#HLSB Begins Conference Play

#HLSB Weekend Schedule
Saturday, March 22
Valparaiso at Youngstown State (DH) – 1:00 p.m.
Oakland at Wright State (DH)—1:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 23
Valparaiso at Youngstown State—12:00 p.m.
Oakland at Wright State – 12:00 p.m.

**UIC at Cleveland State—Postponed, will be rescheduled
**Green Bay at Detroit—Postponed, will be rescheduled

Four of the eight Horizon League softball teams open up conference play this weekend after tough non-conference schedules to kick off the 2014 campaign. Due to weather and field conditions, the matchups of UIC at Cleveland State and Green Bay at Detroit have been postponed and are to be rescheduled at later dates.

Oakland begins its inaugural season in the Horizon League as the team travels to Wright State for a three-game series with the Raiders at WSU Softball Field. The Grizzlies are currently 10-10 on the year, with already three more wins than 2013’s total victories. Jackie Kisman leads Oakland at the plate with a .386 batting average and Kaley Waalkes carries a 2.08 earned-run average in the circle.

Wright State is heading into Saturday’s double-header with a 3-17 record. Jess Gorman leads the team in batting with a .321 average and Montana Wear posts the best earned-run average of 5.17 for the Raiders.

Defending back-to-back tournament champion Valparaiso travels to Youngstown State to take on the Penguins in a three-game series. The team is currently 5-18 on the year after a challenging schedule thus far. Jessie Marinec holds a .359 batting average for the Crusaders while teammate Sierra Pico leads Valparaiso in the circle with a 4.05 earned-run average.

Youngstown State debuts the YSU Softball Complex this season as the Penguins head into Saturday’s double-header with a 12-9 record.  Miranda Castiglione has an impressive .449 batting average going into League play while Casey Crozier holds a 1.94 earned-run average on the mound.

The Horizon League Tournament will be held May 7-10, at the site of the regular-season champion.