Softball | February 21, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After plenty of offseason work, the second year of the Brooke Darreff era of La Salle softball is set to begin this weekend as the Explorers travel to Buies Creek, N.C. for the Campbell Invitational.
 
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS:
Returning six starters from a year ago, the Explorers welcome back senior Emma Schweigert who paced the team with a program record 10 home runs and finished second on the team in RBIs. The senior, who started all 46 games a season ago, was third best on the team, hitting .276.
 
Joining Schweigert as one of the team's top returners, are junior Emily Conaway and sophomore Ashley Mendenhall. Conaway ended the season with a .289 batting average starting all 46 games. The Berwyn, Pa. native paced the Explorers with 41 hits, while setting the single season double record with 14.
 
Mendenhall who started 45 of her 46 games played as a true freshman, gave the Explorers consistency behind the plate and will continue to do so this season. She finished 2018 third on the team in hits.
 
In the circle, the Explorers graduated Reilly Gearhart who pitched in 22 games a season ago. Senior Marlo Roadcap and sophomore Morgan Orlowski are the only returning pitchers. Roadcap started all 20 games she played in, with Orlowski appearing in 16 contests, including five starts.
 
Joining the duo in the circle will be freshman Cailey Joyce. Joyce is one of seven rookies to join the squad this season. Classmates Kaylee Piven, Mackenzie Vogler, Audrey LaBouliere, Natalie Rios, and Mack Bernhard are all expected to see significant playing time this season.
 
ABOUT THE CAMPBELL INVITATIONAL:
La Salle will be one of four teams in Buies Creek for the weekend. The Explorers will play one game against each team (Oakland, Fairfield, Campbell).
 
Due to rain in the forecast in North Carolina, things were shifted around. Originally, La Salle was set to play four games with a twin bill against the hosting Camels.
 
After the modifications, the Blue and Gold will take on Oakland on Saturday at 5 p.m. On the final day of the invitational, the Explorers play a pair of games – Fairfield at 2:30 p.m. and Campbell at 5 p.m.
 
Oakland is 1-4 overall on the season with its lone win coming against Hartford, 7-4. The Grizzlies fell to Loyola Chicago, Sacred Heart, Gerdner-Webb, and UNC Greensboro. Oakland has been held to one run or less in three of its four losses, including two shutouts.
 
Brittney Miller and Shannon Carr have started all five games for the Grizzlies, each driving in three runs and hitting .471 or above.
 
Fairfield is yet to play a game this season and finished the 2018 campaign with a 27-26 overall record. The Stags and Explorers met last season in the same invitational, with Fairfield claiming the win, 6-0. In the game, La Salle registered just two hits. Roadcap was in the circle going three innings and allowing all six runs with three earned, five strikeouts, and four walks. Orlowski entered the game in relief over the final four frames. The sophomore struck out four, allowing three hits and a walk.
 
Campbell sits at 3-9 on the season, after defeating Oakland in a pair of games on Thursday. Kynadi Tipler leads the Camels in hitting with a .370 average in the 10 games she's played this season. Three different players have registered seven or more RBIs on the campaign.
 
In the circle, four different pitchers have seen action, with a pair appearing in eight game apiece. No Camel pitcher has an ERA below 4.50 so far this season.
 
La Salle and Campbell met in a pair of games last year as Campbell took the victory in both (7-0, 10-2 – F/5).
 
Live stats will be available throughout the tournament at the link posted above. Be sure to follow La Salle Softball on Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the weekend.