Softball | April 17, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After picking up a crucial win over Dayton on Sunday, the La Salle softball team (9-25, 2-10 A-10) returns to action with a three-game conference showdown with George Mason (16-21, 4-8 A-10). Due to severe rain in the forecast on Friday, the game schedule has been changed to a single game on Thursday at 6 p.m. and a twin bill on Saturday starting at noon.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle enters play at 9-25, 2-10 A-10 after a 1-2 weekend against Dayton.
• The Explorers are led by senior Emma Schweigert and junior Emily Conaway at the plate. Both are hitting .300 on the season and are tied for the team lead with five home runs.
• Schweigert leads the squad with 11 walks and is second in runs, hits, and total bases.
• Conaway is pacing the team in most offensive categories including runs, hits, doubles, RBIs and total bases. Her 11 doubles are tied for fourth most in a single season and just three behind the record she set a season ago.
• Freshman Cailey Joyce has been a dual threat for the Explorers this season at the plate and in the circle. The rookie currently ranks third on the team with a .291 batting average. Joyce is riding a nine-game hit streak. Over that span, she is hitting .583 and leads the team in hits, total bases, on-base percent and slugging percent.
• In the circle, Joyce is 6-10 overall in 24 appearances. She's tossed 121.0 innings with a 6.17 ERA on 83 earned runs, 104 hits and 29 walks. Joyce has struck out 63 on the year.
• Sophomore Morgan Orlowski is the team's other mainstay in the circle. Orlowski is 3-13 and leads the staff with a 5.81 ERA. The West Chester, Pa. native has made 21 appearances for 97.2 innings of work. She's allowed 63 earned on 141 hits and 35 free passes, while striking out 42.
• Schweigert is third all-time with 21 home runs and is six behind Megan Hodgson to tie second place and seven behind tying Michelle Hagarty for first place.
• So far this season, La Salle is 6-3 when scoring six runs or more and just 3-18 when allowing six or more.
• La Salle has started six different freshmen this season with four starting 29 games or more. Rookie Mackenzie Vogler is the only one to start all 34 games on the year. The Explorers are second in the Atlantic 10 with six different freshmen appearing in a starting lineup this season.
• Defensively, La Salle is third in the conference and 70th in the nation turning 0.38 double plays per game.

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS:

• George Mason is 16-21 overall and 4-8 in the conference after dropping its last two games to Saint Joseph's. The Patriots are scheduled to play a doubleheader against George Washington on Wednesday.
• The Patriots have two batters hitting above .300. Alyssa Lawton (.328) and Saige Cisler (3.26) are tops on the team.
• Adriana Erickson is next on the team, hitting .284 and leads George Mason in hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and total bases.
• Four different pitchers have seen action this season, with three making 22 appearances.
• Bekah Ansbro leads the staff with an 8-7 record, 89.2 innings pitched, and a 2.11 ERA. She's also struck out a team high 82 batters faced.
• Marina Vitalich is next on the squad with a 3.26 ERA in 77.1 innings of work. She allows opponents to hit .284, giving up 89 hits.
• Haellie Gordon is the third pitcher on staff who sees significant action. Tossing 74.2 innings this season, Gordon holds a 3.66 ERA on 39 earned runs, 104 hits, and 11 walks.