PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – La Salle softball will look to finish strong, as they wrap-up regular season play at Saint Louis on Saturday afternoon. The Blue and Gold have had a rocky road to conclude regular season play, entering the final weekend looking to snap a five game losing streak. The Explorers will look to get back on track against a tough Billiken squad, with both teams hoping to gain some momentum as they prepare for next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament.
 
Last Time Out
The Explorers ran into a buzz saw last weekend, falling twice to A-10 leader Fordham. The third inning proved to be the killer in each contest. The Rams plated three runs in the third inning of Game 1 to snap a 2-2 tie, while they crossed home four times in Game 2 to break open a tight 1-0 tilt. Alicia Aughton continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 on the day, with a home run in the opener and a double in the nightcap.
 
A-10 Tournament
While it has been a rainy week for the Explorers, with non-conference doubleheaders against Rider and Big 5 rival Temple washed out, it was not all bad news for the Blue and Gold as they received word Tuesday that they officially locked up a berth to the conference tournament. Head coach Ron Shoemaker has directed the team to a remarkable resurgence this season, leading the Explorers to the A-10 Tournament in just his second year at the helm. The 2014 A-10 Tournament will be hosted at Fordham and will begin with first round play next Wednesday. Seeds are still contingent on this weekend's results; however, the Explorers still have a chance to lock up a second seed and the first round bye that comes with it with two victories and a little help
 
La Salle Explorers (18-20; 9-7 A-10) at Saint Louis Billikens (26-19; 10-5 A-10)
Saturday, May 3, 2014 | 1:00 & 3:00 PM | Billiken Sports Center – St. Louis, Mo.
Live Stats | Live Video ($) | Text Alerts
 
Scouting the Explorers
La Salle enters the season's final weekend looking to cull some momentum heading into the post-season. The Explorers have dropped five straight since improving their record to a season best three games over .500 in a victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader against UMBC. The Blue and Gold have an overall record of 18-20 and a conference record of 9-7. With two victories this weekend the Explorers will look to reach the 20 win plateau for the first time since 2008.
 
The two-game set will be heated despite the fact that both teams have already locked up their tickets to the post-season. Both squads will be jockeying for seeding, with the winner holding the track to a first round bye.   
 
Megan Hodgson will look to finish up the regular season on a strong note. The senior centerfielder is just two homers shy of the single season home run record, which she set last season. She continues to lead the team with a .323 batting average and 31 RBIs. She ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 in slugging percentage (.657) and fifth in on-base percentage (.451) and home runs (8).
 
Christina Bascara has surged down the stretch of April after suffering through a mini-slump to begin the month. She has collected hits in seven of her last ten contests and multi-hit games in three of those contests. She is 10-for-27 (.370) over that stretch, including a double, triple, and home run. She leads the team in hits (34), while she ranks second in batting average (.315) and runs scored (20). She will look to carry over her hot hitting into the new month.
 
Alicia Aughton has hit a bump in the road over her last two starts, allowing 14 earned runs over her last 10.0 innings pitched. She will look to regain her typical brilliant form against a Saint Louis squad that ranks seventh in the conference in team hitting. Despite the recent struggles, Aughton continues to lead the conference with a 2.23 earned run average and a .213 opponents batting average against. She has posted an 11-9 record on the year.
 
Aughton has remained hot in the batters box after a slow start to the season. She ranks third on the team with a .297 average and six home runs, while she ranks second in RBIs with 21.
 
Scouting the Billikens
Saint Louis has played strong down the stretch this season. They enter the weekend on a current five-game winning streak and have been victorious in six of their last seven. Their overall record on the season is 26-19, while their 10-5 record in A-10 play puts them in line for a second seed and first round bye in the conference tournament next Wednesday.
 
The Billikens will push hard for two victories this weekend, as they control their own destiny and have the inside track to the first round bye. Two victories would clinch the second seed for the Billikens, while two losses would vault the Explorers over the Billikens.
 
Saint Louis is not a strong hitting team, ranking just seventh in the conference in team hitting with a .262 average. The Billikens thrive when keeping the game close. They have played 18 one-run games this season and are 12-6 in those close contests. A low scoring pitchers duel seems likely, as Saint Louis boasts the second best pitching staff in the conference this season with a 3.25 staff earned run average.
 
Lindsay Friedman does it all for the Billikens offensively. She leads the team in nearly every statistical category including: batting average (.348), runs scored (43), hits (47), triples (2), homers (9), RBIs (32), walks (28), and stolen bases (27). Friedman has been one of the conference's best this season, leading the A-10 in on-base percentage (.479), while ranking second in runs scored, walks, and stolen bases.
 
Brianna Lore is the ace of the Billikens pitching staff. She has thrown nearly 70% of the Billikens innings pitched this season (210.1 of 301.1). She enters with a record of 21-11 and an earned run average of 2.60. She leads the conference in wins, while she ranks second in strikeouts (144), and fourth in earned run average.
 
Up Next
The Explorers will travel to Fordham for the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Final seeding and matchups will be posted here as soon as they are distributed.