GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Embry-Riddle (1-7) vs. NCAA III Concordia College (Minn.) (0-0)
DATE:Â Wednesday, February 25, 2015
CITY:Â Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE:Â Daytona State College Softball Complex
FIRST PITCH:Â 2 p.m. EST
LIVE STATS:Â ERAU Gameday Network
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
Embry-Riddle dropped both ends of a doubleheader to No. 23 Davenport on Monday, bringing the Blue and Gold's record to 1-7. The Eagles fell 8-0 in five innings in game one and dropped game two, 7-0.
Talia Barraco leads the team in batting average (.294), on-base percentage (.400), slugging percentage (.471), hits (5) and doubles (3). Rae Heuer has drawn a team-high four walks and driven in a team-leading two runs. In the circle, Taylor Cowan has been effective in three relief appearances, tossing seven innings with a 2.00 ERA, while Raquelli Bianco holds a 3.67 ERA and a 1-3 record in four starts.
ABOUT CONCORDIA
The Cobbers have yet to play a game in 2015 and will play eight games in Florida this week, beginning with a doubleheader against ERAU. Concordia went 7-28 last year, including a 1-5 mark in road games.
Ashley Tibbetts is the top returning offensive threat after batting .284 with three home runs and 10 RBIs a year ago. Madison Little hit .267 and led the Cobbers with 17 runs scored as a freshman last season. Hillary Rotunda is the team's ace, recording a 5.31 ERA last year in 19 starts.
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES
The 2015 edition of the Embry-Riddle softball team will look much different than the previous two seasons. ERAU has a new head coach in Kelsi Dunne, a new assistant coach in Monique White, and six of the 13 players are brand new this year. Besides the new faces, the Eagles will be playing most, and possibly all, of their home games at Daytona State College while the new baseball/softball facilities are completed. Embry-Riddle is hopeful that the construction will be completed in time for the Eagles to play their final two regular season doubleheaders at the ERAU Softball Complex, but that has not yet officially been determined.
SOLID AS A ROCK
Talia Barraco, the team's lone senior, was one of the most reliable players on the team in her first season at Embry-Riddle in 2014, earning her the nickname "Rock." Barraco was third on the team with a .343 batting average and led the Eagles with 24 RBIs. She also led the team in sacrifice bunts with 16 and was solid in the field, committing just six errors in 208 chances while playing third and first base. This season, Barraco leads the team in most major offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits and doubles.
DUAL THREATS
Robi Zimmerman has contributed at the plate and in the circle in each of her two seasons at Embry-Riddle. Last year, Zimmerman earned 10 wins with a 3.06 ERA as a pitcher while also collecting eight doubles and 14 RBIs at the plate. This season, Zimmerman leads the Eagles with three runs scored and has a team-leading 12 strikeouts in the circle.
The Blue and Gold have another dual-threat athlete this year in Raquelli Bianco who will split time between the pitching circle and first base. Bianco had a 2.72 ERA in 54 innings last year while batting .429 with five doubles, three triples and home runs a year ago for Miami Dade College. This year, Bianco has registered three hits, including a pair of doubles, and is 1-3 with a 3.67 ERA.
DEFENDING THE NEST
The Eagles have been tough to beat at home in the program's first two years of existence, compiling a 9-3 mark in 2013 and a 13-8 record in 2014. The Blue and Gold will look to continue that winning tradition in 2015 at the Daytona State College Softball Complex, Embry-Riddle softball's temporary home field. Including an 0-4 mark in 2015, ERAU's overall record at home is 22-15, good for a .595 winning percentage.
EAGLES FOURTH IN PRESEASON POLL
After winning The Sun Conference regular season championship in 2014, the Eagles have been picked to finish fourth in the league in 2015 in a preseason poll voted on by all nine TSC softball coaches. Prior to winning the regular season title last season, the Blue and Gold were picked to finish third in the preseason poll.
