Softball | March 7, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle softball team (1-4) aims to continue its success after picking up its first win of the season in its most recent game against Oakland last weekend. The Explorers head to Florida for its first of two-straight tournaments in the Sunshine State.
 
Starting Friday, La Salle will play five games in the Jacksonville University/University of North Florida Spring Break Challenge. On Friday, the Explorers will take on Georgetown at 11:30 a.m., followed by a contest against Presbyterian College at 2 p.m. La Salle plays just one game on Saturday, going head to head with Cleveland State at 4:30 p.m. Rounding out the weekend, the Explorers take on UNC-Wilmington at 10 a.m. on Sunday and Presbyterian at 12:30 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• After dropping its first four games of the season, La Salle picked up its first win, taking down Oakland, 6-5.
• Senior Emma Schweigert is leading the team in hitting at .308. In 13 at bats, the senior has four hits, including two doubles, three runs scored, and an RBI.
• Freshman Cailey Joyce has contributed both at the plate and in the circle. The rookie is second on the team, hitting .273 with three knocks, a double, and two RBIs. In the circle, Joyce paces the staff with a 2.00 ERA over 21 innings of work. She's punched out 13 batters in five appearances, including two complete games. The Mechanicsburg, Pa. native has given up 30 hits and five walks on the campaign.
• Defensively, the Explorers are looking to clean up their errors. Through five games, La Salle has 17 errors.
• Freshman Kaylee Piven will see her first action of the season over the weekend after returning from injury.

SCOUTING GEORGETOWN:

• The Hoyas come into this weekend's tournament at 5-13 on the young campaign, most recently falling to UNF, 5-0.
• Three players are hitting .362 or above entering play on Friday. Savannah Jones and Noelle Holiday are pacing the squad with a .367 batting average, followed by Mae Forshey at .362. Forshey leads the team with 21 hits, while Jones and Holiday add 18 apiece.
• Gerogetown's patching staff post a combined 7.50 ERA on the season, allowing 176 hits for a batting average against of .341.

SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN:

• The Blue Hose are 4-13-2 overall and are riding a six-game losing streak.
• At the plate, Ansley Wilbanks sits atop the team with a .390 average, starting all 19 games. Wilbanks has 23 hits on the season with a team high 11 RBIs.
• As a staff, Presbyterian pitchers hold a 6.00 ERA and are allowing opponents to hit .308.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE:

• The Vikings are 3-10 on the season and won their most recent game against Robert Morris, 11-8.
• Collectively, Cleveland State is hitting .244 with Kelly Hysong leading the way at .353. Hysong leads the team with 18 hits, 12 RBIs, five doubles, and four homers.
• Hysong and Hanna Griffin have started five games each in the circle. Hysong has thrown 21.2 innings of work, with Griffin leading the staff, throwing 39.1 innings. The tandem has given up 81 hits and 62 runs.

SCOUTING UNIVEVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON:

• The Seahawks are 9-9 on the season, claiming its two most recent games.
• Three players are hitting .308 or better this season for a team the averages .254. Janel Gamache paces the team with a .346 batting average, while also leading the team in hits (18), doubles (8), and RBIs (16).
• Eight different pitchers have seen action for the Seahawks, with four different starting a game. Rylee Pate has seen the most action, tossing 53.2 innings. Pate has a 2.48 ERA on a staff that posts a 4.17 overall ERA.