Small College World Series Round 1 Preview
United States Collegiate Athletic Association
Small College World Series - Firestone Stadium - Akron Ohio
Round 1 Matchup: Monday, May 11 at 4:00 PM in Firestone Stadium
#4 Briarcliffe College (11-7)
vs.
#5 Penn State Hazleton (28-14)
The Lady Lions will be traveling to Akron, Ohio on Sunday to compete in the USCAA Small College World Series for the second consecutive season. Following a second place finish in the Penn State University Athletic Conference, Hazleton is well rested and ready to take the field once more in 2015. This year the Lions enter the tournament as the number five seed in competition and will face off with the number four seeded Briarcliffe College on Monday, May 11 in Firestone Stadium, home of the Akron Racers.
No. 4 - Briarcliffe College:
The Bulldogs enter the Small College World series as the number four seed after a steady run in the top ten of the USCAA coaches poll during the 2015 season. Briacliffe reeled off 10 consecutive wins (two exhibition) in the month of April averaging nearly 10 runs per game over the winning streak. The Bulldogs prove to be a formidable pitching opponent, ranking third in the USCAA in both earned run average at 2.36 and in shutouts with nine posted on the season, all while holding opponents to a .240 batting average. Complimenting their quality arms, Briarcliffe ranks fourth in the USCAA in hitting with a .369 team batting average while posting just over eight runs per game on offense.
Players to Watch:
Vikki Castillo: The junior outfielder for the Bulldogs bats at .455 clip and serves as the teams main offensive catalyst. Castillo reaches base in over 60 percent of her at bats and tormented opposing defenses with 13 stolen bases on the year.
Heidi Gomez: The freshman pitcher struck out 1.2 batters per inning in 2015, and leads the Bulldogs with a minuscule 1.74 earned run average.
No. 5 - Penn State Hazleton:
The Lady Lions finished in second place this season in the PSUAC and enters the Small College World Series as the number five seed. Hazleton posted a 28-14 record on this season while accumulating 10 wins against NCAA and NAIA opponents. Collectively, Hazleton led the USCAA in home runs with 34, runs scored with 343 and runs batted in 306. During the 2015 season, the Lady Lions accumulated four separate win streaks of four games or more, including a 10 game stretch in the middle of April. After an early exit in the 2014 national tournament, Penn State Hazleton is eager to make a run at the championship.
Players to Watch:
Andrea Quillman: The sophomore third baseman dominated opposing pitching to lead the USCAA in home runs with 14 and runs batted in with 74. 39 of Quillman's 70 hits on the season went for extra bases leading to second best 1.124 slugging percentage.
Sara Stauffer: The center fielder smashed seven home runs for the Lady Lions in her freshman campaign, tied for fourth in the USCAA rankings. Stauffer led Hazleton with 20 doubles while driving in 36 runs and batting .443 on the season. Stauffer also proved formidable in the circle, racking up seven wins and pacing the team with 2.06 earned run average.
Kayla Rhome: Hazleton's top pitcher appeared in 21 games in 2015 garnering 13 wins to rank fourth nationally. Rhome struck out a team high 100 batters in 105 innings pitched, making her one of just three players in USCAA competition to to reach triple digits in the category.