Softball Picked To Finish Seventh In BIG EAST Preseason Poll

    The Friars finished tied for fifth in the BIG EAST last season.

    Head Coach Dana Fulmer's team, who won 34 games last season, was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason poll.

    Head Coach Dana Fulmer's team, who won 34 games last season, was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason poll.

    Jan. 12, 2005

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College softball team was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released on Tuesday, January 11. The Friars received 30 points to garner the seventh spot. Notre Dame (81 points) was chosen to finish first with nine first-place votes, while Seton Hall (73 points) was selected to finish second with one first-place vote.

    Providence finished the 2004 season with a 34-20-1 overall record, including a 10-10 mark in BIG EAST play, good for fifth-place. The Friars, who were picked to finish 11th in the 2004 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, enjoyed their best season since 1995 when they posted a 38-17 overall mark, including a 12-8 mark in the conference.

    The Friars set a number of team records last season. Smashing a total of 53 home runs, Providence shattered the previous record of 16 home runs in a season. Other school records broken by the 2004 team include total bases (684), total hits (433), and total doubles (84) and highest team batting average (.288).

    Senior infielder Kalena Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.) led the team offensively with 37 runs scored, an overall batting average of .407, an on base percentage of .426, 113 total bases on 74 hits, and a .621 slugging percentage. Her batting average and total hits earned her the first spot on both respective Friars' all-time single-season lists, while her runs scored total is good for second on the all-time list.

    Sophomore Rachel Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) was named to the BIG EAST First Team and became the first Friar freshman to earn All-BIG EAST First Team honors. In BIG EAST competition, Bartholomew led the Friars with a .364 batting average, 24 hits and tied for the team lead with four doubles.

    Providence will begin the 2005 season on March 1 against the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. 

    2005 Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll

    	School          Pts.
1.	Notre Dame (9)  81
2.	Seton Hall (1)  73
3.	Villanova       63
4.	Boston College  57
5.	Syracuse        43
6.	St. John's      41
7.	Providence      30
8.	Connecticut     26
9.	Rutgers         24
10.	Pittsburgh      12

     

     

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