PDF Release
NEC Player of the Week: Taryn Miller, RMU
NEC Pitcher of the Week: Jamie Carlson, SHU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Taryn Miller, RMU
Previous NEC Releases: May 1 | April 24 | April 17 | April 10 | April 3 | March 27 | March 20 | March 13 | March 6 | Febrruary 27 | February 20 | February 13 | Preseason Poll Release
NEC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taryn Miller, Robert Morris
Fr., 1B, St. Thomas, PA/James Buchanan
Miller stepped up in a big way at the plate last week, posting a 1.333 slugging percentage and a 1.933 OPS as she helped the Colonials clinch a Northeast Conference Tournament berth last week. She went 5-for-9 with two home runs, a double and five RBI over the course of four NEC contests. She came through with clutch hits in each ends of the doubleheader sweep that guaranteed RMU a return trip to the postseason. Occupying the No. 9 spot in the lineup for Sunday’s opener against Mount St. Mary’s, she laced a two-out fifth-inning single to left-centerfield to plate the eventual winning run in the 2-1 pitchers’ duel. Miller struck again with two outs in the fourth inning of the nightcap. Her two-run bomb gave Robert Morris a 5-0 lead in the eventual 6-5 triumph. During last Monday’s twin bill against Wagner, Miller victimized her opponent to the tune of one single, one double, one home run and two RBI.
NEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jamie Carlson, Sacred Heart
Sr., P, Corona, CA/Corona
Carlson ended the season by earning her third NEC Pitcher of the Week honor thanks to a pair of shutouts, including her first career no-hitter. She started the week by no-hitting America East member Hartford, striking out seven batters over 5.0 innings of work in the 10-0 triumph. Carlson allowed just one runner on base - via a walk - en route to the no-no. The senior then hurled her ninth shutout of the season as Sacred Heart blanked Fairleigh Dickinson, 3-0, the first half of Saturday’s NEC doubleheader. Carlson surrendered only two hits over 7.0 scoreless frames. She also fanned fourKnights to run her league-leading total to 157 strikeouts.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Taryn Miller, Robert Morris
Fr., 1B, St. Thomas, PA/James Buchanan
Miller stepped up in a big way at the plate last week, posting a 1.333 slugging percentage and a 1.933 OPS as she helped the Colonials clinch a Northeast Conference Tournament berth last week. She went 5-for-9 with two home runs, a double and five RBI over the course of four NEC contests. She came through with clutch hits in each ends of the doubleheader sweep that guaranteed RMU a return trip to the postseason. Occupying the No. 9 spot in the lineup for Sunday’s opener against Mount St. Mary’s, she laced a two-out fifth-inning single to left-centerfield to plate the eventual winning run in the 2-1 pitchers’ duel. Miller struck again with two outs in the fourth inning of the nightcap. Her two-run bomb gave Robert Morris a 5-0 lead in the eventual 6-5 triumph. During last Monday’s twin bill against Wagner, Miller victimized her opponent to the tune of one single, one double, one home run and two RBI.
NEC HEADLINES
The NEC Tournament field is set. Saint Francis U, which clinched its first-ever NEC regular season title back on April 29, will serve as tourney host and be joined by second-seeded Sacred Heart, third-seeded Wagner and fourth-seeded Robert Morris. The Colonials punched their ticket to the postseason on the final day of the regular season with a sweep over Mount St. Mary’s.
This will mark the first time the Red Flash have hosted the NEC Tournament. Saint Francis U was a perfect 16-0 in conference play, becoming the first team in league history to go unbeaten for the entire year. The Red Flash are on an 18-game winning streak and have won 33 of their last 34 games.
The Red Flash have one of the nation’s most potent offenses and rank in the top-25 nationally in home runs per game (1.09), scoring (6.11), slugging percentage (0.487), stolen bases per game (1.83) and ERA (1.98). SFU slugger Jordan Seneca (Plum, PA/Plum) has been a big part of that. She ranks third nationally in both home runs (21) and home runs per game (0.40). She also has 63 RBIs, which ranks seventh in the country. Her teammate, Sierra McKee (DuBois, PA/DuBois), averages 0.33 doubles per game, the 20th-best mark in DI. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, PA/DuBois) averages 1.13 runs per game, which is seventh.
Sacred Heart also finished the season on a strong note and enters the NEC Tournament riding a six-game winning streak.
Of all the participants, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart are the only two teams with NEC Championship titles. The Colonials have won six, while Sacred Heart has two to its credit. The Pioneers won in 2009 and 2011, while Robert Morris last won in 2005.
Robert Morris has made the NEC Tournament three years in a row, while Saint Francis U has earned a berth two straight years. This marks Wagner’s first NEC Tournament appearance since 2008.