Softball Primed for FGCU Spring Break Classic

FGCU SPRING BREAK CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, March 8 
vs. Pittsburgh | 10:00 a.m. ET 
vs. Florida State | 12:15 p.m. ET 
 
Saturday, March 9 
vs. Florida State | 10:00 a.m. ET 
vs. Pittsburgh | 3:00 p.m. ET 
 
Sunday, March 10 
vs. Western Michigan | 10:00 a.m. ET 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - In its fifth week of play, the Purdue softball team (9-8) heads back to Florida for the FGCU Spring Break Classic. The three-day tournament, taking place in Fort Myers, Florida, has Purdue slated to take on No. 12 Florida State, Pittsburgh and Western Michigan.

The Boilermakers will play Florida State and Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday before wrapping up the weekend vs. Western Michigan on Sunday.

Fans can follow along via live stats on purduestats.com.


DOUBLES ON DOUBLES: ALIVIA MEEKS

• Returning to her hometown for the tournament at Marshall, MeeSks earned her first start of the season and went on to start the remainder of the games over the weekend.
• The sophomore led the team with a .600 batting avg., doubles, triples, on-base % etc.

AMONG THE BIG TEN LEADERS: SAGE SCARMARDO

• Sage Scarmardo ranks #1 in the Big Ten in both on-base % (..583), hit by pitch per game (.62). Nationally, she ranks 14th in OB% and third in HBP.
• Meanwhile, Scarmardo's .425 batting average ranks fifth-best in the Big Ten.

BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: ASHLYNN CAMPBELL

• On Monday, second baseman Ashlynn Campbell became the program's first Freshman of the Week honoree since 2018 (pitcher Syndey Bates).
• The Wetumka, Alabama, native led Big Ten newcomers with a .412 batting average, two runs on seven hits and five RBI.
• Posted three mult-hit games during her five starts and struck out just once in 17 at-bats.
• Added a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts.
• Produced a .474 on-base % and a .412 slugging % last week.
• Recorded a .326 batting avg. at Marshall (3/3) to close the tournament, posting one run, two hits and an RBI over her four at-bats. 
• Recorded a career-high seven putouts vs. Butler in the 10-inning showdown (3/2).

SCOUTING THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS 

• The Panthers have seven women on their starting roster earning at least one home run. Kat Rodriguez has a team high of 15 hits and SLG% of .408.  
• Both of the Panther's main pitchers, Kyra Pittman and Olivia Stefanoni, have faced roughly the same number of batters. Pittman has allowed 38 hits, struck out 12 and kept her opponents at a .271 B/AVG. Stefanoni has allowed 44 hits, struck out 31 and held her opponents to a .301 B/AVG.  

SCOUTING THE #12 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES 

• Coming off an 2023 national runner-up finish, the Seminoles are 11-4, with two of their losses coming to ranked teams, including fellow opponent, No. 4 Georgia (10-20).
• Seven of their eight players (who meet the plate appearance and games played requirement) have a batting avg. above .310, SLUG% above .520 and at least one home run each. Jaysoni Beachum is leading the charge with 24 hits, 16 RBI and a SLG% of .830.  
• In the circle for the Seminoles, Allison Royalty holds an ERA of 2.40. She has a 5-2 record facing 89 batters in 23.1 innings.  

SCOUTING THE WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS 

• Senior pitcher RIssa Bajusz was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Pitcher of the Week for the second time of her career, following 18 innings pitched and just two earned runs allowed. The effort included a 12-strikeout performance vs. Quinnipiac.
• Junior infielder Riley Dittmar leads their offensive effort and was selected an NFCA Top Performer of the Week on Feb. 15, after totaling five runs and eight hits with a batting average of .667. Along with her eight hits, Dittmar posted a slugging % of 1.083 and a .789 on-base %.
• As a team, Western Michigan is .318 from the plate and own a .465 slugging %.