Softball Kicks Off Spring Break Trip At Holy City Showdown
3/9/2016 9:22:00 AM | Softball
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MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Columbia softball team (3-6) will kick off its spring-break trip this weekend as it heads to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, for the 2016 Holy City Showdown on March 12-13.
The Lions head into the weekend with a 3-6 record after a pair of wins over Maryland and a victory over Robert Morris this year. As a team, Columbia is batting .287 with a .363 slugging percentage and .367 on-base percentage after a pair of tournaments to open the season.
TALKING ABOUT TROUTT
Sophomore Taylor Troutt has been a leader for the Lions in the early goings of 2016, posting up a .476 batting average (10-for-21) with two home runs, two doubles and seven RBI for an .857 slugging percentage and .577 on-base percentage. The second baseman was named to the Ivy League weekly honor roll this past week after going 6-for-9 with a double and a home run.
IVY LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
First-year Reilly Metzger was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week on March 8 after a dominating performance at the District Invite last weekend, going 7-for-10 with a double, a triple and six runs scored while posting a .769 on-base percentage and 1.000 after not striking out over the course of her four games. The rookie outfielder is currently tied for the team-lead with Troutt with a .476 batting average and only has two strikeouts in her nine games played.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES:
Saturday, March 12
10 a.m. - Columbia vs. Chattanooga
4:30 p.m. - Columbia vs. Michigan State
Sunday, March 13
11 a.m. - Columbia vs. No. 10/12 Georgia
3 p.m. - Columbia vs. Charleston Southern
A QUICK LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
CHATTANOOGA (All-Time Series Record: First Meeting)
Chattanooga heads into the weekend with a 13-9 record after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over Lipscomb on March 9. Leading the way this year has been Jordan Fortel who is batting .389 with six doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI for a .597 slugging percentage. The pitching staff is led by Cori Jennings who holds a 5-2 record with a 1.22 ERA after 46.0 innings of work while striking out 45 and holding opponents to a .236 batting average
MICHIGAN STATE (All-Time Series Record: 0-1-0)
Michigan State heads into the Holy City Showdown with a 10-9 record after taking a 9-0 win over Connecticut at the Gamecock Invitational last weekend in South Carolina. Back on Feb. 28, the Spartans took a 7-2 victory over the Lions in their initial meeting at the FAU Invitational. As a team, Michigan State is batting .291 with a .415 slugging percentage after combining for 19 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs over its 19 games this year. Leading the way is Lea Foerster who holds a .462 batting average and a .631 slugging percentage after belting three doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs this year. The pitching staff is led by Kristina Zalewski who holds a 4-5 record and a 2.30 ERA after throwing 64.0 innings of work, striking out 75 while holding opponents to a .233 batting average.
No. 10/12 GEORGIA (All-Time Series Record: First Meeting)
Georgia heads into the weekend with an 18-2 record and will play a single game against Charleston Southern on Thursday, March 10, before they start in the Holy City Showdown. The Bulldogs opened the season with nine of their first 10 games ending in shortened games, including seven shutouts. Georgia's only two losses came to then-No. 10 UCLA (14-6) and then-No. 19 Minnesota (4-3). Leading the Bulldogs at the plate this season has been Maeve McGuire who is batting .474 with a .789 slugging percentage and .545 on-base percentage after hitting six doubles and four home runs this year while Kaylee Puailoa (.421 avg.) leads the team with 34 RBI after seven doubles and five home runs. As a staff, the Bulldogs hold a 2.46 ERA with Kylie Bass leading the way with a 3-0 record and 0.27 ERA after throwing 26.0 innings of work while striking out 25 and holding batters to a .161 average.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (All-Time Series Record: First Meeting)
Charleston Southern heads into the weekend with a 9-10 record after falling in nine of its last 10 games, only picking up a 5-4 win over UC Davis at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament on March 4. Prior to the Holy City Showdown, the Buccaneers will take on No. 10/12 Georgia on Thursday, March 10. As a team, Charleston Southern is batting .277 with a .396 slugging percentage and .367 on-base percentage with Jade Gandara leading the way with a .392 average after hitting a pair of doubles, a triple and three home runs for 11 RBI this year. Combined with three pitchers, the Buccaneers have posted up a 4.10 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 123.0 innings of work.
