Softball Treks to Boone for Series at Appalachian State
4/24/2008 4:15:00 AM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- The Eagles head out on the road for their final road trip of the season to face Appalachian State this weekend.
The GSU (30-26, 9-6) offense has enjoyed a record-breaking season. Having already set new team records for RBI (241) and runs (274, tie) they sit at the top in batting average (.301), slugging percentage (.418), on base percentage (.360) and are two home runs shy of that record as well.
“Last year we struggled a lot with manufacturing runs and pushing runs across when we needed to, but we pitched well and played good defense,” said head coach Natalie Poole. “Its definitely helped us score more runs and win more ball games. It's helped us build some confidence knowing if we get down we are capable of coming back.”
Several records fell Tuesday in the Eagles' 23-1 win over Savannah State, including runs, hits (25), RBI (22) and doubles (6).
“We had been having some mechanical issues that I saw last weekend so we worked on that before Tuesday,” said Poole. “Even though their pitching isn't overpowering, I thought that we took some good hacks, we worked the middle of the field ? our balls were hit from gap-to-gap, rather than a lot of foul balls ? and made some good adjustments so hopefully we'll carry those swings over into the weekend.”
Individually, sophomore Jenny Side needs two RBI for the single-season GSU record and already holds the home run mark. She added to her totals Tuesday with her 12th roundtripper and five RBI.
The team ranks at the top of the SoCon stat charts in average, slugging percentage, runs, hits (461) and doubles (57).
In her last six games, junior Amanda Hall is batting a team-best .524 with a 1.048 slugging percentage. Six of her 11 hits have gone for extra bases, including three doubles, two homers and a triple. She has a hit in four of those six games, all multi-hit performances, and rapped out four hits against Savannah State.
“I really felt like in the Greensboro series is when she opened up and busted out,” said Poole. “I felt like all she needed to do is get a good hit to start to build some confidence. Once she did that she's brought some good composure to the plate with the intent to hit and has been missing a good contact point by just a little bit. Now that she's making better contact, she's been adjusting better and seeing the ball really well and I feel very confident when she steps to the plate.”
Appalachian State (7-33, 5-8) has lost eight in a row heading into their doubleheader Thursday with North Carolina Central.
