PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College softball team will travel to ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Fla. to participate in the Diamond Nine Citrus Blossom Invitational on Feb 15-17. The Friars will matchup with St. Joseph's University, Bethune-Cookman University, Stetson University, the University of Kansas and the University of Massachusetts.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Providence vs. Saint Joseph's: Friday, February 15 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Providence vs. Bethune-Cookman: Friday, February 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET
Providence vs. Stetson: Saturday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Providence vs. Kansas: Saturday, February 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Providence vs. UMass: Sunday, February 17 at 11:30 a.m. ET
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE:
The Friars opened the season posting a 3-2 record in the River City Leadoff this past weekend in Jacksonville Fla. Providence split two games against UMass-Lowell while defeating Georgia Tech twice, and falling to the host Jacksonville University.
Emma Lee (Orange, Calif.) picked up right where she left off last season, Lee picked up a team-high seven hits in 17 at-bats to post a .412 batting average over the weekend. She added two stolen bases on two attempts and scored a team-high four runs.
Lauren Nunez (Rowland Heights, Calif.) hit her first collegiate home run, a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Georgia Tech, 4-3. Nunez started all five games for the Friars and tallied a team-high four RBI.
Mackensie Compton (Langhorne, Penn.) and
Hadley Tate (Yarmouthport, Mass.) each hit their first home runs of the season on back-to-back shots against UMass-Lowell on Feb. 10 in the Friars' 5-3 win.
Daniela Alvarez (Bridgewater, N.J.) led the pitching staff picking up two wins in three appearances. She posted a team-low 2.62 ERA allowing just four earned runs in 10.2 innings of work.
Miranda Trinidad (La Habra, Calif.) picked up the Friars' lone save of the weekend in Providence's 5-3 win over UMass-Lowell on Feb. 10.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S:
The Saint Joseph's Hawks finished last season with an overall record of 24-25 and a 11-12 record in the Atlantic-10.
The Hawks return Molly Kapala and Caela Abadie in the starting nine. Kapala hit over .300 last season and recorded over 150 at bats. She tallied 29 RBI and four home runs. Abadie recorded a .292 average at 137 at bats. She led the team in home runs (eight) and RBI (32). The duo combined for 96 hits and 51 runs during the 2018 season.
Saint Joseph's will pitch by committee between Chelsea Evans and Ashley Ventura. Evans recorded a 2.91 ERA and held batters to a .262 batting average. She pitched a total of 57 innings and recorded 21 strikeouts. Ventura logged a 3.05 ERA in 26 starts. Ventura led the team in strikeouts (108) and innings pitched (177).
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN:
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats have started the season with a 1-4 overall record. The Wildcats last played in the Florida Atlantic Kickoff Classic on Feb. 8-10.
Cheyenne Smith and Kayla Traylor are the leaders of the Wildcats offense at this point in the season. Smith leads the team with a .375 average, two runs, six hits and one RBI. Traylor is not far behind recording a .273 batting average, three runs, three hits and one RBI.
Alexis Bermudez and Victoria Guzman will be in the circle for the Wildcats. At this point in the season, Bermudez has recorded a 11.45 ERA and has held opponents to a .392 average. Guzman tossed 16 innings for the team, posting a 2.19 ERA. The duo has combined for 24 strikeouts.
SCOUTING STETSON:
The Stetson Hatters have posted a 0-2 start to the 2019 season. Stetson's last matchup was a double header against Indiana State on Feb. 9-10.
The Hatters have three returners from the 2018 season that have been leading Stetson's offense thus far. Ashly Smith leads the Hatters with a .429 hitting average, three hits and two RBI. Devin Lewis and Riley Russell have both recorded a .400 average and have combined for two runs, four hits and two RBI.
Jaime Tino and Tori Perkins have each appeared on the mound for the Hatters this season. Tino has recorded a 2.80 ERA , two strikeouts and has held batters to a .357 average. Perkins has pitched seven innings tallying five strikeouts and a 4.00 ERA.
SCOUTING KANSAS:
The Kansas Jayhawks have started the season with a 0-5 overall record. The Jayhawks last played in the Kajikawa Classic on Feb 8-10. Kansas fell to two top-25 teams in No. 25 Oregon and No. 12 Arizona State.
Morgyn Wynne and Sydnee Ramsey led the Jayhawks in the Kajikawa Classic. Wynne leads the team in batting average (.571) and has tallied eight hits, one home run, and two RBI. Ramsey is not far behind recording a .353 average, six hits, two home runs and five RBI.
Brynn Minor has started three games in the circle for Kansas. Minor has pitched 14 innings and recorded a 8.79 ERA and two strikeouts.
SCOUTING UMASS AMHERST:
The UMass Amherst Minutemen finished last season with an overall record of 35-14 and a 21-0 record in the Atlantic-10.
The Minutemen return Kaycee Carbone and Erin Stacevicz in the starting nine, both of whom hit over .300 last season and recorded over 150 at bats. Carbone led the Minutemen in home runs (7) and RBI (47). The duo combined for 109 hits and 60 runs during the 2018 season.
Oliver Kiara and Meg Colleran will be in the circle for UMass Amherst. The duo combined for 44 starts last season. Kiara pitched 159.1 innings and recorded a 1.76 ERA and 173 strikeouts. Colleran tossed 112.1 innings for the team, posting a 2.99 ERA.
ON DECK:
The Friars will travel to Baltimore, Md. on Feb. 2-3 for the Morgan State Tournament. Providence will take on Morgan State, Central Connecticut State and Fairleigh Dickinson.