GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Embry-Riddle (3-7) vs. Madonna (0-0)
DATE: Friday, February 27, 2015
CITY: Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE: Daytona State College Softball Complex
FIRST PITCH: 3 p.m. EST
LIVE STATS: ERAU Gameday Network

ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
Embry-Riddle won both ends of a doubleheader against NCAA III Concordia College on Wednesday, bringing the Blue and Gold's record to 3-7. The Eagles limited the Cobbers to four hits on the day, winning the first game 3-1 before finishing the sweep with a 4-1 victory.

Talia Barraco leads the team in batting average (.273), on-base percentage (.385), slugging percentage (.455), hits (6) and doubles (4). Anna Battison is tied for the team lead with six hits and two stolen bases, and Raquelli Bianco has driven in a team-leading three runs. In the circle, Taylor Cowan has been effective in four relief appearances, tossing 10 innings with a 1.40 ERA, while Bianco holds a 2.75 ERA and a 2-3 record in five starts.

ABOUT MADONNA
The Crusaders have yet to play a game in 2015 and will play 15 games in Florida this week, beginning with a doubleheader against ERAU. Madonna went 34-10 last year, including an 11-4 mark in true road games.

Emma Cook returns after batting .429 last year with 54 hits and 39 runs scored, while Nicky Salloum is back after hitting three home runs and driving in 30 runs with a .314 average. Bree Crampton is back as the team's ace after going 20-7 with a 1.85 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 162.1 innings a year ago.

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 17 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 five hits, including a pair of doubles, and leads the team with three RBIs, while holding a 2-3 record and a 2.75 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 2-4 mark in 2015, ERAU's overall record at home is 24-15, good for a .615 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.