George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball to Honor Seniors on Saturday
4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SENIOR DAY UPDATE: Due to the weekend forecast, the Colonials will hold their senior day ceremony on Saturday prior to first pitch.
| Watch on RaiseHigh Live
| Watch on RaiseHigh Live
| Watch on RaiseHigh Live
The Colonials (21-23, 8-9 A-10) enter the weekend vying for a spot in the six-team Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time since 2013 and currently sit in sixth in the league standings. The Hawks (18-22-1, 6-10-1 A-10) are close behind in seventh.
The three-game set will open with a noon doubleheader on Saturday, followed by single game on Sunday. Saturday's games will feature music from the '90s in honor of the squad's annual '90s Day. Seniors Carlee Gray, Morgan Matetic and Maura Murphy will be honored prior to Saturday's first pitch.
"This weekend is significant in more ways than one," said sixth-year head coach Stacey Schramm. "We have an opportunity to put ourselves back in a great position to make the A-10 tournament and in doing so will honor our seniors who have not been to the tournament since their freshman year."
GW looks to bounce back after being swept by Massachusetts last weekend.
"Last weekend we struggled to get our lead-off hitter on base, in addition to timely hitting," said Schramm. "When runners are in scoring position, we need to come through and score them. On the other side of the ball, we also need to make routine plays. We cannot afford to give teams extra outs because it increases the pitch count and turns over the lineup. The fewer times our opponents face our pitchers, the more effective they will be."
Junior Megan Linn leads all active Colonials with a .381 batting average and ranks fifth in the conference with 36 runs scored. With 15 steals on the year, Linn is just two away from breaking the program record of 72 held by Amanda Zakeri ('13). Classmate Paige Kovalsky continues to lead the league in doubles, smacking 17 two-baggers so far this season - just two off of GW's all-time single season mark set by Victoria Valos ('15) in 2014.
Sophomore Sarah Costlow (12-10, 2.27 ERA) has been GW's go-to in the circle this season, tossing 15 complete games including nine against conference opponents. Costlow owns a 1.60 ERA against A-10 squads and has held league hitters to a .235 average.
Saint Joseph's enters the weekend after sweeping a mid-week A-10 doubleheader from La Salle. Amanda Kulp paces the Hawks with a .362 average this spring, while Sarah Yoos (.336) sits third in the A-10 with a .636 slugging percentage with the help of a team-best nine home runs.
Saint Joseph's has utilized three arms in the circle this season, with Madison Clarke (7-7, 2.18 ERA) and Ashley Ventura (9-7, 2.66 ERA) shouldering starting duties. Anna Lauterbach (2-8, 2.28 ERA) has served primarily as a relief pitcher, tallying a league-high eight saves. Opposing hitters are batting .275 against the staff in 2016.
The Colonials and Hawks last met in 2014, when Saint Joseph's took both ends of a doubleheader in Philadelphia.
"We would like nothing more to send our seniors out with a strong team finish, and an opportunity to win an A-10 championship," said Schramm. "Saint Joseph's is still in the mix, and will undoubtedly come ready to compete."
