CHARLOTTE FIRST PITCH CLASSIC
Friday, Feb. 17: St. Bonaventure vs. Canisius (2-2): 12:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17: St. Bonaventure @ Charlotte (3-3): 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18: St. Bonaventure vs. Bowling Green (4-0): 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18: Charlotte First Pitch Classic Semifinals: TBA
Sunday, Feb. 19: Charlotte First Pitch Classic Finals/Consolation: TBA
RELATED LINKS
ST. BONAVENTURE: Schedule | Roster
Live Stats | Stream vs. Charlotte ($$)
Bona Preview: Pitchers and Catchers | Infielders | Outfielders
STORYLINE
The St. Bonaventure softball team opens up its 2017 season in the Charlotte First Pitch Classic in Charlotte, N.C. The Bonnies will play five games, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday vs. Canisius and the host school Charlotte. Saturday, the Bonnies will play Bowling Green in the morning followed by the semifinals in the afternoon. St. Bonaventure will participate in either the finals or consolation game on Sunday morning determined by the outcome of Saturday afternoon's semifinals.
ABOUT CANISIUS
-The Golden Griffins finished last season 23-32 overall.
-Canisius returns six starters and three pitchers from 2016, and was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll in the MAAC.
-The Griffs come into the First Pitch Classic off a 2-2 performance in the CSU Dome Tournament on Feb. 11 and 12, earning a 7-1 win against Cleveland State and a 5-2 win against Robert Morris.
-One of Canisius' two losses was against common First Pitch Classic foe Bowling Green.
-Canisius senior Lindsay Silfer was named the 2017 MAAC Co-Preseason Player of the Year. Silfer was the MAAC's Player of the Year in 2016.
-Silfer is batting .429 with also six hits and three RBIs.
-Lauren Castro leads the way with a batting average of .545. She has six hits, four of which are doubles.
-Moriah Harris has two home runs in the team's first four games.
-The Golden Griffs have two valuable arms on their pitching staff in Madi Weathers and Lauren Castro. Weathers hasn't allowed an earned run yet in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Lauren Castro is 1-1 so far in the circle. Her ERA is 2.10 while throwing 10 innings, striking out eight, walking six and giving up nine hits.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE
-The 49ers finished last season with a 32-23 record.
-Charlotte was picked ninth in the Conference USA preseason coaches poll.
-The 49ers come into the First Pitch Classic off a doubleheader sweep over Gardner-Webb on Feb. 15.
-Their previous win came over Longwood on Feb. 11.
-Becca Shipper leads the 49ers with a .400 batting average in the first six games with eight hits, including a triple.
-Haley Pace leads the team with three stolen bases and has knocked the lone homer of the 49ers' season.
-Haley Wiseman is the work horse for this staff. She has started four of the six games, tossing 28.2 innings with a 1.47 ERA. She has allowed six earned runs, struck out 36 batters and has surrendered just eight hits.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN
-The Bowling Green Falcons finished last season with a 18-36 record.
-They return five starters led by infielders Haley Schrock and Chelsea Raker.
-Bowling Green was picked to finish sixth in the MAC East division in the preseason poll.
-They earned wins over Cleveland State, Niagara, Canisius and Robert Morris in the CSU Dome Tournament on Feb. 11 and 12. They outscored their opponents 24-2 in the tournament.
-Bowling Green has eight players on their team hitting over .300 with at least eight plate appearances.
-Kendyl Wheeler is leading the team offensively, hitting .500 with six hits and three runs scored.
-Aspen Searle is hitting .357 with six RBIs and two home runs.
-Chelsea Raker is leading the team with seven RBI.
-Bowling Green has used three pitchers to begin the season. Meredith Miller and Kiley Sosby have both thrown complete-game shutouts. Sosby has an ERA of 0.75 while throwing 12 innings and striking out 18. Miller went the distance in her lone appearance, surrendering five hits while striking out six. Briana Combs has a 1.29 ERA while only giving up one run in seven innings. Through four games the three have combined to have 0.69 ERA.
-The pitching staff has only walked two batters in 26 innings.
NEXT UP
The Bonnies will play seven games in the USF Under Armor Invite in Clearwater Fla. on March 3-7.
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