Complete Game Notes as a PDF

CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS
Coming off of its eight-game trip to Clermont, Fla., the Southern Connecticut State University softball team (3-5) will return home to Pelz Field for eight games this week. The Owls will host doubleheaders against Stonehill on Thursday, Southern New Hampshire on Saturday and Assumption on Sunday.

A HOT START
Junior transfer Kaley Marden had a stellar start to the 2013 season in Florida. Over the course of the opening eight games, she led the Owls with a .565 batting average, two RBI, three runs scored and four walks.

FIRST WIN
Freshman pitcher Jessica Van Alphen got her first collegiate win against Dominican on March 7.

THREE EARN WEEKLY NE-10 HONORS
Kaley Marden, Kate Hoffman and Kelsey Cockrill were all selected to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll for their efforts during the Owls' swing in Florida.

PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Kelsey Cockrill led the Owls with a 2-1 record and a 2.58 ERA and two complete games last week.

ALL-TIME AGAINST STONEHILL
Southern Connecticut leads the all-time series against Stonehill by a 15-7-1 margin. The Skyhawks beat the Owls twice in the regular season last year, but SCSU claimed a victory over Stonehill in the Northeast-10 Tournament.

ALL-TIME AGAINST SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
SCSU leads the all-time series over Southern New Hampshire by a 40-13 margin in a series that dates back to 1982. The Owls swept a doubleheader at SNHU in the regular season last year.

ALL-TIME AGAINST ASSUMPTION
Assumption holds a 31-15 lead in the all-time series. The Owls won three of four games between the clubs last year - two in the regular season and one in the NCAA Regionals, with a loss in the Northeast-10 Tournament sandwiched in between.

IN THE PRESEASON NFCA POLL
Coming off a record-setting 2012 campaign that culminated in the program's first-ever appearance and victory at the College World Series, Southern Connecticut was selected No. 5 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association 2013 preseason poll. It's the highest ranking in school history for the Owls, who checked in at No. 6 in the final NFCA poll of 2012.

IN THE NFCA POLL
After opening the 2013 season at No. 5 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll, SCSU then moved to No. 10 on Feb. 20 and No. 14 on Feb. 27 without playing a game.

THE CAPTAINS
The captains for this upcoming season will be seniors Brittany Bucko, Alyssa Downs, Kristin Whitley and Stacy Pouliot.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB
The Owls added seven new members to the roster this season - junior transfer Kaley Marden along with six freshmen - Audrey Dolloff, Yesenia Evaristo, Brooke Franco, Jessica Van Alphen, Kelly Wicks and Emily Wirsing.

IN THE NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
Southern Connecticut has been selected to win the Northeast-10 Conference's Southwest Division, as voted on by the league's coaches.

OWLS MAKING HISTORY
It was a record-breaking season on several fronts for the Owls as a team in 2012.
• After two consecutive trips to the regional final, the Owls advanced to the Super Regionals and College World Series for the first time in school history.
• Southern Connecticut also set a new school record with 43 victories in the process.

EVERYONE'S ALL-AMERICANS
Teammates Brittany Bucko and Alyssa Downs were named Daktronics All-Americans during the 2012 season. Bucko also earned All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

THREE EARN ACADEMIC HONORS
Three Owls - Brittany Bucko, Kristin Whitley and Stacy Pouliot - earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America for their work in the classroom and on the field last spring. In addition, Bucko (First-Team) and Whitley (Third-Team) were officially named Academic All-Americans.

QUINTET COLLECTS NFCA ALL-REGION HONORS
Five members of the squad earned NFCA All-Region honors, as voted on by the region's coaches. Brittany Bucko and Alyssa Downs were tabbed for the First-Team. Jayme Larson, Jessica Rosa and Kate Hoffman were named to the Second-Team.

FOUR EARN DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION HONORS; BUCKO NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Four members of the squad earned Daktronics All-Region honors, as voted on by the region's Sports Information Directors. Brittany Bucko was selected as the regional Player of the Year and a First-Team honoree. Fellow classmate Alyssa Downs was also tabbed for the First-Team. Jayme Larson and Kate Hoffman were named to the Second-Team.

OWLS RAKE IN YEAR END HONORS
Eight members of the team were named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference teams. Senior Jayme Larson, juniors Brittany Bucko, Stacy Pouliot, Alyssa Downs and Kristin Whitley were all selected to the First-Team. Junior Kate Hoffman was a Second-Team honoree. Senior Jessica Rosa and freshman Kelsey Cockrill were each honored on the Third-Team. Cockrill was also tabbed for the league's All-Rookie Team. Head coach Lisa Barbaro was named Coach of the Year. Bucko was also tabbed as the league's Player of the Year.

KEEP THEM OFF THE SCOREBOARD
Southern Connecticut won 32 of 33 games last year when holding its opponent to two runs or less. The only loss came to LeMoyne (2-1) in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.

LARSON STANDS ALONE
Jayme Larson shattered her own single-season mark for victories in a campaign with 26 for the Owls. The old record was 21.

ALL-TIME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The 2012 trip was the sixth NCAA appearance in program history (2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). The Owls are 11-13 all-time in NCAA Tournament action, with all 11 victories coming over the past three years.

POULIOT MAKES NE-10 ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Junior catcher Stacy Pouliot was named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Tournament Team. Pouliot batted .364 (4-for-11) in the Owls' three games in the tournament. She also did not commit an error behind the plate and threw out one of two baserunners attempting to steal.

COACH BARBARO GRABS 250th WIN
With the win over Stonehill in the NE-10 quarterfinals, head coach Lisa Barbaro won her 250th career game at the helm of the Owls.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
The Owls first place finish in the Northeast-10 Conference marks the first time in school history that they have claimed the conference regular season title.

ON DECK
Southern Connecticut returns to action on March 19 for a road doubleheader at Caldwell.