March 16, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle softball team will open up conference play on Wednesday as the Explorers head to George Washington for a 3:00 PM doubleheader. The Explorers returned this weekend from their annual season-opening trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL, where they picked up two wins and will look to capitalize on the strong performances seen in the first week of the season.

"The team has prepared for this season with one goal in mind: to get to the A-10 playoffs," Head Coach Brianne Brown said. "We have a strong, experienced, and talented team, that has been willing to put the work in day in and day out, and are thrilled to start conference play."

The Explorers swept George Washington and rival Temple last year in A-10 play. The team has one week of play under its belt this season with wins over Bryant and Wisconsin-Green Bay along with a strong showing in a one-run extra inning loss to a Robert Morris squad picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference. 

"We competed in many hard fought games during our time in Florida, which prepared us tremendously for the conference games ahead," Brown said. "We know how to capitalize on our strengths as a team and are correcting the mistakes. We know what it is going to take for us to reach all of the goals set forth for the season."

The squad returns five seniors, including Angelina Bisbiglia, Mary Pat Conville, All-Atlantic 10 honoree Gina Massaro, Kellie Surdi and Erica Vile. The Explorers also get back the services of senior Laura Beth McCreesh, who will be a junior by eligibility after redshirting last year with an injury.

Massaro led the pitching squad in 2009 with a 2.80 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. She earned her first career perfect game on April 16, 2009, when she hurled a five-inning 8-0 win over Rider University. She also pitched a complete game in the Explorers’ 3-2 extra inning upset of Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis while aiding her effort by driving in all three runs in that contest on two doubles. Massaro led all hitters in 2009 with a .340 batting average on 36 hits, including a home run and a team-leading seven doubles.

Conville also returns to the lineup primarily at third base and leads the Explorers so far in 2010 with a .386 batting average after the six games played in Florida. In the first week of the season, she has belted two doubles in her seven hits and registered three RBI. She was one of three players to start every game last season and has started every game of her career. She was third on the squad last year with a .245 batting average with 27 hits, including three doubles, a triple and a home run. As a sophomore in 2008, Conville blasted her way to a .370 average to lead the Explorers with 11 doubles, a triple and a home run along with 22 RBI.

Vile looks to once again provide offensive spark for the Explorers after posting a .280 average last year including a team-leading five home runs and 13 RBI. She led the team in slugging percentage with a .463 clip and also tied for the team lead in walks drawn with 13. Through the Rebel Spring Games this season, she is batting .333 on 6-for-18 hitting with a double. Vile also anchors the Explorer outfield as she committed just one error in the entire 2009 season while registering 37 putouts in left field.

Bisbiglia returns to the first base position again for her senior season after anchoring the corner in 2009. She registered 237 putouts last season and started all 37 games she appeared in. She scored a team-high-tying 14 runs last year and currently leads the Explorers with six RBI so far in 2010. As a sophomore in 2008, she posted a .291 average with 10 doubles and a team-leading 32 RBI.

McCreesh also returns to the lineup after missing the majority of 2009 with an injury. She is a senior by class year but will have one more year of eligibility remaining for softball. In 2008, she started 29 of the 31 games she appeared in and registered a .305 batting average, including a team-leading slugging percentage of .561 with six doubles in 25 hits. In the pitching circle, she posted a team-best 2.45 ERA and an 11-6 record. She struck out 60 in 117.1 innings and limited opponents to a team-best .222 batting average.

Surdi also returns for her senior season after serving primarily as a utility player since transferring from Sacred Heart University two years ago. She appeared in nine games last season with two starts.

A solid group of underclassmen will also look to make a splash this season. Junior Ali Shepherd, who returns at the shortstop position, registered 68 putouts and 63 assists last season. Through the Rebel Spring Games this season, she is batting .250 on 5-for-20 hitting including two doubles and a triple. She nearly hit for the cycle against Robert Morris as she belted a single, double and triple in the Explorers’ 3-2 extra inning loss.

Classmate Laura Gallagher returns to centerfield for the Explorers after being one of three players to start every game in 2009. Fellow juniors DJ Guinn and Kristen Paoletti will provide depth in the pitcher’s circle and classmate Rebecca Turygan returns as a utility player to provide depth off the bench.

Sophomore Shannon Skomorucha returns behind the plate, where she started 30 of the 31 games she played in her rookie year. She provided an offensive spark with five doubles and a home run last year. The Explorers also added one to the sophomore class, picking up transfer Heather Brabazon who played her freshman year across town at Saint Joseph’s. So far as an Explorer, she is tied for second on the team with a .333 batting average and belted a triple in Florida. Fellow sophomore Breanna DiTommaso also returns to the Explorer outfield. The speedy Explorer also served as a pinch runner several times in 2009.

The three Explorer freshmen – Megan Codagnone, Tristan Musho and Liz Reed – will also vie for playing time. Reed has started five games so far at second base where she looks to get a lot of time due to the graduation of last year’s second baseman Alicia Dela Rosa. Musho looks to compete at the catcher position and has started three of the four games she has appeared in so far.

After the conference opener on Wednesday at George Washington, the Explorers return home for three straight doubleheaders starting Saturday (3/20). They take on Central Connecticut State in the home opener on Saturday at noon, followed by a two-game set against Monmouth on Sunday (3/21) also at noon. The Explorers will also host crosstown foe Villanova in a doubleheader next Tuesday (3/23) before heading back out on the road.