Pirates Head To UNCG Invitational This Weekend

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Seton Hall softball team (4-4) is back in action this weekend when it heads to the Tar Heel State for five games in three days at UNC Greensboro Invitational. The Hall will take on Appalachian State and the host Spartans twice each before a Sunday matinee against ACC foe Virginia.

The Pirates are coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Bearkat Classic, picking up a win against host Sam Houston State last Friday. Freshman Janae Barracato (Hempstead, N.Y.) hit her first collegiate home run against the Bearkats and hit .444 for the weekend to earn a spot on the BIG EAST weekly honor roll.

LEADING OFF >>

Through eight games Hailey Arteaga (Upland, Calif.) has paced the Pirate offense with a .435 average to go along with two home runs and seven RBIs
Reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) has also gone deep twice this season and is hitting .360
Freshmen Barracato and Payton Beaver (Lake Stevens, Wash.) have both made an immediate impact on the lineup, batting .357 and .333, respectively
In the circle, Reganne Camp (Bloomington, Ill.) has made four starts and holds a 1.59 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 26.1 innings, while Madison Strunk (Adkins, Texas) has pitched to a 0.78 ERA over three outings
The Hall has faced two of its opponents this weekend in the past, holding a 3-1 record against Appalachian State and a 1-2 mark against Virginia

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION >>

Appalachian State (3-6)
- The Mountaineers are coming off a 2-3 run at Alabama State's Black & Gold Tournament, picking up wins over Holy Cross and host ASU
- Keri White leads Appalachian State with a .423 average, while Megan Walker has a team-high seven RBIs
- Katie Williford has posted a team-best 2.28 ERA, while Kenzie Longanecker has tossed 26.1 innings and made five starts
- The Hall took down the Mountaineers twice in 2016, picking up wins by scores of 14-8 and 11-6 at Coastal Carolina's Kickin' Chicken Classic
UNCG (7-2)
- The Spartans most recently played five games at the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Invitational, going 4-1 with wins over UMass, UMKC, Virginia and Lipscomb
- Marisa Sholtes leads UNCG with a .478 average along with three home runs and seven RBIs, while Makenna Matthjis has knocked in nine runs
- In the circle, Alicia Bazonski has started six contests and holds a 4-1 record with a 1.27 ERA in 33.0 innings
- The Pirates and Spartans have never met in program history
Virginia (4-6)
- The Cavaliers also took part in the Madeira Beach Invitational last weekend, going 2-3 with wins over George Mason and Eastern Michigan
- Allison Davis tops UVA with a .400 average, while Lacy Smith has knocked in a team-best 12 runs
- Smith is also tops on the squad with a 2.37 ERA in the circle, while Erika Osherow has fired a team-high 27.2 innings
- Last season The Hall split two games with the Cavaliers at the ECU Pirate Invitational