Although the games are two days away, I am posting this softball preview early in hopes that HokieNation can prepare to Pack the Park Wednesday when the James Madison Dukes visit Blacksburg.

Although it’s a non-conference doubleheader, this is a huge opportunity for the Hokie softball team. First pitch is set for 5:00. As far as I can tell, JMU will be the highest ranked opponent to ever visit Blacksburg, ranking #6 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and #7 in the USA Today Coaches poll.

JMU comes to Blacksburg on an 11 game winning streak with an overall record of 30-2 and an RPI of 6. The Dukes have a number of quality wins this season with victories over #3 Auburn, #16 Tennessee, #17 Arizona (twice), and #21 Arizona State. The two losses were at neutral site games to #7 Alabama (February 5th) and #23 Nebraska (March 11th).

After sweeping Mercer and Hampton this past weekend, the Hokies have an overall record of 19-16, 9-3.

Without question, the strength of JMU is their pitching staff with an amazing one-two punch of Sophomore Megan Good and Senior Jailyn Ford. Good sports a record 19-1 with an ERA of 0.93 with 143 strikeouts in 120 innings. Ford, who was the CAA Player of the Year last season, is 11-1 this season with a 1.13 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 86.2 innings. If their performance in the circle isn’t enough, Ford also carries a batting average of .295 including 5 homeruns, while Good is batting .291 with 4 homeruns.

The Dukes do a good job of providing runs for their aces however, averaging almost 5.5 runs per game. Their leading hitter is Sophomore Morgan Tolle who is batting .370 along with a team leading 6 homeruns. Four more starters bat over .300 – Sophomore Alyssa Buddle (.353), Senior Erica Field (.337), Junior Madyson Moran (.324), and Junior Niki Prince (.310). As I mentioned above, both Ford and Good have quality bats as well, so there’s not many “easy outs” in the Dukes’ lineup.

On the Hokies side, this weekend’s doubleheaders against Mercer and Hampton may have been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Hokie bats as they scored 31 runs in those 4 games. Granted, both opponents’ ERA weren't exactly major league, but nevertheless the following performances are notable- no matter the pitcher:

*Olivia Lattin: 6 for 8 with 4 runs scored and 6 RBIs including a double and a Homerun
*Lauren Duff: 5 for 12 with 2 doubles – extended her hitting streak to 16 games
*Chelsea Whitcomb: 5 for 11, 6 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 3 Homeruns

Even Casey Gerhard, who only had 9 at bats coming into the weekend, got into a groove, going 4 for 6 with a double and 2 RBIs.

Today, the Hokies have 6 starters with batting averages of .292 or better. Only three weeks ago that number was only 2, so things are certainly trending in the right direction.

Freshman Lauren Duff is on an amazing tear and has raised her average to a sweet.422, followed by Freshman Catilyn Nolan at .325, Freshman Olivia Lattin at .306, Freshman Emma Strouth at .302, Sophomore Breanna Davenport at .299 and Freshman Chelsea Whitcomb at .292. Did you notice a common theme in front of those names? The future is bright. Lattin and Whitcomb lead the Hokies in homeruns with 5 each.

In the circle, Senior Maggie Tyler is also finding her groove and has lowered her ERA to 2.66. Although that number pales in comparison to her JMU counterparts, she had some poor outings early in the season that inflated that stat. In her last 12 appearances going back to March 12th, she has had only one bad outing - a game versus BC that the Hokies won. Excluding that outing, Maggie has pitched 54.2 innings in the last month, given up 4 earned runs, only walked 7 and has struck out 64 batters. Hopefully, I don’t jinx her, but she is pitching very, very well.

This is a great opportunity for the Hokies. Scot Thomas put together a tough schedule early for his young team with games against Florida, Michigan, and Minnesota and it showed in the win-loss column.

But today’s team has indeed gotten better and is playing with more confidence than that earlier edition of the Hokies.

As I mentioned, Maggie Tyler is pitching well and is absolutely capable of keeping the Hokies in the game – she just needs some run support and I think we can give her that. I’m a bit less confident in game two, but let’s take them one at a time and see what happens.

Tell your friends and family - Wednesday is a HUGE deal. If you don't get off until 5:00, get there as soon as you can - this is going to be BIG!

LET'S GO HOKIES!!!!

Shock the softball world!!!




[Post edited by VTChip at 04/05/2016 4:01PM]