2008 Preview

The softball team begins the 2008 season with much anticipation following their most successful campaign in over six years.

After going 2-32 in 2006, the arrival of first-year head coach Rachael Joye in 2007 helped spark the team to a nine game turnaround - the biggest in program history - to end the season with a respectable overall record of 11-18-1.

With a core group of underclassmen leading the Crimson Eagles to the dramatic improvement a year ago, the softball team expects even greater success in 2008 as the group returns six routine starters from a year ago and nine of thirteen players overall.

Piloting the way among the returners is NEAC Honorable Mention sophomore catcher Jennifer Steward who led the squad with a .404 batting average in her rookie campaign to go with a team high 19 RBI’s. Also back is third year outfielder Jessica Ogden who similarly generated Honorable Mention recognition after hitting .327 at the plate while knocking in 15 runs and finishing with a team high 11 steals a year ago.

Sophomore Lauren Roth, who finished second on the team in batting average (.366) and second in doubles (9), will join Steward and Ogden in the starting rotation. Other possible starters include sophomore Kaytie Keenan (.227 BA, 4 RBI’s), junior Bethany Hill (.216, 8 RBI’s), sophomore Kristen Lyszczasz (.196, 10 RBI’s), and juniors Stevi Gainer and Julie Quagliariello.

Sophomore pitcher Betsy Ranck - an NCCAA II East Region Honorable Mention performer in her freshman outing - will look to anchor things on the mound, as the native of Leola, PA finished sixth in the NEAC with an ERA of 3.34 while striking out 45 batters on the year. Junior hurler Ashley Melendez will try and build on her 4-6 record as a starter in which she managed to record seven complete games in 15 starts.

The Crimson Eagles will be aided by the addition of senior Liz Seiple, who returns to the team after taking the season off a year ago. Seiple co-captained the squad back in 2006, a year in which she led the team in RBI’s (13) and managed to steal eight bags in eight tries. PBU will also look for incoming freshman Caroline DeHart, Megan Garven, and Megan Heater to make an immediate impact and compete for significant playing time.