Live Stats (All Tournament Games)

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle softball squad resumes play today when the Explorers travel locally to the University of Delaware for the Blue Hens' Spring Invitational.

The Explorers will play four games over the next three days, starting with a tilt against host Delaware today at 1 p.m. They take on Western Michigan on Saturday at 1:30, followed by a first look at Villanova immediately following around 3:30. The Explorers wrap up the weekend on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. contest against Norfolk State.

Scouting the Explorers (2-10)...

The Explorers recently returned from a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, where they went 2-3 in Coastal Carolina's Chanticleer Showdown. Reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Alicia Aughton pitched the Explorers to a 1-0 upset of Coastal on Sunday.

She put together three complete games while striking out 13, and recorded a 1.84 ERA in the tournament in five appearances and three starts. Aughton is currently the team leader in ERA with a 2.53 on the season.

Aughton is also tied for the team-lead in batting average with a .333. She went .474 in the Chanticleer Showdown, including a 3-for-4 outing against Hampton and she blasted her first collegiate home run.

Offensively, fellow rookie Alyssa Bitsimis has been terrific. Bitsimis also boasts a .333 batting average, which included a 4-for-7 day last Friday in two tournament games and a 4-for-8 day with one RBI and two runs scored in two games on Saturday.

Scouting Delaware (3-19)...

The Blue Hens are coming off of a doubleheader loss to Temple, dropping the first game 8-0 in six innings and the second game 4-2.

Michelle McKinnon leads the squad with a .333 batting average, while Lara Andrews contributes a .295 average with a team-leading 11 RBI.

The Blue Hens have three pitchers who have each made seven starts, with Hannah Rust leading the group with a 4.43 ERA and a 2-3 record.

Scouting Western Michigan (8-7)...

The Broncos recently went 4-1 in the USF Under Armour Showcase, but fell to Fordham 6-0 in the last game of the tournament.

Three players are batting .344 or better, led by Courtney Rousseau's .373. Meredith Whitney bats .348 and Christina Pigiozzi is averaging .344.

Whitney is the team's leading pitcher with a 2.42 ERA and 6-3 record in nine starts. Becca Shemberger also splits duties and is recording a 4.00 ERA and 2-4 record in six starts.

Scouting Villanova (11-4)...

The Explorers get their first look at the Wildcats this weekend before hosting them in a doubleheader at La Salle on Tuesday. The Wildcats went 9-1 in the USF Under Armour Showcase but were edged by Bradley 8-7 in the tournament finale.

Seven players bat .300 or better with three players above .400. Beth Smetana leads with a .471 in 10 appearances, followed by Jamie O'Hara (.463) and Valerie Ortega (.422) who have started all 15 games.

The Explorers may face either Caitlyn Delahaba or Molly Manning in the circle. Delahaba has a 3.45 ERA and 6-3 record in nine starts, while Manning is 5-1 with a 3.75 ERA in five starts.

Scouting Norfolk State (8-6)...

Norfolk State split with North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, dropping the first game 3-2 before winning 6-5.

The Spartans are led by Haley Ward's .406 average with Gipsy Ramirez right behind with a .405. In total, eight players are hitting .300 or better.

Jamie Schulle and Liz Riley split pitching duties, with Schulle putting together a 2.68 ERA and 5-2 record in eight starts. Riley has a 4.34 ERA and 3-4 record in six starts.

Up Next...

The Explorers open their home slate on Tuesday (3/20) with a doubleheader against Villanova starting at 2:30 p.m. The Atlantic 10 season opens next Friday when the team hosts Fordham at 3 p.m. and again on Saturday at noon.