George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball Looks to Remain Perfect in A-10 Play
3/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
WASHINGTON - The George Washington softball squad takes a perfect Atlantic 10 Conference mark (3-0) into the second weekend of league competition as the Colonials visit St. Bonaventure for a three-game set beginning on Friday afternoon at the newly renovated Joyce Field.
The Colonials (14-14 overall) swept a three-game series against La Salle last weekend to climb atop the conference standings as the only squad without a loss through one week of league play. GW most recently dropped a mid-week doubleheader to Cornell on Tuesday afternoon at home.
Junior Paige Kovalsky has smacked a league-high 11 doubles this spring and ranks 17th in the nation with 0.39 doubles per contest.
GW has effectively utilized small ball this season - as four of the league's top five in sacrifice bunts don the Buff and Blue - but the squad can also hit for power with 64 extra-base hits in 2016 and a nation-leading 0.54 triples per game.
"The keys to this weekend will be picking up where we left off in regard to our offense and ability to manufacture runs throughout the line-up," said Head Coach Stacey Scrhamm. "The team understands the importance of this weekend, and winning all of the small battles within the game. As long as we continue to keep that mentality, it's going to be a fun weekend!"
Sophomore Sarah Costlow leads GW in the circle with an 8-6 record and a 2.42 ERA in a team-high 95.1 innings. Costlow is the reigning A-10 Pitcher of the Week after posting a 3-0 record and 0.00 ERA through 19.0 innings of work as the Colonials went 5-0 last week.
St. Bonaventure (4-17, 1-2 A-10) has lost six of its last seven games, most recently dropping a mid-week doubleheader at Pittsburgh on Wednesday after falling in two-of-three games at Saint Louis to open A-10 play.
Kelli Rohan's .418 average is tops in the conference while Emily Belfield (.310) leads the Bonnies with 13 RBIs.
In the circle, Carly Bilchak (3-4, 6.76 ERA) has tallied the most wins for St. Bonaventure, but Josie Borysevicz (1-8, 5.04 ERA) has shouldered a team-high 50.0 innings. Six Bonnies have seen time on the rubber this spring, and opposing hitters are batting .350 against the staff.
Last season, the Colonials dropped two games to St. Bonaventure at home.
First pitch of Friday's series-opening doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday's single game will begin at 12 p.m.
