Softball | 2/10/2015 5:15:00 PM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers open their home softball slate on Wednesday, Feb. 11 hosting the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish.
The Bucs are 3-2 after opening the season at the Eckerd Triton Spring Invitational, while the Sailfish, who also played in the Invite, carry a 4-1 record into the doubleheader, which is slated to begin at 5:00 pm at Buccaneer Field.
The series is a little lopsided in favor of the Bucs who hold a 27-11 edge. But that is skewed by the 14-0 win streak that Barry had to open the series. Starting in 2001, the Bucs ruled the series for most of a decade and the Sailfish did not get their first win until 2009. However, since then, it's been a much more competitive affair, with Barry taking 13 of 24 games. Since 2011, it's been Barry 8, PBA 6.
The Bucs are led by junior outfielder Megan Copeland, the reigning Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week. She batted .611 last week, hitting safely in all five games and scoring runs in each as well. She had four multi-hit games and stole seven bases in seven attempts. Ashley Fernandez has also been hot to open the season, batting .538 with four runs and three RBI. The duo has led Barry to a .345 team batting average. Freshman Haley Wiseman has worked the bulk of the innings for the Bucs in the early going. She's tossed 19 of the 34 frames, striking out 23 and holding the opposition to a .257 average. Kristina Pazienza, who has also seen time at third, has a team-best 1.11 ERA in 6.1 innings and has limited the opponents to a .200 average.
Sophomore Victoria Gonzalez has been the big stick for the Sailfish, batting .533 with three homers and 14 RBI. Lindsey Johnson (.308) and Devin Williams (.294) each have seven runs scored to tie for the team lead. The Sailfish, as a group, are batting .321. The 'Fish have used a deep pitching staff to win four of their first five games. Though opponents have hit .338 against them, the Sailfish have posted 31 strikeouts in 33.0 innings, while walking 13. Jana Wagner leads the team with 12 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Rachel Hill has added 10 in 10.2 innings.
After Wednesday's games, the Bucs take to the road again this weekend, playing in the South/Southeast Crossover Tournament in St. Augustine, Fla. The field is hosted at Flagler College.
