GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Embry-Riddle (8-8) vs. Michigan-Dearborn (5-6)
DATE: Saturday, March 7, 2015
CITY: Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE: Daytona State College Softball Complex
FIRST PITCH: 9 a.m. EST
LIVE STATS: ERAU Gameday Network

ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Blue and Gold swept a doubleheader against AIB College of Business, winning both games by 7-6 scores. Embry-Riddle scored three runs in their last at-bat of game one to earn the first victory, and got a walk-off win in game two on a dropped third strike with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The wins even ERAU's season record at 8-8.

Anna Battison leads the team in batting average (.298), hits (14), on-base percentage (.400), runs scored (11) and stolen bases (7). Kailah Rain is just behind Battison in hitting at .297 and has scored seven times, while Robi Zimmerman is batting .275 with two of ERAU's three home runs and has driven in a team-leading 12 runs. In the circle, Taylor Cowan has been effective in five relief appearances, tossing 17 innings with a 1-0 record and a 3.29 ERA, while Raquelli Bianco holds a 4.17 ERA and a 4-4 record in eight starts and Zimmerman is 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA in eight starts.

ABOUT MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
The Wolverines hold a 5-6 record and will be playing two games in Clermont on Friday before traveling to Daytona Beach to face Embry-Riddle. UMD will be playing a total of 20 games in the Sunshine State on a trip that started on Feb. 27 and concludes on March 8.

Statistics for Michigan-Dearborn are not available.

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 is hitting .200 and leads the team with five doubles to go along with six RBIs and nine runs scored.

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 is hitting .275 and has two of the Eagles' three home runs, while also holding a 4.20 ERA and leading the staff with 30 strikeouts.

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 12 hits, including three doubles and two triples, and has 10 RBIs, while holding a 4-4 record and a 4.17 ERA.

Taylor Cowan has developed into a third dual threat for ERAU, leading the team in ERA (3.294) and batting average against (.238) in 17 innings of relief work while collecting nine hits and six RBIs at the plate.

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 a 7-5 mark in 2015, ERAU's overall record at home is 29-16, good for a .644 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.