Complete Release in PDF Format
The Slate
Michelle Smith Spring Break Tournament
Eddie C. Moore Complex ~ Clearwater, Fla.
Live Stats: purduesports.com
Tournament Central: here
Friday, March 13
1:45 p.m. vs. Northern Illinois
4:15 p.m. vs. Long Island
Saturday, March 14
9 a.m. vs. Quinnipiac
1:45 p.m. vs. Saint Joseph's
Sunday, March 15
9 a.m. vs. Western Michigan
1:30 p.m. vs. Colgate
The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: Purdue (12-8) will play eight games in five days on its spring break trip to Clearwater, Fla., for the Michelle Smith Spring Break Tournament and a doubleheader the following Tuesday. The Boilermakers finished the 2014 season with a 27-28-1 overall record, falling in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Purdue returns 11 letterwinners, including three position starters and three pitchers from that team, which earned the No. 6 seed in the tournament after posting a 13-10 record in league play and winning five of its eight conference series. Head coach Kim Schuette is in her second season with the Boilermakers.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers went 2-3 at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn., last weekend. Purdue topped Indiana State 8-0, split with Northern Iowa (L 3-1, W 3-2) and fell to North Dakota State 3-0 (8) and No. 11 Tennessee 8-0.
Statistically Speaking: First baseman Ashley Burkhardt (.413) leads the Boilermaker bats and a group of seven starters with averages of .250 or better. Burkhardt has driven in a team-best 24 RBI, scored 16 runs, swiped 12 bases and launched six home runs. Outfielder Maya Hughes is batting .358 with a double, a triple, 11 runs and 12 stolen bases. Catcher Kaylah Hampton (.294), outfielder/third baseman Alyssa Koorsen (.286), outfielder Kristen Hoppman (.280), designated player Katie Harrison (.279) and third baseman CJ Parsons (.278) also are batting .250 or better. Hampton has driven in 12 RBI, scored nine runs and launched five home runs. Parsons boasts seven runs, a double and an inside the park home run, while Hoppman has four doubles and six runs to her credit. Harrison has accounted for seven RBI and three doubles. As a team, the Boilers are batting .287 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases.
In the circle, the Boilermaker pitchers are holding foes to a .213 average. Junior Lilly Fecho (10-4) has posted a 1.22 ERA with 113 strikeouts, three shutouts and a save in 86 innings of work. Senior Lexy Moore (2-3) has issued 11 strikeouts in 28 innings, while Whittemore (0-1) has added six Ks in nine innings. Freshman Gina Snyder has struck out eight batters in seven innings.
What a Difference a Win Makes ...
If the Boilermakers top Northern Illinois on Friday ...
- They will begin a new win streak.
- They will move to 11-3 all-time against the Huskies, including three straight wins dating to 2010 and six of the last seven dating to 2001.
- They will move to 267-178-2 all-time in the month of March, including 13-7 on March 13.
- It would move the team's record to 267-193-1 all-time in neutral site non-conference games.
Series Information
Northern Illinois (Purdue leads the series 10-3): The Boilermakers won five of the first six meetings in the series with the Huskies in the series which began on March 26, 1994. NIU took a 3-2 decision in Clearwater, Fla., on March 18, 2000. Since then, Purdue has taken five of the last six, including two at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Ky., in 2010.
Long Island (Purdue leads the series 5-0): The Boilermakers have won all five previous meetings with the Blackbirds in the series which began on March 4, 2004, at the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. The teams also met in Clearwater on March 9, 2008, and March 16, 2014. The Boilers took a pair of games (7-6 and 12-0) at the FIU Invitational in Miami, Feb. 13 and 14.
Quinnipiac (Purdue leads the series 1-0): The Boilermakers won the lone previous meeting with the Bobcats, taking a 10-2 decision on March 15, 2014, at the Michelle Smith Spring Break Classic in Clearwater, Fla.
Saint Joseph's: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Hawks.
Western Michigan (Purdue leads the series 4-3): The Broncos won the first game in the series with the Boilermakers on March 27, 1994 at the Indiana Spring Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. The teams played two contests each in 1998 and 2001, all in West Lafayette, with Purdue taking the first three and WMU winning the last. The teams have split the last two contests, a March 8, 2003 meeting at the Speedline Invitational in Plant City, Fla., and a March 12, 2005 contest in Clearwater, Fla.
Colgate: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Raiders.
News About Northern Illinois
At First Glance: The Northern Illinois Huskies (6-9) will have played six games in Florida in the past week before taking on the Boilermakers on Friday. The team plays Saint Peter's and Bucknell on Tuesday in Winter Haven, Fla., and a Wednesday doubleheader with UCF in Orlando. NIU returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters, from the 2014 team, which posted a 26-31 record, and finished third in Mid-American Conference west division play. The Huskies are coached by Christina Sutcliffe, who is in her third season with the team.
Last Time Out: NIU went 2-1 last weekend in Winter Haven, Fla., topping Sacred Heart 1-0 and Florida A&M 9-2 and falling to Southern Illinois 3-2.
