March 23, 2018

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University softball team will open BIG EAST Conference play this weekend At Providence for a three-game series. The Hoyas enter the series 7-20, while the Friars enter with a 3-16 record. This is the first conference games for both teams.

The contests will begin on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon. On Sunday, the teams will conclude the series at noon. Live stats and video for all of the games this weekend will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.

GU is coming off of a 1-4 week, defeating Texas, 1-0, in its final game of the Charleston Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. The Hoyas scored the lone run of the game in the seventh inning when freshman Savannah Jones (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda High School) doubled to left center, scoring sophomore Noelle Holiday (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian Academy). Sophomore Anna Brooks Pacha (Houston, Texas/St. John's School) took the win in the circle for the Hoyas, giving up six hits and striking out eight in a complete game effort.

Pacha earned BIG EAST Weekly Honors on Monday for her performance in the Charleston Classic. This is Georgetown's first recognition of the season and Pacha's second of her career.

Providence has been unable to play three out of it's last five games due to inclement weather, but was able to fit in a game on Tuesday against Rhode Island, falling 5-3. Prior to Tuesday's game, the Friars went 0-4 in the LMU Tournament, March 8-10. Vanessa Portillo leads Providence with a .286 batting average, 14 hits, a double and six RBIs.

The Hoyas led the 2017 series against the Friars, 2-1. Holiday hit three home runs, one in each game, against Providence last year.

Following this weekend's conference opener, the Blue & Gray will return to action on Wednesday, March 28, against Kent State at Nationals Youth Academy in Washington, D.C. The game will be at 2 p.m.