Emory Softball Prepares For Opening Road Trip Of 2010

The Emory University softball team ventures to the state of Tennessee this weekend for its first road games of the 2010 season when it competes at the Chik-Fil-A Classic hosted by Rhodes College.  On Saturday, Emory battles Rhodes at 9:00 a.m., before closing out the day with a 3:00 p.m. contest against Hendrix College.

The Eagles take to the field on Sunday for an 11:00 a.m. game against Rhodes before winding the Classic up with a 1:00 p.m. meeting against Hendrix.

Head coach Penny Siqueiros and her squad stand 3-5 after eight games.  Last weekend, the Eagles compiled a 2-2 mark, winning a couple of games vs. Maryville College while coming out on the short end in two decisions to Mississippi College.

Senior center fielder Cassie Walsh was named UAA Player of the Week after hit a team-leading .600 in the four games. Walsh collected nine hits in 15 trips to the plate and scored five runs.  In addition, she was successful on three-of-four stolen base attempts.  Heading into the weekend, Walsh posts a team-high .525 average and has scored a team-best six runs.  She has safeties in seven contests and currently owns a six-game hitting streak. 

Freshman first baseman Ellen Kocoloski is hitting .350 thus far and is tied for the club's lead with three doubles.  Kocoloski's offensive production increased over the last three games of last weekend's action, going six-for-eight in that stretch while scoring five runs.

Sophomore pitcher Bridget Holloway has accounted for all three of Emory's wins and has completed five of her six starting assignments this season.  Holloway has tossed 35 1/3 innings and owns an ERA of 2.72.  She has fanned 22 opposing batters and walked eight. 

Rhodes College starts the weekend with an overall record of 2-2.  The Lynx dropped their first two games of the season last Saturday against Huntingdon College (4-1, 3-1) before bouncing back to capture a pair of outings against LaGrange on Sunday (4-1, 6-2).  Rhodes is led by fifth-year head coach David Hicks.

Hendrix will be playing in its first games of the 2010 campaign this weekend.  The Warriors open the Chik-Fil-A Classic against Washington University.  Guided by eighth-year head coach Amy Weaver, Hendrix is coming off a 22-20 won-lost mark in 2009.