Statistically Speaking: First baseman Kayti Grable paces the Husky bats with a .521 average, 13 RBI, nine runs and five home runs. Four other NIU players are batting .250 or better. Pitcher Jessica Sturm (.313), outfielder Allyson Hecht (.286), second baseman Bekah Harnish (.271) and shortstop Kali Kossakowski (.257) make up the group. Harnish has scored eight runs and added six RBI and three doubles. Kossakowski has four doubles and a team-best four stolen bases, while Sturm boasts five doubles and five RBI. Third baseman Alaynie Woollard (.195) has launched four home runs and 11 RBI and eight runs. Catcher Emily Naegele (.208) has added two home runs. As a team, NIU is batting .260 with 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases.
Sturm (4-5) leads the pitching staff with a 3.36 ERA, 21 strikeouts and four complete games in 56 innings. Freshman Keegan Hayes (2-3) has struck out 18 batters in 34 innings, including a shutout and a save. Freshman Tara Thacker (0-1) has added six Ks in 11 innings of work. The staff has allowed foes a .271 average with 14 home runs.
Learning About Long Island
At First Glance: The Long Island Blackbirds (7-16) will play in Florida for the fifth time in 2015, and face the Boilers for the third time this season at the Michelle Smith Spring Break Tournament on Friday, after the teams met twice at the FIU Invitational in Miami, Feb. 13-14. LIU returns 13 letterwinners, including six starters and two pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 22-34 record, and advanced to the Northeast Conference Tournament finals. The Blackbirds are coached by Ray Kortmann, who is in his 21st season with the team.
Last Time Out: Long Island went 3-2 at the FGCU Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. The Blackbirds topped Quinnipiac twice (9-0, 8-0) and edged Boston University 10-7 in 10 innings, but fell to FGCU 7-1 and Pittsburgh 6-1.
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Whitney West (.308) leads the LIU bats with 11 RBI, two triples, 11 runs and seven stolen bases. Catcher Victoria Zamora (.267) and outfielder Nicole Archer (.273) also are batting over .250. Zamora boasts eight RBI, seven runs, five stolen bases and a home run, while Archer has posted 12 runs, two doubles and a home run. Infielder Madison Green (.143) has scored eight runs and launched a team-best two home runs. As a team, LIU is batting .228 with seven home runs and 15 stolen bases.
In the circle, sophomore Shelley Procter (3-9) has issued 47 strikeouts in 73 innings, with six complete games and two shutouts. Alyssa Lanktree-Dotson has struck out 18 batters in 34 innings, while Archer (1-5) has added 17 Ks in 31 innings of work. The staff has allowed foes a .338 average and 15 home runs.
Answering Questions about Quinnipiac
At First Glance: The Quinnipiac Bobcats (2-8) are schedule to play Boston University in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday and Western Michigan in Clearwater on Thursday before making their tournament debut in Clearwater. Quinnipiac returns 13 letterwinners from the 2014 team, which posted an 11-36 record, including a 6-14 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Bobcats are coached by Jill Karwoski, who is in her second year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Bobcats went 1-5 at the FGCU Spring Break Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. Quinnipiac split games with Boston University (W 2-1, L 11-2), but dropped a pair of games to LIU Brooklyn (9-0, 8-0) as well as games to Pittsburgh (8-0) and FGCU (5-0).
Statistically Speaking: Second baseman Nikki Barba (.370) and first baseman Molly Jarrett (.368) lead a group of four Bobcat hitters batting .250 or better. Outfielder Keilani Finley (.263) and third baseman Miranda Magana (.250) round out the group. Barba and Jarrett each have driven in four RBI and launched a home run. Finley has scored a team-best three runs with a double and a home run. Outfielder Brittney Cyr (.185) has scored three runs and stolen a team-leading three bases, while catcher Dani Edmands has tallied three runs and launched a home run. As a team, Quinnipiac is batting .214 with four home runs and three stolen bases.
In the circle, freshman Casey Herzog (1-1), senior Hannah Lindsley (0-4) and junior Sydney Robey (1-3) have split time. Herzog has struck out 13 batters and earned a save in 23 innings. Lindsley has added seven Ks in 19 innings, including a complete game, while Robey has chipped in six strikeouts in 13 innings. The staff is allowing foes to hit at a .344 clip with eight home runs and 24 steals.
Scouting Saint Joseph's
At First Glance: The Saint Joseph's Hawks (6-4) bring a three-game win streak into their four midweek games at the Rebel Games in Winter Haven, Fla. The Hawks are set to face Hampton and Fairfield on Tuesday and Niagara and South Dakota on Wednesday before heading to Clearwater. SJU returns 18 letterwinners from the 2014 team, which posted a 22-20 record and finished third in Atlantic 10 Conference play. The Hawks are coached by Terri Adams, who is in her ninth year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Hawks went 4-1 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Conway, S.C. last weekend. SJU topped Mount St. Mary's twice (13-0, 8-0), host Coastal Carolina 10-8 and split games with Loyola-Chicago (W 7-0, L 9-5).
