CLERMONT, Fla. — The Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team heads to Florida for its 10-game spring trip, beginning Sunday with games against Susquehanna University (1 p.m. EST) and Muhlenberg College (5 p.m. EST).

SMU's Spring Trip Schedule (All Times EST):
Sunday, March 2, 2014 | Hancock Park * Clermont, Fla.
SMU Cardinals (0-2 Overall) vs. Susquehanna Crusaders (2013: 40-9 Overall), 1 p.m.
SMU Cardinals vs. Muhlenberg Mules (2013: 31-9-1 Overall), 5 p.m.
Monday, March 3, 2014 | Legends Way Complex * Clermont, Fla.
SMU Cardinals vs. #16 Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (2013: 36-7-1 Overall), 9 a.m.
SMU Cardinals vs. Widener Pride (2013: 18-20 Overall), 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 | Minneola Park * Clermont, Fla.
SMU Cardinals vs. Finlandia Lions (2013: 25-8 Overall), 1 p.m.
SMU Cardinals vs. Ohio Northern Polar Bears (2013: 13-15 Overall), 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 6, 2014 | Minneola Park * Clermont, Fla.
SMU Cardinals vs. DeSales Bulldogs (2013: 30-12-1 Overall), 11 a.m.
SMU Cardinals vs. #24 Coe College Kohawks (2013: 34-8 Overall), 1 p.m.
Friday, March 7, 2014 | Legends Way Complex * Clermont, Fla.
SMU Cardinals vs. Cornell College Rams (2013: 23-16 Overall), 3 p.m.
SMU Cardinals vs. Webster University Gorlocks (2013: 19-16 Overall), 5 p.m.

Last Action:
The Cardinals kicked off their 2014 season on Feb. 26, splitting a pair of nonconference games against UW-River Falls at the Rochester Dome in Rochester, Minn. The Falcons used a five-run fifth inning to record a 6-1 win in the opener, while SMU bounced back for a 4-2 victory in the nightcap. … Susquehanna, Muhlenberg, Lebanon Valley, Widener, Finlandia, Ohio Northern, DeSales, Coe, Cornell and Webster will all be making their season debuts during their time in Clermont, Fla.

SMU vs. Spring Trip Field — Their Last Meeting:
Vs. Muhlenberg | March 5-6, 2013 | Tucson, Ariz.
For the second day in a row, DeSales in a nonconference game.  Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the second time around didn't go the same way — as DeSales, 3-2 losers to SMU in their first meeting, followed up with a 3-2 win of its own.
Vs. Cornell | February 25, 2012 | Rochester, Minn.
Cornell picked up 29 hits in its first two games of the season — including eight home runs — as the Rams used the long ball to sweep the Cardinals 9-6 and 13-10 in nonconference action.
Vs. Lebanon Valley | March 6, 2012 | Clermont, Fla.
It was a tale of two games for SMU — and fortunately for the Cardinals, both games had a happy ending. SMU managed just two runs in its spring trip-opener against Lebanon Valley, but two runs was more than enough with Kayla Peterson (Lewiston, Minn.) on the mound, as the junior held the Dutchmen to three singles in a 2-1 Cardinal victory.
Vs. Muhlenberg | March 7, 2012 | Clermont, Fla.
The Cardinals, smarting from an 8-0 setback to the College of New Jersey earlier in the day, took out their frustrations on Muhlenberg, as SMU routed the Mules 9-0 in five innings.
Vs. Coe | March 7, 2011 | Tucson, Ariz.
The Cardinals were limited to one run on three hits, as 24th-ranked Coe — fueled by a 10-run second inning — handed SMU a 14-1, five-inning setback.
Vs. Susquehanna, Finlandia, Widener, Ohio Northern | Clermont, Fla.
This week's games will be the first in program history.

SMU Up Next:
The Cardinals kick off Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on March 26, as SMU heads to St. Peter, Minn., for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader against the Gusties.

Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2014 Roster | 2014 Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Cardinals are coming off an 18-15 season and their third straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament appearance a year ago. … The Cardinals will square off against four teams that are ranked in the NFCA Preseason Poll this season — No. 7 Luther, No. 11 St. Thomas, No. 16 Lebanon Valley and No. 24 Coe. … The Cardinals kicked off their 2014 season with a split against UW-River Falls on Feb. 26. … Alex Raske (Chicago, Ill.) — one of just three regulars back this season — went 3-for-3 with an RBI in SMU's 4-2 Game 2 win over the Falcons. … Kathi Opsahl (Elk River, Minn.) collected three hits in six at-bats in her first collegiate doubleheader vs. UW-RF. … Ashley Betzold (Farmington, Minn.) tossed nine innings vs. the Falcons on Feb. 26, allowing just one earned run, while walking one and striking out two. The freshman owns a 0.78 ERA and 1-1 record heading into SMU's spring trip. … Raske hit .393, while also leading the team in home runs (6), RBIs (36), total bases (68), slugging percentage (.636) and multiple-hit games (16). … SMU closed out 2013 with 15 home runs, led by Raske, who finished the year with a team- and career-best six home runs — while also launching her first career grand slam against Bethel on April 2. … The Cardinals swiped 17 bases in 21 attempts last season. … SMU was 14-6 when scoring first and 14-0 when outhitting its opponent. … The Cardinals scored 10 or more runs six times last season — including 13 runs in both of its wins vs. Augsburg on March 28, and 10 runs in both of its wins vs. Bethel on April 2. …  SMU's 13-run efforts vs. Augsburg on March 28 were not only a season high, but also the most runs scored since the Cardinals plated 14 in a 14-1 win over Carleton on May 3, 2011. 

Scouting The Susquehanna Crusaders:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Crusaders are coming off a 40-9 season in 2013 that included its first-ever Landmark Conference title and the program's second NCAA Tournament berth. … Breanna Murphy, who was named the 2013 Landmark Conference Player of the Year and Second-Team All-Region, boasted a team-leading 38 runs scored to go along with 45 hits, 30 RBIs and a team-leading 25 stolen bases in 27 attempts. … Of Murphy's 44 hits, eight were for extra bases — including five doubles, two triples and a home run. … Alyssa Cantalini, also an all-region selection, led the team with a .362 batting average, while also recording team-highs in at-bats (138), hits (50), doubles (15), home runs (6), total bases (91), slugging percentage (.659), walks (13) and on-base percentage (.418). … The Crusaders finished with seven players hitting .300 or better. … Susquehanna used three different pitchers a year ago, led by Ashley Cole, who finished 17-4 with a 1.40 ERA in 130.1 innings. She also led the team in complete games (14), saves (3) and strikeouts (114). … Sarah Hoffman compiled a 12-2 record and 1.61 ERA with 45 strikeouts, while Morgan Lewis added an 11-3 record and 2.14 ERA with 88 strikeouts. … The Crusaders closed out 2013 with a 14-2 record on their home field, while going 26-7 on the road.

Scouting The Muhlenberg Mules:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Mules come into 2014 after a record-setting 2013 in which they set school records for wins by the softball program and all-time wins, finishing the year at 31-9-1. … The Mules broke the school's long-standing wins mark (27) set by the 1992 volleyball team (27-6), while also breaking the softball program record of 26, set by the 1991 team that went 26-9. … During the regular season, Muhlenberg won its first nine games and its last 10. The Mules defeated six teams that would go on to earn NCAA Tournament berths and received votes in the national poll for the first time in more than 20 years. … Of the record-tying seven players who earned All-Centennial Conference post-season honors a year ago, only one was a senior and four — including CC Co-Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Jones — were freshmen and sophomores. … Kelly Kline closed out the season as the team's offensive leader, hitting a team-best .412, while also leading the Mules in at-bats (136), runs (33), hits (56), doubles (8), home runs (6), RBIs (42), slugging percentage (.603), on-base percentage (.484) and stolen bases (9). … With her six home runs in 2013, Kline extended her school record for career home runs (21) while becoming the program's all-time leader in extra-base hits (53) and RBIs (118). … Kelsey Jones was the ace of the Mules' pitching staff, going 17-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 150.1 IP, while also accounting for 123 of the team's 155 strikeouts. … Muhlenberg outscored its opponents 230-163, including 40-17 in the second inning and 32-17 in the fourth.

Scouting The Lebanon Valley Dutchmen:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
Coming off the best season in program history, Lebanon Valley enters 2014 ranked 16th in the NFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. … The Dutchmen (36-7-1 in 2013) return all but one starter from the 2013 team that advanced to the NCAA Regional final and was one win away from the College World Series last spring. LVU finished 2013 ranked No. 21 by the NFCA. … Sam Derr, the 2013 Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year, went 25-6 with a 1.37 ERA and is one of five returning all-conference selections — joined by Tessa Deardorff, Allie Hartman, Katie Deardorff, Haley Neff. … Derr closed out 2013 ranked fourth in NCAA Division III in wins (25) and fifth in shutouts (10), while also appearing in the top 25 in ERA (1.37), saves (3), and walks allowed (0.9 wpg). … Along with her performance inside the pitching circle, Derr was the team's offensive leader as well, owning a team-best .389 batting average, while also posting team-bests in runs (35), hits (58), doubles (12), triples (4), total bases (84) and slugging percentage (.564). … Steffani Secola clubbed a team-best six home runs a year ago, while Katie Derdorff swiped a team-leading 25 bases. … Lebanon Valley boasted five players — Derr, Katie Deardorff, Hartman, Tessa Deardorff and Mary Readinger — who started all 44 games a year ago. … The Dutchmen finished with five players who recorded 10 or more multiple-hit games, led by Tessa Deardorff with 17. … Secola finished the year with a team-high 12 multiple-RBI games, and Derr put together the team's longest hitting streak and 19 straight. … The Dutchmen return their entire defense, which ranked 16th in the nation in fielding percentage. … Lebanon Valley did not lose a game on its home diamond a year ago, going 14-0, while finishing 22-7-1 on the road. …

