CU Softball Preview - vs. Union (5/1-2)

Gary Mikel

Softball | 4/30/2021 9:30:00 AM

The home stretch of the Liberty League season begins as the calendar turns to May, and the Clarkson University Softball team will be looking to make the most of its four-game set against Union College, which begins with a doubleheader on Saturday in Schenectady.

Live Stats at Union (Saturday, May 1st)
Live Video at Union (Saturday, May 1st)
Live Stats at Clarkson (Sunday, May 2nd)
Live Video at Clarkson (Sunday, May 2nd)

The Series: Clarkson is 5-7 all-time against Union since the series started back in 2014. The two teams split in 2019, with both games requiring extra innings. The Knights won the first game 3-1 in eight frames, and game two needed 10 innings as Union claimed victory, 9-8.

Key Stats for Clarkson (15-9, 7-5 Liberty League): The Golden Knights' offense was slowed somewhat against Ithaca College last weekend, but several names still sit at or near the top of the conference leaderboards. Junior Kayla Robert leads the Liberty League in hits (39), batting average (.513) and on-base percentage (.570) while ranking third in slugging at .776. She is also among the conference leaders in runs (21) and runs batted in (26). Classmate Sarah Vaccaro is tied for second in the conference in extra-base hits with 16, as more than 60% of her hits this year have gone for extras, including 11 doubles and four home runs. Sophomore Bridget Twaits is second on the team in hitting at .413 and is also tied for second in the conference in stolen bases (11). Junior pitcher Olivia Zoeller has struck out 131 batters in 78.2 innings, more strikeouts than any other single team in the league, and more than twice as many as any other individual pitcher, as second place in the conference is a total of 53.

Key Stats for Union (3-14, 3-12 Liberty League): The Dutchwomen have struggled on offense in 2021 after not playing any games at all in 2020, hitting .233/.303/.295 with just 41 runs, or 2.41 runs per game. Tara Hartnett is the lone regular hitting above .300, batting .313 with a .438 slugging percentage. Union's offense also is low on extra-base hits, with just 17 total in 17 games (11 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs). Catie Raeter has appeared in 14 games, all in relief, as a pitcher, striking out 15 in 26 innings with a 2.69 earned run average. Four Dutchwomen pitchers have combined to strike out 45 in 104 innings, but have also allowed 41 walks.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Kayla Robert: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#10 Sarah Vaccaro: P/OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#9 Olivia Zoeller: P/OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#5 Bridget Twaits: UT; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#4 Kayla Robert
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#10 Sarah Vaccaro
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

#9 Olivia Zoeller
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/OF

#5 Bridget Twaits
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: UT