April 30, 2012

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats (28-15, 12-6 NEC) vs.
Stony Brook University Seawolves (33-13-1, 12-2-1 America East)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 – 2:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
QU Softball Field – Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Face Stony Brook In Non-League Action
The Quinnipiac University softball team (28-15, 12-6 NEC) will host Stony Brook University (33-13-1, 12-2-1 America East) in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, May 1 at the QU Softball Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. The Bobcats look to improve their five-game win streak, while the Seawolves have won their last two outings.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day
The Quinnipiac softball team will be showing their support of the cause by wearing Breast Cancer Awareness uniforms at Tuesday’s doubleheader. The Bobcats will also be selling a limited amount of these Quinnipiac, pink and white uniforms at the games.

Multimedia
Live stats and audio will be available by clicking on the appropriate links of the Quinnipiac Softball schedule on the Official Website of Quinnipiac Athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com.

Scouting Stony Brook
The Seawolves enter Tuesday afternoon at 33-13-1 on the year and 12-2-1 in the America East. In its most recent conference series, Stony Brook won 2-of-3 contests against Binghamton over the weekend. After falling in game one, 3-0, the Seawolves went on to defeat Binghamton, 2-1 and 7-2, in the final match-ups of the three-game set. Stony Brook also dropped a non-league game to Northeast Conference opponent Sacred Heart, 8-7, in last week’s action. The Seawolves are led by Suzanne Karath’s .362 batting average (59-163), while Shayla Giosia paces the team in total bases (85), RBI (42), runs scored (32), homeruns (7) and doubles (11). Giosia also ranks first amongst the Seawolves in slugging percentage (.574), while Taylor Chain’s .471 on-base percentage leads the Stony Brook squad. In addition, Karath and Alyssa Hawley have combined for 33 stolen bases this season. Allison Cukrov has led SBU from within the circle this season as she’s appeared in 35 games, pitching a total of 197.1 innings. Cukrov currently paces the team with 204 strikeouts, a 1.45 ERA, 22 wins, four saves and a .165 opponent batting average.

All-Time Against The Seawolves
Stony Brook leads the all-time series with Quinnipiac, 9-7, dating back to the 2001 season. Last year the Bobcats dropped a pair of games at Stony Brook on April 27, 2-0 and 4-3. Quinnipiac also defeated the Seawolves, 8-2, at the Longwood Classic on Feb. 27, 2011.

Last Time Out
In their most recent outings, the Bobcats swept Bryant in a pair of NEC games on Sunday, April 29. Quinnipiac followed a 10-2 victory in six innings with a 2-1 win in game two. Seniors Heather Schwartzburg and Christy Cabrera each earned a win in the doubleheader as they combined for 14 strikeouts, eight hits and three earned runs in a span of 13 innings. Senior Mina Duffy paced the team with four hits, while senior Christy Cabrera and junior Alex Alba each contributed three hits and a team-leading four RBI on the day. Alba also scored two runs in the doubleheader, also launching her sixth home run of the season, a three-run homer against the Bulldogs.

Senior Day Success
Quinnipiac softball honored its four graduating senior-class members prior to Sunday’s doubleheader. The Bobcats recognized Christy Cabrera, Mina Duffy, Ashley Heiberger and Heather Schwartzburg for their accomplishments.

Bobcats In The RPI Rankings
Quinnipiac improved to the 119^th slot in this week’s NCAA Softball RPI Rankings. The Bobcats stand behind NEC opponent Robert Morris at 118^th, who also pace the NEC rankings.

NEC Notes
Led by Heather Schwartzburg, Quinnipiac’s pitching leads the Northeast Conference in opponent batting average (.219), hits allowed (232), runs allowed (122), and earned runs allowed (103). The Bobcats also rank second in the league in ERA (2.49) and fourth in batters struck out (244).

Power At The Plate
Mina Duffy continues to lead the Bobcats in RBI (28) in her senior campaign, while also pacing the team with seven homeruns. Her .457 slugging percentage ranks second amongst the Bobcats.

A Dependable Defense
Quinnipiac continues to lead the Northeast Conference with a .970 fielding percentage, which ranks in the top-50 of the NCAA standings.

Stealing Stats
Quinnipiac paces the NEC in stolen bases (40) and steal attempts (50). Additionally, senior catcher Ashley Heiberger has caught a league-leading 18 runners stealing.

Perfect Pitching
Senior Heather Schwartzburg, now with a program-high 925 career strikeouts, leads the Bobcats and Northeast Conference in several pitching categories. Schwartzburg leads the Bobcats with a 1.53 ERA and .168 opponent batting average. QU’s starting pitcher also ranks third in the league in strikeouts (178) and fourth in wins (17). Schwartzburg’s also ranks in the top-50 of the NCAA standings in ERA and saves (3).

Alba Makes It Happen
QU’s shortstop Alex Alba currently leads the Bobcats with a .618 slugging percentage which ranks fifth amongst her NEC counterparts. Alba also is tied for first in the NEC with 14 doubles while her 81 total bases places her at third in the league standings.

Heiberger Stays Tough
QU catcher Ashley Heiberger has been hit by a pitch 22 times this season, which leads the Northeast Conference. As of April 23, the senior also ranked fourth in the NCAA weekly statistics in hit by pitch per game (.5).

2012 NEC Tournament
The Bobcats have clinched a spot in the upcoming 2012 NEC Softball Tournament, which will take place on May 11-12 at top-seeded Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa. LIU Brooklyn and Monmouth University have also earned post-season berth. Quinnipiac will host its final doubleheader of the regular season this weekend with the opponent, date and time to be determined.

Contact: Lindsay Oliveri, lmoliveri@quinnipiac.edu