Softball Preview 5-14-19

Softball CU Athletics

Can history repeat itself? Lady Tiger softball needs to come from loser's bracket once again

GULF SHORES — It's win or go home for 15th-ranked Lady Tiger softball and they will have to win two games on Tuesday to reach the NAIA Opening Round finals. 
 
Two-seeded Campbellsville meets four-seeded Edward Waters College on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET. The Lady Tigers must win to play again at 4:00 against the loser of the winner's bracket finals between three-seeded Corban and top-seeded Mobile. 
 
Fans can follow both games on Tuesday via the CU Sports Network. 
 
Can history repeat itself?
  • CU was upset on Monday, 8-2, by the Corban Warriors and Campbellsville is now one loss away from the end of its season. 
  • But like in 2015, the Lady Tigers also lost their first game in the Opening Round to Rio Grande but rallied to win their first regional en route to a World Series berth. 
  • That 2015 squad, like the 2019 team, had four freshmen in its starting lineup. One of them was a freshmen pitcher and the others were three of the top five hitters in the batting order. Sound familiar?
Mobile vs. Edward Waters Recap:
  • The host Rams dominated Edward Waters in Monday's first round, 17-0.
  • Mobile's Erika Greek, the Southern States Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out eight, facing only 15 batters in five innings. 
  • The Rams tallied 13 hits and took advantage of four errors for the Tigers. 
  • Mobile improves 49-11 overall, while Edward Waters fell to 13-20 on the year.
Can CU put it all together?
  • The Lady Tigers started the year 28-6 but has a 7-8 record since April 16 when CU split a mid-week series at Georgetown College. 
  • Before those two games on April 16, CU was averaging 7.2 runs per game but only tallied a combined three in the two games.
  • Since April 16, the Lady Tigers have only reached their average runs/game mark three times. In that span, CU is averaging only 3.4 runs per game.
  • Also in that span, opponents are averaging an even three runs per game. 
  • In four of the last eight loses, CU has been beaten by only one run. In those four games, opponents are averaging only 2.5 runs per game while the Lady Tiger offense has only scored four total runs in the four games that they've been upset by one run.
Can the pitching staff get the leadoff?
  • In Mondays first-round match up with Corban, Morgan Gailor sat down the Warriors in order only one time – the first inning. In the final six innings, Gailor and Payton Blades allowed the leadoff batter to reach and score each inning. 
  • Since the Georgetown series on April 16, Gailor's ERA has jumped from 2.16 to 2.68 and she's 1-4 in that span. 
  • Payton Blades got her first start against Georgetown on April 16 and has carded five quality starts but the last two outings have been roughed up for eight runs in 10 innings. In the 38.1 innings before the last two games, Blades had allowed only eight runs.
Ryley Whitney continues to lead offense:
  • The sophomore catcher has upped her average to .350 after hitting safely in the last seven games.
  • Whitney's average dropped to .308 to end the regular season but has increased 40 points in batting average in the last six games. 
  • In the last six, Whitney is a combined 11-of-17 (.647) with seven RBI. 
  • Whitney had 10 multi-hit games in the first 37 contests of the year but in the last six games, she has five multi-hit games. 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Morgan Gailor

#17 Morgan Gailor

RHP
5' 7"
Senior
Louisville, Ky.
Ryley Whitney

#15 Ryley Whitney

C
5' 9"
Sophomore
Scottsville, Ky.
Payton Blades

#2 Payton Blades

RHP/UTIL
5' 5"
Freshman
Island, Ky.

Players Mentioned

Morgan Gailor

#17 Morgan Gailor

5' 7"
Senior
Louisville, Ky.
RHP
Ryley Whitney

#15 Ryley Whitney

5' 9"
Sophomore
Scottsville, Ky.
C
Payton Blades

#2 Payton Blades

5' 5"
Freshman
Island, Ky.
RHP/UTIL