Softball Has Promising Season Ahead

Eastern’s softball team finished the 2014 season 16-19, with an away record of 10-9. The club struggled playing at home as they were 3-6. The Eagles begin the 2015 season traveling westward to Arizona. They begin their spring break with games against Siena Heights University, otherwise known as the Saints (3/1). The Saints hail from Michigan and finished last season 20-21. The Tucson Invitational Games will be beneficial to the Eagles because it offers different levels of competition that the Eagles would not usually play. After spring break, the Eagles’ first six games are against: Immaculata University (3/14), Manhattanville College (3/18), Haverford College (3/19), FDU- Florham (3/21), Widener University (3/23), and lastly, the Eagles’ rival, Cabrini College (3/24). Last season the Eagles were 2-0 against Cabrini.

Junior second baseman Kasey Williams takes her cuts. Erica Engle | EU Sports Information

Coach Brittany Stroop enters her sixth season as Eagles head coach. Under Coach Stroop the Eagles are 80-103-1. Coach Stroop is inching closer to the 100-win mark. This season she has a chance to reach that mark. Under Coach Stroop last season, Alyssa Welsh, Ashton Tomlinson, and Kasey Williams earned All-Conference Honors. Williams was given an honorable mention. Welsh and Tomlinson were named to the Freedom Conference second team.

The Eagles are a young team this season, with six freshmen and nine sophomores. Lone senior Emily Houck will be looked upon to help guide this young Eagle squad. Houck batted .287 with 2 homeruns and 25 runs batted in. In her three seasons as an Eagle, Houck has collected 109 hits, and will look to improve on that terrific achievement. Returning for her third season, infielder Williams looks to put up impressive numbers again. She batted an eye-popping .374 and led her club with 46 hits. Sophomore Tomlinson batted .348 with 39 hits. She led the team with nine doubles and four triples. The Eagles as a whole batted .285, with an on base percentage of .343. The Eagles offense looks promising. The majority of the line-up was first year players, which played really well, and now with some experience they will push to improve.

The Eagles pitching staff last season was strong with some room for improvement. The staff last season was composed of first year players. They had an ERA of 4.01, 137 strikeouts and 63 walks. 82 of those 137 strikeouts belong to Welsh. In her first season she was 6-13 with 13 complete games and 2 shutouts. She also pitched a no-hitter against Wilkes University. Welsh will lead the pitching rotation and promises another spectacular season. Brushing off their rookie season, the pitching staff looks to make an impact this season.

The Eagles have potential this season to finish over .500. They have all the tools and weapons to have a successful season.