Bruins stay hot
After an offensive slugfest on opening weekend, the Bruins' first real tests of the season came in Clearwater, where they faced off against a quintet of top-level opponents. The Bruins made quick work of preseason SEC favorites Alabama, shutting out the Crimson Tide in a 7-0 win. Impressive wins over Georgia and Florida State, the latter a come-from-behind affair, highlighted the week two slate. The Bruins seem to be clicking on all cylinders early, and have gotten production from all parts of their lineup; Briana Perez and Aaliyah Jordan have stepped into leadership roles when called upon, and the team's young players and transfer additions have all contributed, while Megan Faraimo has stepped up in the circle.
Bulldogs, Wolverines off to a fast start
Utah Valley made a late coaching hire, bringing in Stacy May-Johnson in the winter after TJ Hubbard departed for UTEP. Scott Hall is in his tenth season leading Butler, and both May-Johnson and Hall have gotten their teams off to red-hot starts to begin the 2020 campaign. Even after a dropping a pair of one-run ballgames - the latter, a 12-inning affair - on Sunday in Madeira Beach, Butler sits at 8-3 on the season, with a win over Central Arkansas their high point thus-far. The Bulldogs have a non-conference slate full of winnable games, and could be a player when Big East play rolls around. For UVU, in May-Johnson's inaugural season as a head coach, the Wolverines stand at 8-2 on the year, with an opening-week win over Long Beach State as their statement victory thus-far. The Wolverines went 5-1 at the UNLV Tournament in week two, recording a pair of wins each over Weber State and Montana and splitting a pair of games against UNLV.
A week for milestone victories
Central Arkansas head coach David Kuhn recorded his 700th career win... Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Gerry Glasco recorded his 100th career win... North Dakota State head coach Darren Mueller recorded his 650th career win... Florida head coach Tim Walton recorded his 900th career win... North Carolina head coach Donna Papa recorded her 1,300th career win... Alabama-Huntsville head coach Les Stuedeman recorded her 1,100th career win... Baylor head coach Glenn Moore recorded his 900th career win.
Threes are wild
Colgate freshman pitcher Bailey Misken started her inaugural collegiate season off on the right foot, going 3-0 on opening weekend for her team. Misken allowed just one earned run on the week, good enough for a 0.33 ERA, and threw a 7-inning complete game in each of her appearances. She finished the weekend with twenty-three strikeouts and a .179 opponent's batting average. Her impressive statistics also included a pair of shutouts.
A quartet of longballs for SEMO's Ellis
The Redhawks' senior slugger collected six hits on her team's opening weekend, and four of them went over the fence. The first baseman hit a home run in three straight games, finishing the weekend with a .375 batting average, six runs scored, and ten RBIs, in addition to the quartet of long balls. Her impressive weekend at the plate led to a 1.188 slugging percentage to begin the year.
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