George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Saint Joseph's
Softball Prepares for Saint Joseph’s Series at Home
4/12/2024 10:58:00 AM | Softball
WASHINGTON - The George Washington University softball team has a pivotal upcoming A-10 series as it faces the A-10 leading Saint Joseph's Hawks at home on Saturday (doubleheader) and Sunday. First pitch on both days is set for 12 p.m., and Saturday's games will be aired on ESPN+.
HEFFLEY'S DEFENSE
Graduate transfer Allison Heffley has played every inning behind the dish for GW this season and has shown an excellent ability to keep pitches in front of her. GW is the only team in the A-10 this year that hasn't issued a free base on a passed ball, and the Buff & Blue also rank second in the league with just 10 wild pitches. Heffley, who is shaping up to be one of the league's most complete catchers in 2024, has also thrown out five runners trying to steal.
LAST TIME OUT
GW played Coppin State on Wednesday to begin its packed week at home and started out the seven-game homestand on the right foot by taking down the Eagles, 2-0.
Rose Cano shined in the circle for the Buff & Blue, tossing her first complete-game shutout of the season and limiting CSU to just four hits. The Long Beach, Calif., product struck out two in the outing and walked just one, impressing in her fourth win of the season.
Offensively, the Revolutionaries were powered by RBI from Heffley and Alexa Williams. GW hopped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Heffley brought home a run on a double to left, before Williams added to the lead on a single in the third to make it 2-0. The Revolutionaries held a 7-4 advantage in hits and only struck out once as they completed the season sweep of the Eagles.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Saint Joseph's enters the weekend at 17-17 overall, but leads the conference at 10-2 and are winners of each of its last seven. The Hawks are an unblemished 10-0 at home but are just 2-8 in true road games. In league play, the Hawks have already swept St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and George Mason, but they dropped their lone road series at Saint Louis, 2-1.
The Hawks bring a potent attack with seven players batting above the .300 mark. Riley York and Sierra Fretz are the team's RBI and OPS leaders. York brings a .970 OPS and 23 RBI, while Fretz has a .945 OPS and 22 RBI. In the circle, the Hawks have a team ERA of 4.74, led by Emily Siler with a 3.20 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Taylor Trowbridge has emerged as the team's second option, with a 4.43 ERA and 1.86 WHIP.
GW trails the all-time series, 22-21, but were winners of two of three last season in Philadelphia. The Revolutionaries are 5-1 against Saint Joseph's in the last two seasons under head coach Chrissy Schoonmaker.
