Pirates Host Iona On Wednesday For Midweek Tilt
3/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
// Video (PSN)
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall softball team (18-15) is back in action on Wednesday for a midweek contest against Iona (5-16) at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field. The Pirates and Gaels will square off at 4 p.m. as a tune-up for The Hall's weekend home series against Creighton in BIG EAST play.
The Hall is 3-2 this year in midweek action, most recently sweeping a doubleheader from Saint Peter's on March 22. Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) leads the Pirates with a .375 average and 19 stolen bases, while Noel Lent (Yaphanic, N.Y.) and Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) are batting .340 and .344, respectively, and are tied for the team-highs with four home runs and 26 RBIs apiece. The Pirates lead the BIG EAST with a .298 team batting average and 67 stolen bases on the year.
Iona enters the midweek tilt with a 5-16 record on the season, including a 1-7 mark in true road contests. Maris Gergel leads the squad with a .365 average, while Kristen Turner checks in at .343 with team-highs of two home runs and 12 RBIs. Katie Newton leads the Gaels with four stolen bases, while Christine Costello has shined in the circle with a 3.18 ERA in 50.2 innings.
The Pirates are 24-14 all-time against Iona in a series that dates back to the 1979 season. The two squads last met for a doubleheader in South Orange on April 22, 2010 - a Pirate sweep. The Hall is 12-4 at home over the course of the 38-game series.
Following the Iona contest, the Pirates host BIG EAST rival Creighton for three games over two days this weekend. The series kicks off with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 at 12 p.m. before a Sunday finale on April 3, also at 12 p.m.
