Spring Break
Softball seniors face final home game at Georgia
BEN BUSSARD
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
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The Lady Bulldogs have been dominant at home this season and look to improve their home record to 25-2 with a win over the Eagles.
If they win, the .926 home winning percentage will be the highest in school history and serve as an appropriate send-off for graduating seniors Christie Hamilton and Kristin Schnake.
Hamilton and Schnake were honored this past weekend on Senior Day against Tennessee, but will don the red and black for the final time in front of the home faithful.
Hamilton's senior campaign has been her best as a Bulldog, going 18-7 with a 1.72 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 151 innings of work.
Hamilton ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in ERA, wins, opponent's batting average, innings pitched, appearances, runs allowed and walks.
Schnake has had a solid senior year, posting a .344 batting average while leading the team with 14 stolen bases.
Schnake ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in runs scored, 41, and assists, 96, while posting an impressive .977 fielding percentage at shortstop.
Hamilton and Schnake, along with the rest of the Bulldogs, are looking to continue their momentum heading into the postseason - having won eight of their last 10 games.
Over that stretch, sophomore third baseman Alisa Goler has made a strong case for national player of the year by hitting .448 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs.
Goler's overall batting average of .457 ranks second in the SEC, and she ranks in the top-five in home runs, RBIs, doubles, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases.
Not to be outdone, sophomore center fielder Taylor Schlopy has been a potent leadoff hitter who consistently gets on base, but flashes some power as well, with 11 home runs this season. Schlopy leads the conference with a .459 on-base percentage and in runs scored with 54.
Schlopy also ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in home runs, slugging percentage, triples, total bases, walks and fielding percentage.
The combination of Goler, Hamilton, Schlopy and Schnake look to wrap up the 2009 home schedule on a positive note, and with the chance to finish the season 4-0 against in-state opponents after beating the likes of Kennesaw State, Mercer and Georgia Tech.
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