ABOUT THE MARAUDERS
• Millersville enters the week with three upcoming doubleheaders at Seaber Softball Stadium starting on Tuesday against Bloomsburg. This is a crucial time for the Marauders as the Bloomsburg doubleheader is the final tune-up before divisional play takes over the schedule.
• Millersville has received run production from all spots in the lineup. Five regulars boast batting averages over .297 and all 11 players with seven starters own on base percentages of .346 or higher. The Marauders have combined for a .269 batting average which ranks 11th in the conference. Millersville has distanced themselves from the rest of the PSAC in the home run category, hitting 14 more than second-place Gannon who has 23.
• The Marauders have been solid on defense, owning a .951 fielding percentage, which ranks in the middle of the pack of the PSAC.
Brianna Battavio leads the team in assists (60) and ranks sixth in the conference.
• Battavio enters the weekend having reached base in 13 straight. It is the longest streak by a Marauder since
Heather Lutz posted a 20-game streak in 2016. Battavio is hitting .312 with a .453 OBP and has six doubles, and four homers. In the past seven games, Battavio has totaled eight walks, adding those to her season total of 22 which ranks second in the entire conference.
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Faith Willenbrock is third in the PSAC in slugging percentage (.761), seventh in hits (44), sixth in RBIs (32), eighth in doubles (11) and leads the conference in home runs with nine. Willenbrock has recorded eight hits in the past six games.
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Catherine Johnson has played a key role both on the mound and at the plate, earning a 4-3 record in the past eight appearances on the mound. Johnson is 3-0 against non-conference opponents since the Bowie State matchup on March 19. At the plate, Johnson went going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a double against Goldey-Beacom. On the season, Johnson has struck out a total 47 batters and has posted a .295 batting average against. Johnson is tied for second in the conference with nine wins. So far, Johnson has a .304 batting average on the offensive side.
• Johnson has had success against Bloomsburg in the past. She started last year's game two against Bloomsburg and won, surrendering just four hits, one run and two walks through four innings.
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Emma Bevard has been sharp in her last four starts, allowing just nine hits and five earned runs while striking out four and issuing two walks in 12 2/3 innings. Bevard has dropped her season ERA to 3.42.
SERIES HISTORY
Series vs. Bloomsburg (since 1979): 13-93
Series Streak: Ville, 2
Last Meeting: 2018 (W, 5-2)
Last 10 Meetings: 4-6
Jen Probst vs. Bloomsburg: 3-3
• Millersville and Bloomsburg have traded sweeps in the last two season series. In 2018, the Marauders totaled 19 runs in the series while keeping the Huskies to four runs. In 2017, the opposite happened--two low scoring games with Bloomsburg shutting out the Marauders in both games.
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
• The Huskies split doubleheaders with IUP and Pitt-Johnstown before coming to Millersville.
• Tara Baney threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout in game two against Pitt-Johnstown as the Huskies split a PSAC Central doubleheader. The Huskies dropped game one 7-2 before bouncing back for a 3-0 victory. Baney tossed her fourth shutout of the year. The week before, Baney earned PSAC Central Division Pitcher of the Week.
• The Huskies' bats are led by Erin DelPierre who has a .451 batting average and 46 hits. DelPierre was named last week's PSAC Central Division Athlete of the Week after going 11-for-23 (.478) with two doubles, seven runs scored, and five runs batted in during a 5-1 week for Bloomsburg. DelPierre is riding into Millersville with an 11-game hitting streak.
• Abby Wild has earned a 10-6 record and posted three shutouts in nine complete games. Wild holds a 1.96 ERA through 18 appearances.
