NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz softball team continues to gear up for the start of State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on Sunday, as the Hawks visit Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to face Wilkes University in a 1 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.
RECORDS: New Paltz enters the twinbill with a 1-7 overall record, while Wilkes is also 1-7 overall.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (1-7): New Paltz went 0-4 at the Salisbury Tournament from Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, in Salisbury, Md., falling twice to Capital University and dropping two to then-No. 3 Salisbury University… Arguably New Paltz's best performance of the weekend came in a 6-0 loss to Salisbury on March 14, as the Hawks scattered five hits against All-America candidate Rachel Johnson, marking the most hits she had given up in a single game all season.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Senior
Chelsea Kull has had a breakout year so far, beginning the season with an eight-game hitting streak… Kull currently leads the team in hits (12), doubles (3) and RBI (5)… Junior
Shayna Burgess has a team-leading five stolen bases, which ranks second in the SUNYAC… Sophomore
Katie Rutcofsky has been the Hawks' top pitcher so far this year, sporting a 5.67 ERA while owning 16 strikeouts.
TEAM STATISTICS: New Paltz is one of the top hitting teams in the SUNYAC so far this year, ranking second in batting average (.319)… The Hawks are also second in the conference in slugging percentage (.403).
SCOUTING THE COLONELS (1-7): Wilkes notched its first win of the season on Saturday, March 22, splitting a Freedom Conference doubleheader with Delaware Valley College... The Aggies won game one, 3-1, while the Colonels took game two, 6-5.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Senior Jordan Borger paces the offense with a .316 batting average, a .474 slugging percentage and a .409 on-base percentage... Senior Alysha Bixler has added power to the Colonel lineup this year with team-highs in RBI (5) and home runs (2)... Sophomore Haylie Phillips leads Wilkes in the circle with a 4.11 ERA over 15 1/3 innings pitched.
TEAM STATISTICS: Wilkes hits .183 as a team and owns a team ERA of 10.34.
LAST MEETING: Sunday's doubleheader is believed to be the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
WHAT'S NEXT: New Paltz next hosts Farmingdale State College on Wednesday, March 26, in a home-opening, 3 p.m. doubleheader, while Wilkes hosts Lebanon Valley College next on Tuesday, March 25, in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
COACHES: New Paltz is led by first-year head coach
Brittany Robinson, while Wilkes is directed by 14th-year head coach Frank Matthews.
