Big Green Host Penn and Columbia in 2016 Home Opener

Game 25/26
Dartmouth Big Green (15-9, 4-0) vs.
Penn Quakers (13-12, 2-2)
Date: Friday, April 8, 2016 – Game 1: 2 p.m. Game 2: 4 p.m.
Location: Dartmouth Softball Park, Hanover, N.H.

Game 26/27
Dartmouth Big Green (15-9, 4-0) vs.
Columbia Lions (7-19, 2-2)
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016 – Game 1: 12:30 p.m. Game 2: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Dartmouth Softball Park, Hanover, N.H.

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
After playing 24 games on the road, the Dartmouth softball team returns to Hanover for the 2016 home opener with doubleheaders against Penn on Friday and Columbia on Saturday.

LAST TIME OUT
The Big Green are coming off a stellar opening weekend in Ivy League play with sweeps of Princeton and Cornell. On Sunday, Dartmouth defeated the Tigers 5-4 in a makeup game after the second game of Friday's doubleheader was rained out. The Big Green scored two runs in the top of the first and added two more in the third. Senior Morgan McCalmon pitched six innings with three strike outs, as sophomore Breanna Ethridge earned her fourth save of the season, thwarting a late Princeton comeback.

SCOUTING THE QUAKERS
After falling 10-0 to cross-town rival Villanova on Tuesday, the Quakers are 13-12 on the season. Penn saw some success in its non-conference schedule which included a five-game win streak from March 9-18. Lauren Li and Sam Pederson lead the Quakers' offense with 26 hits apiece. Leah Allen has also found success at the plate with a team-high five homers and 27 RBIs. In the circle Alexis Sargent is Penn's top pitcher with an 8-3 record and a conference-best 1.68 ERA in 13 appearances.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Columbia is 7-19 on the year after splitting its opening Ivy League series' with Brown and Yale. The Lions experienced some struggles in their non-conference schedule after Columbia dropped 13 straight games before taking down Canisus in extra innings on March 26. Kerry Cook leads her team with 31 hits in 95 at bats, while Taylor Troutt leads the Lions in RBIs with 25. She also leads the Ivy League in homers with seven, just ahead of Dartmouth senior Katie McEachern's six long balls.

TITLE REMATCH
Friday's game against Penn will be a rematch of the 2015 Ivy League Championship. The Big Green swept the Quakers in two games to win its second consecutive league crown.

LEADERS OF THE PACK
Dartmouth currently leads the Ancient Eight in two offensive categories. The Big Green lead the league in runs (113) and RBIs (102). Dartmouth is also third in doubles with 31, seven of which have come from the bat of freshman Morgan Martinelli, who is having a successful rookie season in Hanover. Martinelli was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for her efforts last weekend.

THEY'RE A HIT!
McEachern and junior Karen Chaw have been dominant at the plate as of late. McEachern extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a pair of home runs against Cornell last weekend. Junior Karen Chaw hit three doubles, a triple and a two-run home run between the four games in New York and New Jersey to stretch her hit streak to seven. She also earned earned her second weekly award when Chaw was named Ivy League Player of the Week.

IN THE CIRCLE
In addition to solid hitting, the Big Green have been getting solid production from their pitching staff. While McCalmon leads the team with a 9-3 record, sophomore Breanna Ethridge is quietly having a spectacular season in the circle. She is currently second in the Ivy League with a 2.18 ERA and leads the team with four saves. Meanwhile McCalmon is second among the Ancient Eight with 69 strikeouts in 16 appearances.

FOLLOW ALONG
Can't make it to the games? This weekend's contest will be carried live in HD on the Ivy League Digital Network for subscribers. DartmouthSports.com will also provide live stats for those looking to follow along during the contest.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Big Green will have a quick turn around after this weekend's series. Dartmouth returns home on Tuesday for its final nonconference game of the season with a doubleheader against UMass Lowell at 3 p.m.

Schedules