Statistically Speaking: Second baseman Sarah Yoos (.429) and six other starters are batting nearly .300 or better. Shortstop Nicole Palase (.382), first baseman Ashley Alden (.375), third baseman Brandi Harkness (.344), outfielder Melissa Ruf (.313), designated player Nikki Alden (.310) and outfielder Bella Picard (.296) round out the group. Ashley Alden has driven in a team-best 11 RBI and scored 10 runs with help from four doubles and two home runs. Nikki Alden also boasts two homer to go with nine RBI and seven runs. Yoos has scored a team-best 11 runs and launched one home run, while Harkness had added eight RBI, seven runs and a team-leading five doubles. As a team, SJU is batting .327 with eight home runs and eight stolen bases.
In the circle, freshman Madison Clarke leads the way with a 1.06 ERA, 4-1 record, three shutouts, a save and 19 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. Junior Anna Lauterbach (1-1) adds 12 strikeouts in 13 innings, while sophomore Niki Carillo (1-2) has issued 10 Ks in 13 innings. The staff has allowed foes a .258 average and nine home runs.
Words About Western Michigan
At First Glance: The Western Michigan Broncos (2-9) have a full week of competition before continuing their spring break trip in Clearwater. WMU is set to play Seton Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday and Quinnipiac on Thursday before taking part in the weekend tournament. Western Michigan returns 11 letterwinners from the 2014 team, which posted a 17-34 record, including an 8-14 mark in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos are coached by Kathy Leitke, who is in her 15th year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Broncos went 1-4 at the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla., last weekend. WMU topped Villanova 2-1 in eight innings, but fell to Dayton (4-1), Boston College (1-0), Georgetown (2-0) and Mercer (5-4). The team defeated Seton Hall 4-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Ivy Shaaf (.333), second baseman Melissa Palmer (.333) and third baseman Kelsea Cichocki (.308) lead the Broncos at the plate. Pitchers Haley Thibeault (.294) and Erin Binkowski (.250) also are batting .250 or better. Shaff has driven in a team-best four RBI, scored four runs and launched two home runs. Schaaf, Palmer and Thibeault each have posted two doubles, while Palmer also has added two stolen bases. Outfielder Jenny Rohn (.242) has driven in four RBI, scored four runs and tallied a team-leading four doubles. As a team, Western Michigan is batting .226 with three home runs and three stolen bases.
Five pitchers have seen action for the team led by Binkowski (1-4), who has struck out 11 batters in 32 innings. Junior lefty Allyson Kus (0-3) has added nine K's and a save in 19 innings of work. Freshman Anissa Sanchez (0-2) has struck out four batters in 11 innings, while Thibeault (1-0) and senior Becca Shemberger (0-0) have combined for three strikeouts in 10 innings. The staff has allowed foes a .291 average and seven home runs.
Chatting about Colgate
At First Glance: The Colgate Raiders (1-3) have played just four games heading into the weekend as the team had six games cancelled due to weather and last weekend off from competition. Colgate returns 13 letterwinners, including five starters and two pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 13-30 record, including a sixth-place finish in Patriot League play. The Raiders are coached by Melissa Finley, who is in her third year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Raiders went 1-3 at the Stetson Tournament in Deland, Fla., Feb. 27-March 1. Colgate fell to Troy twice (9-1, 4-3) and Stetson 12-3, but ended the weekend with an 11-0 win over Alabama State.
Statistically Speaking: Catcher Mariel Schlaefer (.545) led the team with six hits on opening week to go with three runs and two RBI. Designated player Alessandra Moore (.375), shortstop Marisa Dowling (.364), outfielder Katie Bushee (.333), outfielder Tara Grennan (.308) and third baseman Holly Geranen (.250) also batted .250 or better. Grennan posted a team-best eight RBI to go with three home runs and four runs scored. Dowling and Bushee added two doubles apiece. As a team, Colgate batted .288 with four home runs and four stolen bases.
In the circle, freshman Kira Griswold (0-2) and junior Brigit Ieuter (1-1) split time. Griswold struck out 10 batters in 10 innings, while holding opponents to a .238 average. Ieuter struck out two batters in 13 innings, including a shutout.
In 2014, Bushee led the Raiders with a .322 average, 29 runs, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 17 stolen bases. Dowling (.271) and Schlaefer (.255) also batted above .250. Dowling drove in a team-leading 21 RBI with three home runs, while Schlaefer added 16 RBI, six doubles, five home runs and 15 runs. First baseman Alex Wilson (.247) and pitcher/outfielder Gillian Murray (.231) also return. In the circle, Ieuter posted a 7-15 record with 56 strikeouts and three shutouts in 127 innings. Megan Carnase returns after going 4-11 with 45 Ks in 103 innings. Murray went 2-4 with 34 strikeouts in 52 innings. The staff allowed foes a .312 average and 21 home runs.