PEORIA, Ill. -- Winter weather again altered the 2015 Bradley softball schedule, causing the cancellation of the Braves scheduled trip to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Tennessee Classic. Bradley will now venture further south this weekend and will take part in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., Saturday and Sunday announced by head coach Amy Hayes.
The Braves will travel to the state of Alabama for just the second time in program history after playing in the 2011 Troy Classic in Troy, Ala. Bradley, which is 3-1 all-time in the state of Alabama, opens the Sand Dollar Classic Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. game against Belmont.
One of Bradley's originally scheduled opponents this weekend at Tennessee, Murray State will join the Braves in Gulf Shores, Ala., and the teams will play a 4:30 p.m. game Saturday afternoon in the first meeting between the two programs.
Sunday's action is slated to start at 10 a.m. with Bradley taking on first-time opponent Eastern Kentucky. The Braves and Colonels were originally scheduled to play last weekend in Nashville, Tenn., before the Tennessee State Tiger Classic was also cancelled due to snow.
Bradley concludes the weekend Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in a rematch with Belmont. The Braves and Bruins have met twice before with Bradley winning both matchups, including a contest last year in Bowling Green, Ky.
Sophomore Kelly Kapp (Freeburg, Ill./Gibault Catholic) is tied for the most hits in the Missouri Valley Conference with 17 and brings a team-best eight-game hit streak into the weekend. Kapp, who is hitting .394 with four runs and four RBI during her eight-game hit streak, also leads the MVC with nine stolen bases. Her nine stolen bases match the team leader from last year.
Freshman Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark), who was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week, has been on a bit of a hot streak of her own; reaching base safely in seven consecutive games. Her .490 on base percentage is seventh in the Valley and she is second in the league with 10 walks. Over the last seven games, Hansen is hitting .500 (11-for-22) with seven walks, four runs and 11 RBI.
Hansen hasn't been the only freshman contributing to Bradley's MVC leading .363 on base percentage, however. Fellow freshman Maria Schroeder (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) has drawn eight walks in the last seven games and is hitting a team-best .429 with 10 runs scored this spring. Freshmen have combined for 25 of Bradley's 45 base on balls (55.6 percent) this year.
In the circle, senior Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) is coming off three strong outings at the Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga. Spinas-Valainis was named MVC Pitcher of the Week Monday after posting a 0.78 ERA in three appearances last weekend. She leads Bradley in appearances (12), innings pitched (44.1) and strikeouts (18).
Bradley has one more weekend of non-conference play before the MVC opener (March 14 & 15) as the Braves follow up the trip to Gulf Shores, Ala., with a trip to Orlando, Fla., for the UCF Knights Invitational March 6-8.
