2013 Softball World Series Columbia Regional Breakdown
#6 Missouri, Oregon State, Hofstra, Stony Brook
Coming off of a run to the SEC title game in their first season in the conference, the Tigers head into the postseason looking to make their fourth College World Series appearance in five years. The Tigers, with last year's large group of freshmen a year older and experienced and a solid senior class, have started to gel. Kelsea Roth and Nicole Hudson are the team's power hitters with 15 home runs each, while Jenna Marston is a doubles machine. Emily Crane sets everything up nicely at the top of the lineup and has found her niche as a slaphitter as a freshman. Chelsea Thomas has been one of the country's top players in every season she's played. The U.S. National Team pitcher has been a strikeout machine throughout her entire career and has struck out 205 this season. Other than Thomas, the Tigers don't really have a No. 2 pitcher. Bailey Erwin left the team early in the season and that knocked them down to just having Thomas as the only true pitcher. Hudson has been relegated to being the second pitcher and Coach Ehren Earleywine has been forced to use her to rest Thomas who has battled a blister and arm fatigue this season. She hasn't been able to throw back-to-back games in recent months.
This regional has some really good pitchers in it, with Thomas and Hofstra's Olivia Galati, who has 374 strikeouts to just 29 walks. The Pride will be making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance after earning an automatic berth by capturing the Colonial Athletic Association championship for the 10th time in 12 seasons on Friday. Under head coach Bill Edwards, Hofstra will enter Columbia, Missouri with a 13-game winning streak and wins in 40 of the last 43 games. Edwards’ team won a NCAA Regional for the first time in program history in 2012, advancing to the Super Regionals and finishing just one win shy of reaching the Women’s College World Series. Stony Brook refused to lose at the America East Tournament, winning four straight elimination games, including two against top-seed Albany, to clinch the program's second conference crown. Stony Brook is the third No. 4 seed in America East history to win the championship (Maine 2004, Albany 2007), and is only the second team in conference history to lose its opening game and win the tournament (Hofstra 1999). Stony Brook previously qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Oregon State has lost five of its last six. Natalie Hampton has 15 home runs, 50 RBI and 13 doubles.
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