Scouting The Widener Pride:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Pride enter the 2014 season on the heels of an 18-20 performance a year ago. … Widener returns three of its top five offensive performance from last season, including Alie Aikins, who hit a team-best .393, while leading the Pride in at-bats (112), runs (24), hits (44), home runs (4), total bases (63), slugging percentage (.563), on-base percentage (.465) and stolen bases (9). … Jackie Korang finished with a team-high 11 doubles, while Casey Hargadon finished with a team-leading 20 RBIs — two more than Aikins and Heather Forward. … Hargadon also closed out 2013 leading the team in multiple-hit (13) and multiple-RBI (6) games. … Aikins owned the team's longest hitting streak (12) and closed out the season with at least one hit in each of the Pride's last six games. … Korang and Christine Mattis finished as the workhorse's of the Pride's five-person pitching staff. Korang went 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 82.2 IP, with Mattis close behind at 5-7 with a 4.46 ERA in 80.0 IP. … Mattis owned a team-leading 45 strikeouts. … Widener was held to two runs or less 13 times last season, going 1-12 in those 13 contests. On the flip side, the Pride scored six or more runs 10 times, finishing 9-1 in those 10 games. … Widener was winless (0-3) in extra-inning games a year ago.

Scouting The Finlandia Lions:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Lions are coming off a 25-8 2013 in which they won their first-ever Great South Athletic Conference tournament title and earned the program's first trip to the NCAA national tournament. … The Lions will open 2014 without the services of graduated senior Kristen Rose, who led the team in batting average (.462), runs (51), hits (48), home runs (8), total bases (83), on-base percentage (.508) and stolen bases (20). … Alexis Lawley returns after leading the team in doubles (13), RBIs (46) and slugging percentage (.813), sharing the team lead in home runs (8), while also finishing second in batting average (.427), hits (41) and runs (27). … Miranda Brewer and Alyson Herman were the workhorses of the Finlandia pitching staff, with Brewer going 10-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 89.1 IP, while Herman was 15-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 117.2 IP. … Brewer struck out a team-leading 121 batters, while Herman chipped in 80 strikeouts. … Finlandia scored 10 or more runs 10 times last season — including a season-best 28 in a 28-0 rout of Trinity Washington University on April 26. … Finlandia did not lose a home game a year ago, going 7-0, while finishing 18-8 on the road.

Scouting The Ohio Northern Polar Bears:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Polar Bears, who finished 13-15 overall a year ago, return 12 lettermen, seven starters and their top six hitters from 2013 … Ohio Northern will be gunning for its sixth OAC regular season title in the last eight years this spring. … Christin Miller, a three-time First-Team OAC selection and a two-time All-Central Region honoree, returns after leading the squad in batting (.412), runs (23), hits (42), doubles (6) and stolen bases (6) in 2013. … Miller ranks sixth all-time with 192 career hits. … Colleen Baliga has a career batting average of .307 and is coming off a 2013 campaign in which she hit .362 with three home runs. … Carly McKenzie started all 28 games a year ago at second base, batting .319 last season and sharing the team lead with five home runs. … Kelly Sheridan, was named All-OAC as a sophomore in 2013, after being named the OAC Freshman of the Year in 2012, finished second on the team in batting last season with a .378 average. … Kristen Burden, Paige Ordean and Tiffany Kline comprise the Polar Bears' pitcher staff this season — all three will be making their collegiate debuts this season. … Last year's 13-15 showing snapped a streak of six straight years with 27 or more wins — including a 41-7 mark in 2010.

