Feb. 21, 2005
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Softball Player of the Week
Cameron Astiazaran
UIC, Senior, OF, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.
UIC senior Cameron Astiazaran is the Horizon League Softball Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 20.
Astiazaran led UIC to a strong start to the 2005 season, batting .429 with three doubles and three RBI as the Flames finished second at the GSU Invitational in Statesboro, Ga. Astiazaran tallied a hit in six of UIC's seven games and notched two doubles off reigning USA Softball National Player of the Week, Tennessee's Monica Abbott. Her best effort, though, came in the tournament semifinals versus Mercer on Feb. 20, when Astiazaran tied the school single-game hit record with a 4-for-5, three RBI effort.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Mercedea Lovato
UIC, Freshman, P, Simi Valley, Calif.
UIC freshman Mercedes Lovato is the Horizon League Softball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Feb. 20.
Lovato enjoyed a strong start to her collegiate career at the GSU Invitational, going a perfect 3-0 in three starts with a 2.33 ERA. In 21 innings of work, she allowed just seven earned runs while fanning eight batters and limiting opponents to a .208 batting average. Lovato made her collegiate debut on Friday in the Flames' 8-5 win over Georgia Southern. After scattering five runs in her first appearance, she allowed just two more earned runs in her next two starts, in wins over Charleston Southern and Mercer.
Other Top Player Performances - Feb. 21
Nora Schober, Loyola, Sophomore, Outfield (Palos Park, Ill.)
Schober returned to the team in impressive fashion after missing all but one contest last season with a broken arm. The outfielder batted .357 (5 for 14) with two runs scored and a double. She hit safely in four of the Ramblers' five games at the competitive Troy Cox Classic, going 2 for 4 with a run versus Nebraska on Feb. 19. Schober doubled and scored a run in a loss to New Mexico State on Feb. 18.
Angie Johnson, Butler, Junior, Outfield (Spring, Texas)
Johnson led the Bulldogs with six of nine hits for the weekend, with a .667 hitting percentage. She also drove in two runs for the team against IUPUI.
Other Top Pitching Performances - Feb. 21
Andrea Wise, Loyola, Senior, Right-handed Pitcher (Eugene, Ore.)
Wise was impressive in relief work at the Troy Cox Classic, throwing 4.0 innings of scoreless, three-hit work out of the bullpen. The right-hander, who had never thrown an inning of collegiate softball until last weekend, playing as an outfielder for her first three seasons, drew the opening day start against UT-San Antonio, but was saddled with the loss.
Horizon League News & Notes
Butler Bulldogs (0-3, 0-0 HL)
The Bulldogs opened the 2005 season on the road at the University of Tennessee-Martin Tournament in Martin, Tenn. on Feb. 19-20. Butler dropped all three of its contests on Saturday, falling to the host Skyhawks (0-9), Saint Louis (0-4) and IUPUI (3-6). On Sunday the Bulldogs were to finish out the tournament with games against Indiana State and Belmont, but those contests were canceled due to poor weather. Butler is back in action March 5-6 when it travels to Terre Haute, Ind. for the Sycamore Classic.
Cleveland State (0-0, 0-0 HL)
Cleveland State opens its season in less than three weeks, when it travels to Charleston, S.C. for the Charleston Southern Invite March 4-6. On day one, the Vikings open with Tennessee Tech at noon EST followed by College of Charleston for a mid-afternoon start. Day two begins with a noon showdown with the host Buccaneers and then caps off against North Carolina A&T in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Bracket Play begins on Sunday with times and opponents to be determined.
Detroit Titans (0-0, 0-0 HL)
For the fourth year in a row, the Detroit softball team had one of the highest GPA's in America. The Titans placed fourth overall with a 3.466. That also tied them with the tennis team at UDM for the school's highest GPA.
Junior Pitcher of the Year candidate Lindsay Roy (Brampton, ON/Turner Fenton Secondary) was named the top pitcher at 2004 Junior Women's Canadian Fast Pitch Championships that ran from Aug. 8-15 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Roy posted a 4-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in 26 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts as a member of the Cambridge Junior Ladies.
Detroit returns eight starters from 2004 and all four of its pitchers as well for head coach Bob Wilkerson. The Titans begin their season with the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. where they will play 10 games from March 6-11.
UIC Flames (4-3, 0-0 HL)
The defending Horizon League champion Flames kicked off the 2005 campaign in the Georgia Southern Tournament in Statesboro, Ga. from Feb. 18-20. UIC fell to nationally ranked No. 7 Tennessee on Friday, 0-2, but rebounded with an 8-5 victory over the host Eagles. On Saturday, the Flames went 2-1 on the day as they fell to Mercer (0-7) before defeating Charleston Southern twice (3-1, 2-0). On the final day of action, UIC avenged Saturday's loss to Mercer with an impressive 10-3 defeat of the Bears before closing out tournament play with a 0-8 loss to Tennessee. The Flames are back in action this weekend as they travel to San Diego, Calif. for the San Diego Tournament, Feb. 25-27.
Loyola Ramblers (0-5, 0-0 HL)
Loyola went 0-5 against a competitive field at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M., last weekend. The Ramblers were outscored 49-8 at the tournament, including 15-0 in the first inning alone. With one RBI over the weekend, senior 1B Allison Scanlin moved into a tie for fifth place on the Loyola career chart with 62 RBI. None of the Ramblers' three pitchers who saw action over the weekend had thrown an inning of collegiate softball prior to this season. Loyola is off until it competes at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida, March 6-11.
UW-Green Bay Phoenix (0-5, 0-0 HL)
The Phoenix went 0-5 at the six-team Metrodome Classic Feb. 10-13, hosted by the University of Minnesota. UW-Green Bay will return to action March 13 at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.
Wright State Raiders (0-0, 0-0 HL)
The 2003 Horizon League champions open the 2005 slate in the Peach State as the Raiders travel to Atlanta, Ga. to participate in the Georgia State Spring Classic Feb. 26-27. Wright State begins play bright and early on Saturday against Drexel at 10:00 a.m. EST, followed with a 2:30 p.m. game against the host Panthers. On the final day, the Raiders will begin with Tennessee-Martin at 12:15 p.m. and then finish up the classic with Bracket Play later that afternoon.
Youngstown State (0-0, 0-0 HL)
The Penguins open their 2005 campaign this weekend when they travel to Richmond, Ky. for the Eastern Kentucky Tournament Feb. 26-27. Youngstown State opens play against Dayton at 10:30 a.m. EST on Saturday, followed by the Jaguars of IUPUI at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Penguins close out the tournament against the host Colonels at 11:00 a.m.
