Feb. 13, 2008

Season Preview with Coach Gunther

EASTON, Pa. - As announced by the Patriot League on Wednesday, Lafayette softball has been selected third in the preseason poll. The Leopards concluded the 2007 campaign with the winningest record in program history with a 21-25 overall mark. Last season, head coach Jeanine Gunther guided Lafayette to the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, boasting a 10-10 record in conference play.

Gunther returns four All-Patriot League honorees, including Patriot League Rookie of the Year Christina Giambrone. Giambrone will serve as a team tri-captain for the 2008 season along seniors Kristen Ruckno and Sarah Price. At third base, Price was second on the team in both RBI (18) and doubles (9) in 2007.

Five players received All-Patriot League accolades in 2007, a record for the Lafayette softball program. Sophomore Kasey Karr and junior Robyn Matchett joined Giambrone on the all-conference second team. Karr started in the circle in 24 games, making a conference-high 32 appearances and finished the 2007 season with a 12-12 record. Matchett, the Leopards' starting right fielder, finished with 60 putouts and two assists. She was the team leader with eight stolen bases.

Giambrone led Lafayette and was fourth in the conference with a .344 batting average, starting in all 46 games at shortstop in 2007. She finished the season tied for the team lead in the RBI category with Ruckno, as both posted a team-high 30. Ruckno, who will reprise her role at second, was second on the team in batting average (.321) and had a team-best five homers last year. She received All-Patriot League First-Team accolades and is tied for fourth on the Patriot League's career home runs record list with 21.

Lafayette returns 11 letterwinners and six starters when it opens the season at Penn on March 1. Patriot League play begins when the Leopards host Bucknell on March 29.