitational Friday through Sunday in Newark, Del., facing Villanova on Friday, host Delaware on Saturday and then Western Michigan and LaSalle on Sunday.
