Golden Eagles Flying High After Martinez No-No in Big Skyline Win

April 9, 2008

Patchogue, NY - Heading into tomorrow night’s game with nationally-ranked Ramapo College, the Golden Eagles could not have had much better fortunes as they have steamrolled over their Skyline Conference competition with a perfect 6-0 mark and are 14-2 overall.  All this is thanks in large part to the golden right arm of senior fireballer Jennifer Martinez.  The senior is once again mowing down batters at an astonishing pace, including 27 in a doubleheader sweep against rival Farmingdale State which included a no-hitter this past weekend.

With this match-up against Ramapo - who is currently ranked ninth in the latest national poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association - the Eagles are presented with an opportunity to make some noise on the national scene if they can take down the Roadrunners. 

As for Jennifer Martinez, her no-hitter against Farmingdale was the second of the season and her ninth in three seasons at St. Joseph’s.  Earlier this season, she pitched a perfect game (third career) against Gordon College, fanning 20 of 21 batters.  Martinez already holds the NCAA record for strikeouts in a game with 21, a feat she accomplished twice in previous years.  This season the two-time NCAA Division III ERA and strikeout champion and two-time Skyline Pitcher of the Year, has posted a 13-1 record with a 0.80 ERA and 204 K’s – an average of 16.3 per seven innings.

On Monday, Martinez was named Skyline Player of the Week for the second occasion in ’08 and she was previously named Pitcher of the Week.  Her impressive team leading offensive numbers including a .553 batting average, 37 total bases, 16 runs, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 walks, and a .685 on-base percentage, make her the all-around complete player.

Not to be outshined at the plate are two Golden Eagles that have gotten off to strong starts – last week’s Skyline Player of the Week - Elyse Quirk - and this week’s Rookie of the Week - Terri Leonard.  Quirk, a senior, leads the club with 4 homeruns, is hitting .419 and ranks second in RBI’s (16) and hits (18).  Leonard, a freshman, is second in average (.517) and leads the club with 17 RBI’s.

Coach Al Sciangula’s crew is gunning to stay undefeated in Skyline play this weekend when they take on Polytechnic and Purchase en route to moving closer to wrapping up the top seed in the conference tournament.  The winner of the Skyline Championship will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in May.