May 6, 2016 WASHINGTON -
The Georgetown University softball team (9-35, 3-14 BIG EAST) hosts the Butler Bulldogs (26-22, 9-7 BIG EAST) in its last regular-season conference series at Guy Mason Field this weekend. The teams will open the weekend with a single game on Saturday, May 7, slated to start at 3 p.m. and conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday set for 11 a.m. Live stats for all games will be available at www.guhoyas.com.
GU will be honoring three seniors prior to the start of Saturday's games. Grace Appelbe (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier College Prep), Taylor Henry (Front Royal, Va./Skyline) and Samantha Giovanniello (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) will be graduating from the Hilltop this spring.
The Hoyas are coming into Saturday's matchup after falling to Providence on the road last weekend. GU's effort was paced by sophomore Theresa Kane (Mystic, Conn./Stonington) and freshman Mallory Belknap (Scottsdale, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) as they each hammered a double against the Friars. Kane batted .364, registering five hits and three runs while Belknap batted .444 with nine hits and one run.
Heading into Saturday's game, Giovanniello leads the Hoyas with a .347 batting average and six home runs while Kane leads the team with 46 runs, 45 hits and 17 stolen bases. Giovanniello and freshman Sarah Bennett (Owings, Md./Northern) lead the Blue & Gray with 39 RBI on the season.
Butler is also looking to bounce back from a loss after falling to Indiana State, 8-0, in five innings in a nonconference match up. Overall, the Bulldogs are currently tied for third in the BIG EAST standings with St. John's. Leading the Bulldogs is Maggie MacBeth, who is currently fourth in the BIG EAST in batting with her .391 average. Her 61 hits, 41 runs and 24 stolen bases are second in the conference. In the circle, Kristin Gutierrez leads the BIG EAST with a 1.97 ERA. The left-hander is ranked among the BIG EAST leaders in saves (first, 3), opposing batting average (second, .215), strikeouts (fourth, 136), and innings pitched (fifth, 142.0).
In addition to Saturday's senior ceremony, the Hoyas will recognize softball alumni between the two games on Sunday.
