Softball Visit Georgia For Georgia Classic Weekend

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall softball team will look to continue to build upon its opening weekend of play when they travel to Athens, Georgia, to take part in the Georgia Classic. The Pirates will play against two nationally-ranked teams, No. 12 Georgia and No. 20 Virginia Tech, as well as 7-3 Utah State.

Schedule
Friday, February 20
10:30 a.m. – Seton Hall vs No. 20 Virginia tech (Live Stats)
3:30 p.m. – Seton Hall at No. 12 Georgia (Live Stats – Stream Link)
Saturday, February 21
10:30 a.m. – Seton Hall vs No. 20 Virginia Tech (Live Stats)
1 p.m. – Seton Hall vs Utah State (Live Stats)
Sunday, February 22
10:30 a.m. – Seton Hall vs Utah State (Live Stats)

PREVIEWING NO. 20 VIRGINIA TECH

The Hall is 5-5 all-time against Virginia Tech, with the last two matchups coming in 2016 at the ECU Pirate Invitational.
The Hokies enter the weekend 7-2 and ranked 20th in the nation after two successful tournament runs that feature a pair of 2-0 sweeps over both Villanova and No. 14 South Carolina.
A large part of their success this season has been due to Nora Abromavage and Jordan Lynch. Abromavage is hitting .478/.536/.1.043 with 7 extra-base hits and 15 RBI. Lynch, meanwhile, is hitting .419/.471/.645 with 12 runs scored. All seven players who have started every game for Virginia Tech are hitting .310 or better with a .350 or better OBP.
In the circle, the Hokies offer a trio of impressive pitchers. Bree Carrico has a 1.07 ERA with a 25-8 BB/K ratio and a .192 batting average against. Emma Mazzarone has a 1.56 ERA in 18 innings with 26 strikeouts and a .156 batting average against. Finally, Avery Layuton has a 2.10 ERA in 10 innings with 14 strikeouts, two walks and a .189 batting average against.

PREVIEWING NO. 12 GEORGIA

Seton Hall is 0-1 all-time against Georgia, with the lone matchup occurring 20 years ago on February 24, 2006.
The Bulldogs are 10-2 on the season with a +65 run differential.
Four titanic forces sit at the core of the Bulldogs' lineup that is headlined by Sarah Gordon. So far this season, Gordon is tied for ninth in the nation with a .600 batting average, 20th in slugging percentage with a mark of 1.167. She and the other three lead batters have at least two home runs and 10 RBI.
In the circle, Georgia has two workhorse pitchers. Addisen Fisher has pitched 23 of the team's 67 innings with a 1.52 ERA, 0.960 WHIP and 15 strikeouts. Randi Roelling has 19 strikeouts in 21.2 innings for a 2.26 ERA.

PREVIEWING UTAH STATE

The Pirates are 0-2 all-time against Utah State, with the last matchup coming on February 16, 2020.
Utah State enters the weekend 7-3 on the season with wins over Bryant and Providence.
Alex Bunton has led the Aggies at the plate this season with a .516/.571/.774 slash line with five doubles, one home run and 11 RBI. Junior Kelly Goushá leads the team with seven runs scored.
In the circle, Kendall Cochran and Emmalyn Brinka have served as two key ends of a strong pitching group. Cochran has 2-0 record with 12 strikeouts and a 1.66 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched. Conversely, in Brinka's team-leading 25.1 innings, she has 1 2.76 ERA with 27 strikeouts.

NEWS & NOTES

The Pirates enter the weekend with 984 wins, leaving them 17 wins off reaching 1000 wins in program history.
In her first weekend as a regular starter, Sophia DeMarco collected her first two collegiate home runs.
The Pirates will look for freshman and sophomores to fill the offensive void left by the departed seniors. Last year's senior class accounted for 52% of The Hall's hits, 67% of their home runs and 60% of RBI, including the top four in RBI from last season
After setting the single-season record for runs scored and setting a new career high in home runs, Katey Brennan returns to left field for the Pirates.