Trip to NCAA Tournament On Tap for Softball
The Particulars:
Merrimack is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Elaine Schwager. This marks the Warriors' 14th trip to the tournament and first since 2002. Merrimack will take on Dowling, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, in the first round.
About Merrimack:
The Warriors posted a 28-20 overall record with a 20-10 mark in the Northeast-10 Conference. Merrimack reached the finals of the Northeast-10 Tournament before falling twice to Southern Connecticut State.
All-Time Tournament:
Merrimack has earned 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Warriors captured the 1994 NCAA Division II National Championship, defeating Humboldt St. 6-2 in the title game, capping off a 45-4 season.
Preseason Prognositications:
Merrimack was tabbed to finish ninth among the 16 teams in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Warriors closed out the season in a four-way tie for second place and earned the No. 3 seed in the postseason tournament.
Last Time Out [So. Connecticut 5:9, Merrimack 3:2 - NE-10 Finals]:
The Warriors dropped the final two contests of the Northeast-10 Tournament, falling to Southern Connecticut 5-3 and 9-2 in the finals. Monique Gosselin hit .500 at the tournament with 11 RBIs. Kara Melillo and Kristen LeMay both raked six base hits in the five games.
All-Conference Accolades:
Sophomore Kelli Jo Deardorff headlined Merrimack's Northeast-10 All-Conference selections as she was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year. Monique Gosselin, Tawny Palmieri, Jaclyn Giovannini and Deardorff all earned a spot on the All-Conference first team. Keaira Perry and Giovannini were named to the All-Rookie squad. Deardorff and Gosselin were also honored on the Northeast-10 All-Championship team.
Gosselin Goes Yard:
Junior centerfielder Monique Gosselin has blasted 16 home runs this season. The program record for home runs hit in a single season is 18, set by Stacey Dell'Anno in 1999. She ranks first among the Northeast-10 in four-baggers and 11th in the nation. Gosselin is also second in slugging percentage in the league with a .771 mark.
Transistioning Well:
In her first year with the team after transfering from the University of Massachusetts, Tawny Palmieri leads the team with a .392 batting average and ranks sixth in the conference. She also ranks fourth in the league in assists with 118 assists from the hot corner. This spring Palmieri has started all 48 contests and has driven in 27 runs.
Pitching Prowess:
Sophomore Kelli Jo Deardorff owns 20 victories this season, one shy of the league-lead. She also ranks third in opponent's batting average as batters are hitting just .209 against her. Deardorff's 188.2 innings pitched this year are good for third in the conference.
Gotchya:
Senior catcher Kara Melillo has gunned down 15 would-be base-stealers this spring. Melillo leads the conference in the category.
Familiar Foes:
Merrimack has faced six of the 64 teams in the 2011 field this year. The Warriors own a 6-10 record against those squads this spring. Merrimack has defeated Augustana (S.D.), Southern Connecticut State twice and New Haven three times. The Warriors dropped decisions to Rollins, Dowling, C.W. Post and Southern Connecticut.
2011 Captains:
Four players were named team captains prior to the start of the season. Seniors Kristen LeMay, Kara Melillo, Jamie Millett and junior Monique Gosselin were all selected to lead the team. LeMay is a shortstop from Shrewsbury, Mass. and has been a member of the team for four years. Kara Melillo is a native of North Andover, Mass. and owned the catching duties in her fourth season with the team. Millett is a product of Hudson, Mass. and has played in the outfield for the entirety of her four year career. In her third year, Gosselin is the Warriors' centerfielder and hails from Lawrence, Mass.
Merrimack Head Coach Elaine Schwager:
In her sixth season, head coach Elaine Schwager has compiled a record of 120-120. Under Schwager, Merrimack has appeared in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament three times. In 2011, the Warriors reached the finals of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.
Follow From Home:
The NCAA East Regional will be streamed live online free of charge at www.pennatlantic.com. Live stats will also be available for every contest.
