*Note: Due to impending weather conditions on Saturday, the series against Temple is now a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. There will be no game on Saturday.

La Salle Explorers @ Temple Owls
Friday, March 30 | 3 p.m.
Doubleheader
Ambler, Pa.

Live Stats - Game 1 | Live Stats - Game 2

La Salle Explorers @ Saint Joseph's Hawks
Sunday, April 1 | 12 p.m.
Doubleheader
SJU Softball Field | Merion Station, Pa.

Live Stats - Game 1 | Live Stats - Game 2

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle softball squads returns to Atlantic 10 action this weekend with a doubleheader at Temple on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday at Saint Joseph's.

Scouting La Salle (3-19, 0-2 Atlantic 10)...

The Explorers fell to Penn on Wednesday in midweek non-conference action, with an 8-0 loss in the first game in six innings followed by a 5-1 defeat in the nightcap. Freshman Alicia Aughton led the squad with three hits on the day and Shannon Skomorucha drove in the Explorers' lone run in the seventh inning of game two.

Breanna DiTommaso continues to lead the squad in hitting with a .304 average and Aughton is second with a .288. Both have recorded a team-leading 17 hits. Aughton's two home runs and six RBI are also tied for the team lead with Megan Hodgson.

Aughton and Kristin Travers continue splitting pitching duties, as each hurled complete games at Penn on Wednesday. Aughton is recording a 3.96 ERA and Travers is at 7.69.

Scouting Temple (14-11, 2-0 Atlantic 10)...

The Owls are coming off of a midweek sweep of Wagner, topping the Seahawks 3-2 and 4-0 on Tuesday. They also swept their Atlantic 10 opener against Charlotte, beating the 49ers 10-5 and 9-7 last weekend. The Owls have won nine of their last 12, including last four straight. They were predicted to finish fifth in the A-10 this season.

Reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Sarah Prezioso leads the squad with a .355 batting average. Four Owls total are batting above .300, along with Meaghan Marley (.341), Brooklin White (.310) and Rachel Knable (.306).

Three Owls split pitching duties, with White handling most of it. She leads the staff with a 2.77 ERA and 8-5 record in 14 appearances and 12 starts. Capri Catalano has seen action in 11 games with nine starts, with a 3.37 ERA and 3-5 record. Jessica Mahoney has also seen time in eight games with four starts, and sports a 3.33 ERA and 3-1 record.

Scouting Saint Joseph's (10-16, 2-0 Atlantic 10)...

The Hawks dropped a close 3-2 decision to Monmouth on Wednesday, but opened their Atlantic 10 slate last weekend with a sweep of Charlotte. They topped the 49ers 3-0 and 2-1 to start A-10 play, and were picked to finish third in the conference.

The Explorers/Hawks contest is a Moran family affair, with cousins Emily Moran on the Explorers' side and Bernadette Moran in a Hawks uniform. Bernadette leads the Hawks with a .311 batting average, the lone player above .300.

Nicole Palase is batting .283 and Dana Parks is recording a .262 to round out the top three Hawk batters.

Erin Gallagher and Taryn Ashway split the pitching duties. Gallagher sports a 2.21 ERA and 5-9 record in 88.2 innings pitched. Ashway's record stands at 5-7 with a 2.23 ERA in 69.0 innings pitched.

Next Up...

The Explorers return home on Tuesday, April 3, for a two-game set against Monmouth beginning at 3 p.m.

Don't Forget!

The Home Run Derby is set for Friday, April 13th, at 3:30 on the West Campus Field. Students can purchase 10 swings for $5, and the cost for faculty and staff will be $10 for 10 swings. Players will also be seeking pledges for their swings. Donors can pledge a particular player for any amount of $.01 to $1 per foot for the longest ball hit by the sponsored player. All proceeds will directly benefit the La Salle softball program.
 
The annual Beef & Beer is set for Friday, April 27, at JD McGillicuddy's in Roxboro from 7-10 p.m. For $30 per person, guests will enjoy food, cocktails, door prizes and a silent auction. McGillicuddy's is located at 473 Leverington Avenue in the Roxboro section of Philadelphia, and guests will enjoy free parking.

For those interested in participating in either event, contact Head Coach Brianne Brown at brownb8@lasalle.edu or by calling (215) 951-1695.