George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Saint Louis
Softball Hosts Saint Louis for Three-Game Series at GW Softball Field
3/27/2024 4:00:00 PM | Softball
Friday/Saturday matchup is between teams tied for first in Atlantic 10
WASHINGTON - The George Washington University softball team welcomes Saint Louis to the GW Softball Field this weekend for a three-game A-10 series on Friday (doubleheader) and Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. on both days, and coverage of Friday's contests will be available on ESPN+.Â
DOWN GOES PRESEASON NO. 1 & 2
GW is now 2-0 in Atlantic 10 series this season after beating both Loyola Chicago and Dayton, two games to one. Voted on by the league's coaches, the Flyers and Ramblers were chosen as the A-10's No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the A-10 Preseason Poll, respectively. In the same poll, GW was picked to finish seventh in the preseason. GW is currently in a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic 10 at 4-2 with Saint Louis and Saint Joseph's.
CANO HONORED WITH PiOTW
Sophomore pitcher/utility Rose Cano was honored as the A-10 Pitcher of the Week after her standout appearances at Dayton. Cano made one start and appeared once more in relief in a week that featured 10.2 IP, a 2.62 ERA, seven strikeouts and just three walks.
Cano was critical to GW's win in game two at Dayton as she halted the Flyers' near-comeback with little margin for error. She came in and got two outs with the game-winning run on second base to send the game to extras, and pitched a hitless 3.0 innings in extras to lead GW to victory. Cano then made the start in the rubber match and limited Dayton to four runs as she and the Revolutionaries won their second-straight A-10 series.
ABOVE-AVERAGE AVERAGES
This weekend's series features the two teams with the best team batting averages in the A-10. Saint Louis tops the league at .307, while GW is right behind at .302.Â
Individually, all eight of GW's qualified batters (2 PA/G & 75% of games played) have averages above .270. Alena Ramirez (.410) tops GW and is second in the A-10 to Saint Louis' Cami Newbanks (.453). Allison Heffley (.363) has the second-best average on the Buff & Blue, followed by Ashley Corpuz (.329), Alexa Williams (.299), Cano (.298), Paige Hayward (.296), Maggie Greco (.279) and Mandy Lauth (.272).
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Saint Louis Billikens are 16-11 overall and tied with GW and Saint Joseph's at 4-2 in first place in the A-10. Saint Louis has also won both of its A-10 series, 2-1, taking down both UMass and Saint Joseph's at home.Â
Newbanks is one of three SLU players with an OPS north of 1.000 (1.390 OPS), joined by Abby Mallo (1.119 OPS) and Natalie Sullivan (1.024 OPS) as offensive leaders. Newbanks has 32 RBI, seven home runs, seven doubles and 20 runs scored. Mallo is tied with Newbanks with seven home runs and second on the team with 19 RBI. Sullivan brings along 11 RBI with two home runs and six doubles. SLU has thrown three arms consistently this season: first-year Isabel Royle (2.51 ERA), junior Taylor Hochman (2.58 ERA) and first-year Lily Strand (4.76 ERA).
GW is 28-25 all-time against the Billikens, including 4-3 under head coach Chrissy Schoonmaker.