Scouting The DeSales Bulldogs:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
DeSales is coming off a 30-12-1 season — including a 13-1 mark in Freedom Conference play. … The Bulldogs reached the NCAA regional tournament a year ago, going 2-2 — with all four games being decided by one run. DeSales beat Kean and Roger Williams by identical 1-0 scores, but lost to Montclair State (1-0) and Susquehanna (2-1). … The Bulldogs' 30 wins in 2013 were a school record, while the NCAA tournament appearance was the second in program history. … D.J. McCauley McCauley became the first Bulldog to earn ECAC Rookie of the Year honors a year ago. McCauley was also named Freedom Conference Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, All-Freedom Conference First-Team, and NFCA All-Region First-Team. … McCauley had a terrific season both in the circle and at the plate.  She finished her freshman campaign batting a team-high .420 while also leading the team with 60 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 26 RBIs. … In the pitching circle, McCauley was posted a 17-6 record with a team-low 1.51 ERA in a team-high 153 innings pitched.  She struck out 129 batters and walked just 42, while recording seven shutouts and posting 21 complete-games. … McCauley's 17 wins and seven shutouts were both single-season records. … The Bulldogs finished 2013 with seven players hitting above .300. … DeSales scored a team-high 14 runs against King's College on April 27. … The Bulldogs had a player collect four hits in a game seven times — including twice each by McCauley and Michelle Gessner. … Nineteen of DeSales' 42 games were decided by one run or less — including eight of the Bulldogs' 12 losses.

Scouting The Coe Kohawks:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
Coe is coming off a 34-8 season in 2013 that included the program's third Iowa Conference regular-season title. … The Kohawks, ranked No. 24 in the NFCA preseason poll, reached the NCAA regional tournament a year ago, going 2-2 — Coe sandwiched losses to Washington U. (5-2) and Augustana (5-1) around wins over Bethany Lutheran (11-0) and Fontbonne (8-5). … The Kohawks boasted six NFCA All-Region selections last season — including returners Maddison Woodruff, Abby Flannagan, Morgan Louck. Brianna Hull, and Emily Grell. … Woodruff finished 2013 with a career-highs in wins (17) and strikeouts (142), while compiling a 2.06 ERA and 17-2 record in 115 innings of work. … Flannagan hit a team-leading .450 a year ago, becoming the first player in school history with two seasons batting .450 or higher, having his .467 in 2011. … Flannagan set a school record with 60 RBIs, breaking her own mark of 55, set in 2011. … Flannagan also boasted a .450 batting average that was sixth-best in school history, while delivering 17 doubles — second-most in program history — and 10 home runs. … With her second season of 10 or more home runs (17 in 2011), Flannagan joined Ashley Wagner (2005 & 2006) and Alison Rohdy (1999 & 2000) as the only players with multiple years of 10 or more home runs. … Flannagan enters 2013 as Coe's career leader in home runs (36) and RBI (149). … Louck hit .407 with 55 hits, 10 doubles and 41 RBIs a year ago. … Coe did not lose back-to-back games all last season, while compiling winning streaks of 14, six (twice) and four games.

Scouting The Cornell Rams:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The Rams put together a 23-16 season a year ago, culminated by their first Midwest Conference Tournament title and the program's first NCAA regional tournament appearance. … Cornell was picked to win the South Division in the MWC Preseason Coaches Poll. … Cornell returns three First-Team All-MWC performers in Jackie Sernek, Kari Martin and Abby Haubold. … Fueled by seven players hitting above .300, Cornell led the MWC in runs scored (218), hits (340), RBIs (195), doubles (67), total bases (485), ERA (2.29) and strikeouts (216). … Martin closed out 2013 as the team-leader in batting average (.417), hits, doubles (11), total bases (78), slugging percentage (.650), on-base percentage (462) and multiple-hit games (17). … Renata Rankin belted a team-best six home runs, one more than Marin, while also finished with a team-high 29 RBIs. … Cornell stole 23 bases in 25 attempts a year ago led by Brittani Yost (6-for-6). … Pitcher Jackie Sernek started 19 games, going 13-4 with a 1.70 ERA. She struck out 130 and walked just 45 in 128 innings. … Sernek, the 2013 MWC South Division Co-Pitcher of the Year, tossed a school-record seven shutouts. … Cornell scored 10 or more runs seven times a year ago — including a season-high 21 in a 21-3 win over Westfield State on March 13.

Scouting The Webster Gorlocks:
2014 Roster | 2013 Final Statistics | 2014 Schedule
The 2013 Gorloks finished with an overall record of 19-16 and were 8-8 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). … The Gorloks return eight players from the 2013 squad, including four that have been SLIAC all-conference selections. … Rachel Franck led the team with a .420 batting average, while also boasting team-highs in hits (42) and stolen bases (16). The sophomore also compiled a 6-1 record and 0.66 ERA before She also excelled in the pitching circle (6-1, 0.66 era) before her pitching season was cut short due to an injury. … Ally Watson delivered a team-leading 11 doubles, while also collecting one of the team's three triples. … Taylor Gibbs clubbed a team-best eight home runs and led the squad with 25 RBIs, four more than Molly Muntz. … Trisha Thompson finished with a team-leading eight pitching wins — going 8-10 with a 2.58 ERA in 141.1 innings. … Over the previous five seasons, Webster has won two SLIAC championships, an SLIAC tournament championship, and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  The team advanced to the NCAA Central Region Championship game in 2008.