UMAC Game of the Week - Martin Luther at Crown - Softball
UMAC Game of the Week Archives
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Game of the Week is a feature that takes place each week throughout the conference portion of the season with one contest being selected and highlighted as the UMAC Game of the Week.
This week's UMAC Games of the Week will take place on Saturday, April 25 as Crown College hosts Martin Luther College in UMAC softball action. Saturday’s contests will be critical as both the Knights (8-9 UMAC) and the Storm (7-10 UMAC) remain in the hunt for the final spot in the four-team UMAC Softball Tournament.
About the Knights
MLC enters this weekend’s double header looking to improve its chances of making the UMAC Postseason Tournament for the second time in three years. The Knights are 13-12 overall and 8-9 in UMAC play, and currently hold a slight lead over Crown for the fourth spot in the conference standings.
The Knights have been successful this season thanks to strong pitching and defense, as well as an offense that has been able to manufacture runs at a high rate. MLC has been led by Kathryn Marquardt on the mound. The junior pitcher is tied for second in the UMAC with eight wins and also ranks third in the conference in ERA at 3.90. Kelli Doell and Emily Waldek have combined for a record of 5-5 in 12 starts this season in the number two starter role. All three pitchers have been backed by a defense that has committed the second-fewest errors in the conference, and ranks third in the league in fielding percentage (.931).
The MLC offense has utilized its team speed to manufacture runs this year. The Knights lead the UMAC with 58 stolen bases, and also rank first with 37 steals in conference play. First-year catcher Jessica Friebe has 13 stolen bases to lead the team (and ranks second in the UMAC), while four other MLC players rank in the top ten in the conference with at least seven steals. The top of the Knights’ order has been the catalyst for much of the season, with experienced veterans Maggie Schultz, Doell and Waldek leading the way in front of first-year talents like Megan Lemke and Friebe.
About the Storm
Crown returns seven players that saw regular time a year ago and have a lineup this year that features major contributions from six newcomers, including four freshmen. The Storm have been a team of streaks this season winning and losing in bunches. After winning four UMAC games in a row, Crown snapped a seven game losing streak by beating Northland last Saturday hoping to turn a string of wins into a playoff berth.
Crown College enters this weekend in search of a post season berth as they sit behind Martin Luther in the UMAC standings. If Crown is able to win three of their final four UMAC games, they will secure the fourth and final spot in the UMAC playoffs. Crown and Martin Luther have not faced off this season yet, but Martin Luther won three of four contests between the two teams last year.
Crown is led by the big bat of Sofia Palacios who is hitting .385 on the year and is tied for second in the conference in homeruns with five. Alisha Promis has also come on of late raising her average to .381 on the year. Both Kate McLaughlin and Cassidy Valenzuela also have hit well all season, and Crown will need a collective team offensive effort.
Game Notes
- MLC has won 29 of the last 30 meetings between these two programs, with the Storm’s lone win coming on April 22 of last year by the score of 8-5.
- Kathryn Marquardt became the winningest pitcher in MLC softball history with her 27
th career win last weekend against Northwestern. She passed the previous mark of 26, held by Laura Miller (2010-13).
- Crown’s Sofia Palacios has 30 RBIs on these and five home runs, good for fourth and second in the UMAC respectively.
- Senior outfielder Emily Waldek has 156 career hits for the Knights, nine away from tying the school record of 165, held by Sarah Free (2009-12).
Crown Recap |
Martin Luther Recap |
Final Scores: CC 6, MLC 4; CC 8, MLC 7
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