A10 play gets under way this weekend and I figured that I would start things off by previewing the games that will take place in the Queen City this weekend. Charlotte will host UMass for single games on Friday and Saturday, before hosting a double-header with Rhode Island on Sunday.
This is going to be a crucial series any way you slice it. Charlotte has made the A10 tournament every year since it joined in 2006, while UMass has won every title since 2005. Both teams are having off years so far and both are going to want to make a statement with these games. For both teams, it all starts in the circle with workhorses Katy Hackett and Sara Plourde. I am fully expecting each of them to be in the circle for both games. Honestly, I'm not quite sure how these games will go, as both teams have had kind of up and down seasons. UMass and Charlotte have had some games with high offensive outputs, only to follow them up with very low outputs. At the plate, Coach DeVos will look for big weekend from Briana Gwaltney and Tenaya Tucker, while Coach Sortino and the Minutewomen will be relying on Lindsey Webster and Kyllie Magill to put up big numbers. Any way you slice it, these two games will be fun ones to watch.
After Charlotte finishes up playing UMass they will turnaround and play a doubleheader against Rhode Island the next day. The Rams have given the 49ers problems in the past, so this is definitely not a gimme series. It will be interesting to see the 49ers momentum after the games vs. UMass and this doubleheader could make either a really good weekend or one to forget. Rhode Island has had some struggles thus far and currently sits at just 1-12. In the circle, URI has only had one consistent option thus far in Allison Hartzell, but she will need some help from her teammates. The other Rams' pitcher must find a to throw strikes if they want to be effective in A10 play. At the plate, Rhode Island will need Nicole Massoni to provide some power at the plate and hopefully Jocelyn Mattison and Brittany Julich can keep hitting the ball well. For Charlotte, Katy Hackett is going to throw a solid game, but it may come down to that second game so they will need Katie Watkins and/or Kalie Lang to step up in the circle. Needless to say it will be an interesting weekend in Charlotte.
Rhode Island will also head down to Spartanburg, SC to face USC Upstate. USC Upstate is a very tough squad and the Rams will see a NCAA caliber squad before opening conference play. Morgan Childers is one of the best in the nation and we may be surprised at where she leads the Spartans.
In St. Louis this weekend, the Billikens will host games against Fordham and La Salle.
St. Louis will open up with games on Friday and Saturday against La Salle. St. Louis has split the series so far with La Salle since joining the A10, but I think the Billikens will be disappointed if they come away with anything less than a sweep. La Salle comes into the opening weekend of conference play after a tough stretch in Florida and the Explorers are in the midst of an 8 game skid. La Salle will need big performances in the circle from DJ Guinn and Laura Beth McCreesh, especially to keep the speedy Billikens off the bases. At the plate, La Salle needs the offense to start putting up runs because the current pace is just not getting it done. St. Louis will look to its three pitchers in the circle to keep this Explorer offense in check, but even more important for the Billikens is getting its offense back on track for the matchups against Fordham. Kristin Nicoletti and Rachel Faletto have been hot at the plate, but Coach Connoyer is looking for the rest of the team to get involved as well.
With all due respect to La Salle, it will be hard for St. Louis to avoid looking ahead to the doubleheader with Fordham on Sunday. The Rams and Billikens have been two of the top teams this year in the A10 and this showdown is definitely the highlight of the opening weekend. Both squads have picked up some big wins this year and both probably have realistic shots at at-large bids. For each squad it starts with the depth in the circle, Fordham will rely on Jen Mineau and Chelsea Plimpton and St. Louis will counter with some combination of Kelcie Matesa, Hannah Huebbe, and Julian Austin. Runs could be a premium in these games and it will be very important for the pitchers to keep the ball in the ballpark. At the plate, Jocelyn Dearborn and Rachel Faletto have been two of the hottest hitters in the A10 and it would not surprise me if they were pitched around a bit this weekend.
In the nation's capital, George Washington will host St. Bonaventure
This is an absolutely crucial series for the Colonials and Bonnies postseason aspirations. The Colonials come in on a four game losing streak, whereas St. Bonaventure comes in after a solid weekend in Tennessee, which saw them go 3-2, while battling the flu. George Washington will need Kara Clauss to have a big weekend in the circle, along with Heidi Penna and they will need to battle. On offense, the Colonials will have be very efficient on the bases and push across every run that they can. Autumn Taylor, Katie Terrazas, and Chelsea Lenhart are packing a punch at the plate, but I want to see more. As in I want to see at least one HR. For the Bonnies, the offense got going at the plate last weekend, especially the hot bats of Jessenia Andujar and Ashley Nowak. In the circle, St. Bonaventure was without Jen Sansano last weekend, but she is back for her first weekend of conference play and her teammates are ready as well. Diana Phalon and Erin Nargi pitching very well in Sansano's absence so Coach Threehouse will have multiple arms at his disposal. A sweep by either team would greatly enhance their postseason chances.
Dayton will travel to The City of Brotherly Love to face Temple and St. Joseph's.
The Flyers will open with the Hawks on Friday and that should prove to be a stiff test for Dayton. The Hawks are having one of the best seasons in school history and right now they are clicking on all cylinders. In the circle, Erin Gallagher is looking very sharp and Taryn Ashway and Lauren Pembleton have also thrown quality innings. Gallagher will look to keep this hot hitting Flyers squad in the ballpark with her heavy drop. At the plate, Monica Aguilar and Dana Parks are having career seasons with both hitting over .400. Parks gets things going at the top, while Aguilar has packed the punch in the middle of the order. Dayton will look to pitchers Alysha Isaacson and Sarah Wedel to slow down St. Joe's, but I definitely see the Hawks scoring some runs. Isaacson may be the best matchup against St. Joseph's as Isaacson is a southpaw and the Hawks lineup is littered with lefties. At the plate, Dayton is going to count on a similar one-two punch to St. Joe's in Rachel Archer and Kathleen Maloof. If the Flyers can pull out a win it would be a big statement to the rest of the A10, but I think St. Joe's might be too good to let that happen.
On Sunday, Dayton will face off against Temple in a very big doubleheader for both squads. Each team has been close to making the A10 tournament the past few year and both have gotten off to much better starts than in years past so this is shaping up to be a good one. I am expecting to see some high scoring games because both squads know how to score. For the Owls, Stephanie Pasquale and Christina Sykora have led the way and both will need to be on top of their game for Temple to get off to a strong start in conference play. Things have not gone quite as smooth in the circle, but Kristen Marris threw a no-hitter this past week and I take that as a sign of good things to come. She will need some help from Crystal Nyman, Brooklin White, and Kylie Kristovich, as I am not sure that it is in the Owls best interests to have Marris throw both ends of the doubleheader. Dayton will need to attack Temple early and strike first because Temple does very well when they get on the board first. A strong start by either team could mentally take either team out of the game or games very early on. I am really looking forward to seeing who takes this doubleheader.
