Lancer Lead-off (Live Stats and Tournament Information)
INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI softball team travels to its second tournament of the year, the Lancer Lead-Off to be held in Farmville, Va., February 19 and 20.
On Saturday, the Jaguars will play two contests, one against Quinnipiac (9 am) and the other against host Longwood (1 pm).
Quinnipiac has yet to play a game in 2011, but finished 28-24 in 2010. Alejandra Alba was the team's leading returner batting .315 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 2010.
Longwood will also open its season against the Jaguars. The Lancers finished 36-16 and return 12 of 17 players from last year's roster. The Lancers had three players reach double-digit home runs including returner Brooke Short, who batted .426 with 13 home runs in 2010.
Briana Wells, a senior, is their top returning pitcher. As a junior, she went 31-10 with a 2.69 earned run average.
Sunday will be another doubleheader with the Jaguars taking on Army (11 am) and Longwood, for the second time, at 3 pm.
Army (3-1) won three of its first four games to open its season last weekend, winning twice against Houston Baptist and once against Texas Southern. Houston Baptist handed the Black Knights their only loss thus far. Black Knights' hurler Haley Pypes won two of the three games, posting a 2.25 era in two starts.
Amanda Nguyen has been red-hot for Army in the early going going 8-for-14.
IUPUI will try to combat all these teams with solid play of their own. The Jaguars went 2-2 at the Belmont/Hampton Inn-Brentwood Spring Tournament last weekend.
The Jaguars have been led by freshman Brandi Lawson and Nikki Thomas in the early going.
Last weekend, Lawson went 4-for-9 with a home run and four RBIs.
Nikki Thomas dazzled in the circle in her collegiate debut throwing a complete game shutout while fanning 15 Austin Peay hitters.
Chelsie Hale has also been hot for IUPUI. She went 4-for-10 with two bombs and five RBIs last weekend.
Live Stats and a link to more tournament information can be found at iupuijags.com or through the link at the top of the page.
