Softball 3/29/2012 9:24:00 AM Jen Lawson, Athletics Assistant

Oklahoma Road Trip Scheduled For Bulldog Softball

Week At-A-Glance:
The Truman softball team will take to the road again this upcoming weekend, traveling to Oklahoma for a pair of doubleheaders. On Saturday, the Bulldogs will take on Northeastern (Okla.) State University with a 2:00 pm scheduled start. Then, on Sunday, the 'Dogs will wrap up the weekend trip with a doubleheader match-up against No. 6 University of Central Oklahoma. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Neither NSU or UCO offer live stats for softball, so fans are encouraged to follow @TrumanAthletics on Twitter for up-to-date information as it is received from this weekend's road trip.

Week In Review:
The Bulldogs played on back-to-back-to-back days this past weekend. On Sunday, the Bulldogs lost by a scores of 3-2 and 10-2 to Pittsburg (Kan.) State. On Monday, the 'Dogs dropped two to Missouri Southern State University, 4-3 and 7-2. Finally, the Bulldogs snapped their eight game losing streak by taking the doubleheader sweep against William Jewell (Mo.) College, 4-2 and 7-2.

Scouting the Competition:
As a future member of the MIAA, the Northeastern State Riverhawks have compiled a 15-11 overall record, with a 5-5 record at home. Cayce Coleman is leading the Riverhawks in batting average with a .373 while Lisa Ripperger leads the squad with five homeruns. Northeastern is perfect in stolen bases, going 11-for-11. As a team, they average .278 with 206 total hits and 13 homeruns.

With a jump in the rankings this past week, the 6^th-ranked UCO Bronchos have a 27-3 overall record. Four members of the Bronchos hold batting averages over .400 after at least 97 at bats. Nathalie Timmermans leads the team in homeruns, hitting 14 so far in 30 games. Kacie Edwards is close behind Timmermans with 12 total. Kaylee Brunson is the primary threat on the base paths, going 16-for-17 in her 30 game appearances.

Current Weather Forecast:
The National Weather Service has forecasted a high of 82 on Saturday with sunny skies and a 0% chance of precipitation in Tahlequah, Okla. Edmond's forecast on Sunday is a high of 86 with mostly sunny skies and a 0% chance of rain. It is forecasted to be windy on Sunday, with the wind coming from the south at 20 mph.

MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll:
The Truman softball squad was selected seventh in the MIAA Coaches poll released early February. The 'Dogs tallied 39 points to come in six points ahead of Pittsburg (Kan.) State and Washburn (Kan.).

Conference Stats At The Plate:
Truman continues to rank amongst the MIAA's best in many offensive categories, including batting avverage (.314; 2nd), slugging percentage (2nd), on-base percentage (2nd), total bases (2nd), doubles (2nd) and homeruns (3rd).

The Bulldogs also have many players holding top spots in MIAA individual categories:

Bridget Schade leads the MIAA in walks and on-base percentage and second in total bases, third in batting average, slugging percentage and homeruns, eighth in RBIs and ninth in runs. Schade also ranks 46th in the nation in on-base percentage (.513).
Cate Simon ranks fourth in slugging percentage and on-base percentage, fifth in homeruns and seventh in batting average.
Kelsey Bollman is the conference-leader in doubles while also ranking ninth in runs scored, 12th in total bases, 13th in slugging percentage and 15th in batting average. Bollman, a career .369 hitter, also ranks 18th in the nation in "toughest to strikeout" with only four K's in 104 at-bats.
Liz Leath's ten doubles ranks second in the MIAA behind Bollman (she entered the week tied with Bollman).
Kelsea Dorsey has the second-most appearances of any pitcher in the league. She also ranks fifth in K's, sixth in innings pitched and ninth in ERA.

Top Ten Lists:
Four members of the Bulldog squad have crept up onto three of Truman's all-time top ten lists.

Mary Manley started the 2012 campaign tied for eighth all-time for career doubles with 27. This season, she has added five to her total, bringing her up to 32 doubles. She now sits fifth all-time, tied with LeAnn Paul and Loni Wedemier and is three behind Jen Wright, who is fourth on the list. Kristi Bredbenner is on top the list with 55.
Laura Miller started this season at ninth on the all-time stolen bases list with 34. This season, she has tacked on seven more to move up to eighth. She has now surpassed 2011 graduate Alex Weber with 40 and is two behind Jessie Shelman. Christen Belcher is the record holder by a landslide, stealing 153 bases while at Truman.
Starting the season with 78 appearances and adding 17 since, Ashley Rotkvich sits at third on the all-time appearances in Truman history. Jen Hulsopple is on top of the list with 132 appearances.
Bridget Schade sits third on the all-time career batting average list with a .368 average. She is .064 points behind leader Elizabeth Economon, who set the record between the years 2001-2004. Also, with her eight home runs this season, Schade has jumped to a tie for fifth with Courtney Strubel with 14 homeruns.

Up Next:
Truman will host the next five doubleheaders, starting with a pair against the University of Central Missouri on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the Bulldogs will host Southwest Baptist with a 12 pm start. On Tuesday, Truman welcomes future MIAA member Lindenwood (Mo.) University for a doubleheader with the first pitch scheduled to start at 2:00 pm.

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