ERIE, Pa. – The 2011 edition of Mercyhurst softball kicks off its season when they hit the road for a three game trip to North Carolina. The Lakers will face Mount Olive University, Chowan University, and Shaw University respectively.
Mercyhurst opens its season against Mount Olive on Feb.12 at Mount Olive, North Carolina game time is slated for a 1 p.m. start. This will be the first time in program history the two teams meet. On Sunday Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. the Lakers will battle against Chowan in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Last season the Lakers toppled the Hawks, 6-4. The Lakers wrap up their three game road trip with a visit to Raleigh, North Carolina to face off against Shaw at 1 p.m. Last season the two were set to compete but were forced to cancel due to weather.
The Lakers return seven starters including two all-PSAC team members in
Emily Redig and
Michelle Schmitz. Redig started in 45 games at second base for the Lakers and amassed a .314 batting average on the season good for third on the squad. The junior led the team with 35 runs scored and 85 assist while registering 14 multiple-hit games, good for second on the team. She also set a program-record when she went 5-for-5 with a double and four runs scored in 15-10 win over Gannon. Redig ranked third on the team with .462 slugging percentage, 49 hits, 17 RBI, eight doubles, five home runs, and 105 putouts. She posted hits in the final seven games of the season, batting .423 (11-26). One of her most notable moments of last season came when she hit the game-winning homer in first game of season at Chowan. She helped the Lakers in the PSAC Tournament when she belted three hits, scoring the game-tying run in the seventh inning against Lock Haven. She also proved to be a solid defender with a .986 fielding percentage in PSAC West play.
Schmitz a senior ended last season with a few accolades; NFCA Division II All-Atlantic Region second team, and All-PSAC West second team. Like Redig, Schmitz appeared in 45 games last season, batting .336 with 13 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 36 RBI. Her 36 RBI have given her 101 for her career. Schmitz led the team with 12 multiple-RBI games, a 10-game hitting streak, 270 putouts, 36 RBI, and a .382 PSAC West batting average. She batted .457 (16-35) during a 10-game hitting streak early in the season and finished the year strong hitting safely in the last eight games.
Junior
Jen Bower was named to the Daktronics All-Atlantic Region first team and tabbed as NFCA Division II All-Atlantic Region second team member after her 2010 performance. Bower played in and started all 46 games, getting the starting nod 36 times as designated player and 10 times as catcher. Bower batted .359 with a program-record-tying 14 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 105 total bases. Also paced team with 15 multiple-hit games, a .739 slugging percentage and .403 OBP. She was named PSAC West Player of the Week March 3 after opening the season with a .385 average over the first 13 games. Bower closed out the season with a 4-for-7 performance in PSAC Tournament, hitting a homer during the action.
Junior Kristie Janoske played in 34 games, making 23 starts and 11 relief appearances. She led the team with a 13-13 record and a 2.62 ERA in 157.2 innings pitched. Janoske led the team in complete games (14), shutouts (3), saves (3), strikeouts (98) and batting average against (.230). Janoske also is the first Laker pitcher in over 10 seasons with back-to-back 10-win campaigns. One of her more notable games last season came when she pitched a three-hit shutout against Slippery Rock on April 3.
Junior
Andrea Sauers played in and started 42 games while batting a .230 on the season with two doubles and tied for fourth on team with 16 RBI. A defensive specialist, Sauers finished the season second on the team with 71 assists and posted a .918 fielding percentage.
Senior
Kara Gorgos appeared in 41 games, earning 40 starts in the outfield. Over the course of the season she batted .277 with one double, one home run and nine RBI. She led the team with 18 walks, tying a career high. Gorgos managed to raise her average over 100 points after she recorded a 10 game hitting streak. Gorgos managed six multiple-hit games and two multiple-RBI games.
