PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – La Salle Softball will make their long awaited home debut this weekend, as they open their Atlantic 10 slate with a double-header against St. Bonaventure. The Explorers will look to stay hot, as they enter the double-header with victories in five of their last six contests.

La Salle Explorers (6-8; 0-0 A-10) vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (3-16; 0-0 A-10)
Saturday, March 22, 2014 | 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM | Philadelphia, Pa. – West Campus Field
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Scouting the Explorers
La Salle is playing their best softball of the season entering conference play this weekend. They enter the double-header against St. Bonaventure with victories in five of their last six games. The Blue and Gold are coming off of a 3-1 weekend at the Coppin State Tournament, with victories over Youngstown State, UMass Lowell and tournament host Coppin State.
 
The lineup is anchored by senior power-hitter Megan Hodgson. Hodgson has gotten off to a brilliant start in her final season for the Explorers. She ranks fourth on the team in batting average, hitting at a .366 clip (15-for-41) for the season. Hodgson looks poised to top her single-season home run record of ten, which she set last year. She ranks fourth in the conference, already launching five long balls on the season, while she also ranks fourth in the conference in RBI's (18).
 
A trio of freshmen starters (Suzanne Swanicke, Christina Bascara, Michelle Hagarty) has enjoyed breakout seasons, providing a solid compliment to the power bat of Hodgson.  
 
Swanicke has been a versatile player, seeing playing time in the infield, outfield, and behind the plate this season. She leads the A-10 in hitting (.412), knocking 14 hits in 34 at-bats. She is also tied for the team lead in doubles (3), while ranking third in slugging% (.500).
 
Bascara has held down the hot corner for the Explorers in her first season in Blue and Gold. She ranks second on the team and is second in the A-10 in hitting with an even .400 average (16-for-40). While the power has not shown up yet for the young Explorer, she has done an excellent job getting on-base ahead of Hodgson. She is second on the team and third in the A-10 in on-base percentage (.476), while she ranks second on the team in runs scored (8).
 
Hagarty has been the table setter for the Explorer offense, while also providing some substantial pop from the leadoff spot. Her name is all over the top of the stat-sheet. She leads the A-10 in on-base percentage (.500), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.750). Hagarty leads the team in runs scored (13), while ranking second on the team in home runs (3), RBI's (7), and third in batting average (.375).
 
Alicia Aughton has been the ace of the Explorer staff this season. She enters with a 5-3 record on the season, while leading the conference with a 2.53 earned run average and limiting opponents to a miniscule .214 batting average against. She has pitched 38.2 innings, fanning 31 batters on the season. The junior has impressed most in her ability to fill up the strike-zone and attack hitters. She has allowed just five walks on the season, with a strikeout to walk ratio, just over 6:1.
 
Mary Cate Scott has pitched much stronger than her overall record would suggest. She enters the weekend with a 1-5 mark on the season, but some of this can be attributed to a little inexperience of the young Explorer defense behind her. She boasts a solid 3.72 earned run average, leading the team with 34 strikeouts and 43.1 innings pitched this season.  She leads the conference with two saves on the season.
 
Explorer Notes
*Stats as of March 16, 2014

• Megan Hodgson is tied for 17^th in NCAA Division I in home runs per game (.357).
• Megan Hodgson is 21^st in NCAA Division I in RBI's per game (1.28).
• Michelle Hagarty is tied for 84^th in NCAA Division I in runs scored per game (.929).
• Michelle Hagarty is tied for 94^th in NCAA Division I in on-base percentage (.500).
• Christina Bascara is 31^st in NCAA Division I for being toughest to strikeout (1 in 40 ab's).
• Explorers are 5-2 this season when scoring 5+ runs.
• Alicia Aughton has earned a victory in her last four appearances.

Scouting the Bonnies
St. Bonaventure has struggled to get things rolling during the early portion of their season. They enter the conference slate with a 3-16 overall record. Despite their early season struggles, the Bonnies have picked up their play of late. They are 2-3 over their last five contests, and enter the weekend coming off of a 3-0 shutout of Drexel.
 
Junior outfielder Kelli Rohan has been a strong table setter for the Bonnies offense. She leads the team in batting average (.339), hits (20), and runs scored (9). Sophomore Emily McDonough has swung a strong bat as well, since returning from injury. She is hitting .333 (9-for-27).
 
Infielders Grace Rooney and Katie Sinclair have been the Bonnies top run producers. Rooney leads the team with eight RBI's, while Sinclair has knocked in seven RBI's on the season.
 
Kristen Hickling has been a workhorse for the Bonnies staff in the pitching circle. She leads the team with 54.0 innings pitched. The freshman enters with a 3-6 mark on the season, while posting a solid 3.76 earned run average. She also leads the Bonnies by a wide margin, going the distance in eight of her nine starts.
 
Up Next
The Explorers will return to action on Wednesday, March 26, with a twi-night double-header at Penn. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.