The Rocket

Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Sports Extra

Media Credit: Nathan Collins

In 2005, the Slippery Rock University softball team looked like it couldn't be touched. One stretch included eight straight wins during a hot, mid-season push in which a playoff berth looked imminent.

However, SRU dropped 10 of its next 12 games and finished the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West season in fourth place behind California, a team that put a dagger in the Rock with a double-header sweep in late April.

The players are eager to get out on the field and finish what they started last season.

"I'm really excited," sophomore left fielder Andrea Murdock said. "We have some great freshmen coming in and we feel this is going to be a great year for us."

In 2006, the Rock returns a bulk of its lineup from last year and looks to be a prime contender for a berth in the PSAC playoffs and possibly a championship, according to third-year coach Vashion Johnson.

"We're very, very excited," Johnson said. "I think we are going to improve. Last year we were young and we made a lot of crucial mistakes. But that same crew is coming back."

That crew starts with the tandem at the top of the lineup that produced a high run total last season, sophomore shortstop Stacey Rhoades and Murdock.

Rhoades, who was named PSAC Rookie of the Year following her record-breaking season last year, will hit leadoff.

She finished the season with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 35 runs scored and 76 total bases. All were SRU records.

Behind Rhoades will be Murdock, who was a first-team All-PSAC West selection, and freshman Lindsay Rodgers.

Murdock led the Rock with 47 hits, which was also a team record.

Johnson said these two can put the ball over the fence if need be, get on base and score most of the team's runs.

He also said the mix of speed and power is better than last year's team.

"Last year we were a bunch of long-ball hitters," Johnson said. "This year we can score runs many different ways. Our 1-22 players can all drive the ball."

Sophomore transfer Meghan McHenry and senior Laura Campbell will be expected to drive in runs in the three and four spots of the lineup.

Campbell's power numbers are down from Rhoades and Murdock, but she did hit at a .309 clip last year.

Sophomore Alicia Dixon and freshman Amber Phillips will platoon at fifth in the batting order, while senior Niki Banner will hit sixth in the order.

Continued...

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