SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University softball team continues their inaugural season with at the Tucson Invitational Games in Tucson, Arizona. They open the 15-game tournament with competition against Goshen (Ind.) College on March 4 at Lincoln Park. First pitch is set for 5:30 P.M.
Lawrence Tech (3-5) begins this tournament after a four-game weekend in Kentucky on February 25-26 facing Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) University and Georgetown (RV) College. The Blue Devils easily defeated CCU 9-0 and 7-3 but struggled with Georgetown, falling 7-0 and 6-3.
LTU is led by Bailey Brown with a 0.375 batting average, recording nine hits, seven runs and three doubles. Alina Molette is hitting 0.276 for the Blue Devils with eight hits, four runs, one double and one triple. Brooke Dillon and Meredith Adams have both brought in a team high six RBI's.
On the mound, Alexa Cherney has 25 strikeouts in 32 innings. Cherney records a 3.50 ERA and a 2-2 record this season. Brittney Bult is 1-1, tallying six strikeouts in 11.1 innings pitched.
Goshen | March 4 | 5:30 pm
Goshen Leafs enters the game with a 1-3 record, including two losses during their spring trip. The Leafs fell to (RV) Madonna University 10-4 on March 3 followed by an 8-1 loss to Baldwin-Wallace College later that day. Goshen is hitting 0.287 as a team, allowing their opponents a 0.314 batting average. They have scored 13 runs on 108 at bats, led by Brooke Maes with three runs, two doubles, one homerun and five RBI's on 13 at bats. Maes also leads GC on the mound tallying seven strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched with a 5.12 ERA.
Bethel | March 4 | 8:00 pm
Bethel Pilots are yet to record a win on the season, entering the game 0-3. They opened their spring trip with three straight losses to William Penn, 3-7, (23) Park University, 1-7 and Baldwin-Wallace 5-13 on March 3. K. Childers led the Pilots in their game against Baldwin-Wallace, recording two runs, two hits and one RBI. R. Najdek was on the mound for Bethel, allowing seven hits and six runs with no strikeouts.
Judson | March 5 | 11:00 am
Judson Eagles are 4-2 on the season, winning their last three games, including two in Tucson against La Sierra University, 6-3 and (23) Park University 4-2 on March 3. The Eagles are batting 0.298, led by Mary Emington, batting 0.417 in 12 at bats with three runs, five hits, one double, one triple, one homerun and two RBI's. Elizabeth Walker is 2-2 on the mound for Judson, notching six strikeouts in 18 innings pitched with a 1.53 ERA.
Park (23) | March 5 | 5:30 pm
The Park Pirates began their season with the Tucson Invitational Games, going 1-2 with losses against Madonna, 3-2 and Judson, 4-2. In their only win against Bethel, 7-1, Katie Carr led Park with two runs in four at bats, bringing in one RBI. Mallory Land had a team best three hits to bring in two RBI's. Shelby Bendure and Olivia Atkinson shared time on the mound, both recording two strikeouts and allowing two hits.
William Penn | March 5 | 8:00 pm
William Penn enter 6-5 on the season, recently defeating La Sierra University on March 3 during their spring trip. The Statesmen are batting 0.238 as a team, totaling 26 runs and 57 hits in 11 games. Pacing William Penn is Michelle Castro with a batting average of 0.333, including seven runs, ten hits, one double and one RBI. Dalaney Bice is 2-2 on the mound for WP, recording 15 strikeouts in 114 total batters faced and an ERA of 3.90.
Jamestown | March 6 | 8:00 pm
Jamestown is 8-4 on the season, recently having a seven game winning streak snapped by Dakota State on February 26. Emma Keller is hitting a team best 0.439, tallying 16 runs, 18 hits, five doubles, two triples and eight RBI's. On the mound, Hanna Dunnigan is 3-2, earning 55 strikeouts through 41 innings pitched.
Dakota Wesleyan | March 6 | 10:00 pm
Dakota Wesleyan Tigers have not had a convincing opening to their season, going 1-7 overall. As a team, they are batting 0.206 with 15 runs, 43 hits, nine doubles, one triple, three homeruns, 39 strikeouts and 15 walks. The Tigers are led by Amber Budmark with a 0.450 average. Budmark has a team high nine hits, two runs, two doubles, one homerun and two RBI's.
Missouri Valley | March 7 | 11:00 am
Missouri Valley Vikings opens the season March 4 in Tucson, Arizona. The Vikings went 14-30 in 2016 with an 8-14 conference record. They hit .250 with 157 runs in 44 games. This will be the first meeting between Missouri Valley and Lawrence Tech.
Dordt | March 7 | 1:00 pm
Dordt Defenders enter with a record of 2- with wins over Presentation, 1-0, and Jamestown, 1-0. After two games, Marissa Vandenberg leads the Defenders with two runs and three hits in six at bats, including a double, triple, homerun and one RBI. As a team, Dordt is hitting 0.140 with six hits, two runs, 18 strikouts and two walks.
The Blue Devils will rest for one day and return to the action on March 9, opening with (RV) University of Saint Francis at 1:00 P.M. They finish out the schedule with Presentation College, Concordia University, Hiram College, Dakota State University and Purdue University Northwest Mar. 9-11.
Follow @LTUAthletics on Twitter and Facebook | #WeAreLTU
