Softball To Host Four Key BIG EAST Games This Weekend

April 20, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College softball team (23-13-1, 6-6 BIG EAST) welcomes a pair of founding BIG EAST members to Raymond Field this weekend for a key match up against the Friars. On Saturday, April 22, PC will host St. John's (22-22, 5-9 BIG EAST) for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. On Sunday, April 23, the Friars will host Seton Hall (27-27, 5-9 BIG EAST) for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.

The top eight teams in the BIG EAST qualify for the conference tournament which is scheduled to take place May 11-14 at the Belleview Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind. Entering the weekend, Providence stands in sixth place out of 12 teams. St. John's and Seton Hall are tied for eighth. The Friars are attempting to return to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament for the first time since 1995.

The Friars are led by junior ace Sara Surosky (Elmira, N.Y.) who enters the weekend with 15 wins and a 2.29 ERA. She has fanned 137 batters in 137.1 innings while holding opponents to a .215 batting average. Offensively, the Friars hold the second-best batting average in the BIG EAST at .290. Senior Elena Romero (Chula Vista, Calif.) holds a team-leading .391 batting average, a figure that ranks fifth in the conference. Junior Rachel Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) leads the Friars with seven home runs and 33 RBI. She also has blasted one long ball in each of the last four games.

St. John's has lost seven of its last eight games, and was swept at Hofstra on Wednesday, April 19. The Red Storm are led by Kimberly Lerch who has a 2.38 ERA and has struck out 57 batters in 100.0 innings. Also on the pitcher's circle frequently is Lisa Geer who has eight wins and a 4.10 ERA. Geer has struck out 103 batters in 111.0 innings pitched. Jessica Foley rounds out the pitching trifecta and enters Saturday's game with 57 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched. Foley also has allowed opponents to hold a .296 batting average and knock 12 home runs. Offensively, SJU is led by Lauren Lupinetti who has a .387 batting average in 43 games. Her eight home runs and 39 RBI lead the team.

Seton Hall enters the weekend on a bit of a roll having won 11 of its last 12 games. Having won its last four consecutive, the last SHU loss came on April 15 to St. John's. Katie Pierce leads the Pirates with a .395 batting average, a figure that ranks second in the BIG EAST. In addition, Pierce has seven home runs as well as a BIG EAST-leading 43 RBIs and just 12 strikeouts. Pitcher Jessica Jones has appeared in 26 games totaling 87 strikeouts over 97.1 innings as well as a team-leading 2.66 ERA. Kim Schweitzer leads the team with 106.1 innings pitched and 12 victories while accumulating eight complete games.

Cancelled Event: Softball versus Tarleton State

Completed Event: Softball versus Brown on April 30, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2

Completed Event: Softball at Villanova on May 2, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 8 , (5 innings)

Completed Event: Softball at Villanova on May 3, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5

Completed Event: Softball at Villanova on May 4, 2025 , Loss , 5, to, 13 , (6 innings)

Completed Event: Softball versus No. 3 Villanova on May 7, 2025 , Win , 10, to, 9 , (8 innings)

Completed Event: Softball versus No. 2 Connecticut on May 8, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5

Completed Event: Softball versus No. 5 Butler on May 8, 2025 , Win , 7, to, 0

Completed Event: Softball versus No. 1 St. John's on May 9, 2025 , Win , 10, to, 0 , (5 innings)

Completed Event: Softball versus No. 4 Creighton on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5

Providence College Athletics

Softball To Host Four Key BIG EAST Games This Weekend

Players Mentioned

Rachel Bartholomew

Sara Surosky

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