DAYTON - The University of Dayton softball team will be traveling to Alabama this weekend to take part in the Auburn Tiger Invitational Feb. 17-19. Dayton is set to square off against Austin Peay, Villanova and host No. 21 Auburn for a total of five games this weekend.
SCHEDULE
ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (3-2) opened the 2023 season with three wins, including two shutouts, at the Frank Griffin Classic hosted by Stetson last weekend. Senior
Kaelene Walter led the Flyers' offense, posting a .467 average with seven hits, three runs scored and three RBI. In the circle, sophomore
Haven Dwyer claimed two wins and combined on the two shutouts while freshman
Izzy Kemp collected two saves and handed out 27 strikeouts on the weekend.
SCOUTING AUBURN
No. 21 Auburn (4-1) in coming off a 4-1 weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic that included two run-rule victories. AU's only loss on the weekend was a close 8-7 decision to Pittsburgh. The Tigers are led by SEC Pitcher of the Week Maddie Penta who tallied 31 strikeouts and held opponents to a .145 average at the plate. Nelia Peralta recorded eight hits, including two triples and a home run, and posted a .500 average.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY
Austin Peay (0-3) had its last two games canceled last weekend at Gardner-Webb's Runnin' Bulldog Classic. APSU dropped a 3-2 decision to Robert Morris to open the classic before taking losses to host Gardner-Webb and Ohio. The Governors are led offensively by Gabi Apiag and Lexi Osowski-Anderson with a .444 average and Jordan Benefiel carries the team's low ERA of 4.94.
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
Villanova (3-2) led off the season at the Texas State Tournament, picking up two wins over Kent State and one over host Texas State. Tess Cites tallied a team-best seven hits, scored five runs and knocked in four runs while Alexa Raphael posted a .571 average and collected three stolen bases for the Wildcats. In the circle, Kat Gallant (1-0) posted a perfect 0.00 ERA over 7.2 innings of work with four strikeouts to one walk.
SERIES STUFF
Auburn: First Meeting
Austin Peay: Tied 2-2; last 2019
Villanova: Villanova Leads, 1-0; last 1996
RPI RANKINGS
In the NCAA's final Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2022 season, Dayton came in at 198 according to NCAA.com. Opponents: Auburn 34, Austin Peay 126, Villanova 94.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman right-handed pitcher
Izzy Kemp was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after her collegiate debut in the circle for the Flyers. The Westfield, Ind., native posted a 0.91 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 15.1 innings of work after appearing in four of UD's five games at Stetson's Frank Griffin Classic.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
As a team, Dayton was 63-for-74 in stolen bases as a team in 2022 - the 63 stolen bases ranked second in the Atlantic 10. After the first weekend of competition of 2023, the Flyers are a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases led by sophomore
Emma Schutter (4-for-4) while senior
Emily Daniel collected three stolen bases and graduate student
Alyssa Cacini tallied one.
#WINNING
Dayton head coach
Cara Clark-LaPlaca tallied her 233rd career win at UD on April 15, 2017 at La Salle, surpassing former Flyer head coach Jodi Eickemeyer as Dayton's all-time winningest coach. She now has 348 wins at UD. Notable - coach Clark-LaPlaca currently has 479 overall career wins as a head coach.
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