Softball | April 5, 2019
PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle softball team (7-19, 1-5 A-10) returns to Atlantic 10 play this weekend as it travels to UMass (15-14, 3-1 A-10) for a three-game conference series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. with the games streaming on ESPN+. The series finale is set for Sunday at noon.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:
- La Salle enters play at 7-19, 1-5 A-10 overall after splitting a twin bill against Lafayette this past Wednesday.
- The game two win came from key performances by freshman Mackenzie Vogler and sophomore pitcher Morgan Orlowski. Orlowski pitched a complete game, allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven. In the top of the seventh with a runner on, Vogler sent the eventual game-winning two run home run over the fence in center field – the first of her young career.
- The Blue and Gold's lone conference win came in the series finale against St. Bonaventure last Sunday. With two away in the bottom of the seventh, junior Emily Conaway lined a two-run walk-off beam over the fence down the right field line.
- Conaway and senior Emma Schweigert are pacing the Explorers in hitting, both batting .301 on the season. The duo also lead the squad with four long balls apiece.
- Conaway paces the team in most offensive categories, including hits (25), RBIs (20), total bases (46), runs (15) and doubles (4).
- In the circle, freshman Cailey Joyce (4-8) has seen a bulk of the work for the Explorers with 97.2 innings of work in 19 appearances. Joyce has 49 punch outs on the season, while allowing opponents to hit .325.
- Orlowski (3-9) is next on staff with 66.1 innings pitched in 15 outings. The West Chester, Pa. native has struck out 35 so far and allows opponents to hit .342.
- Schweigert sits in third place in program history with 20 home runs. She is seven behind Megan Hodgson to tie for second place.
- La Salle has started six different freshmen this season, with four starting every game they've appeared in. Vogler is the only freshman to start all 26 games this season. La Salle ranks second in the Atlantic 10 with six different rookies in a starting lineup this season.
SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN:
- UMass is 15-14 overall and 3-1 in league play. Most recently, it claimed a 13-3 victory over UConn on Wednesday.
- In conference play, the Minutewomen took a pair of games over St. Bonaventure and split a twin bill at Saint Louis.
- Four different players are hitting over .300 on a team that boasts a .282 batting average. Kaitlyn Stavinoha paces the squad at .411. She's started all 29 games this season and leads UMass in hits, runs, doubles, triples, and RBIs.
- Three pitchers have seen action this season, with all of them appearing in at least 14 games and posting an ERA of 4.03 or better.
- Kiara Oliver (6-11) is the team's work horse, tossing 105.2 innings in 22 appearances. She's retired 98 batters on strikes and allows opponents to hit .238, while posting a 2.52 ERA.
- Quinn Breidenbach is next on the team with 15 appearances and 50.1 innings of action. Breidenbach has a 4.03 ERA and allows her opposition to bat .307 with 11 home runs.
