The Mount closes out its trip to San Diego to play in the USD Tournament on March 5-7 at the University of San Diego.
Thursday, March 5
2 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's vs. Villanova
7 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's at San Diego
Friday, March 6
2 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's vs. Villanova
4:30 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's at San Diego
Saturday, March 7
2:00 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's vs. Villanova
4:30 p.m. ET: Mount St. Mary's vs. CSUN
MOUNT UPDATE: The Mount went 0-5 at the San Diego Classic last weekend, falling to San Jose State, No. 1 UCLA, CSUN, San Diego and St. John's. The offense struggled at the tournament as the Mount scored just two runs in the five games. Kaia Bonshock leads the Mount with a .333 average and five doubles this season while Kaylee Stoner is hitting .286. In the circle, Avery Neuhart has been the Mount's top pitcher, going 0-6 with a 3.91 ERA in a team-high 34.0 innings of work.
ABOUT VILLANOVA.: Villanova is 11-9 this season and will play San Diego State on Wednesday night before playing the Mountaineers on Thursday. The Wildcats went 3-2 at the University of Arkansas Tournament last weekend with wins over Florida State, Kent State and Baylor. Paige Rauch leads the team with a .426 average, 10 home runs and 25 RBI while Chloe Smith is hitting .361 with five home runs and 12 RBI. Rauch is also the top pitcher, going 9-2 with a 2.26 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 70.1 innings of work.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO: San Diego went 3-3 at the San Diego Classic last week, including a 6-1 victory over the Mount, to move to 10-11 on the season. The Toreros offense is led by Sara Silveyra, who is hitting a team-best .387 while Madison Casiano is hitting .319. Delaney Heller has handled the majority of the pitching duties, going 5-9 with a 2.95 ERA in 15 appearances (12 starts). She has struck out 65 batters in 78.1 innings.
ABOUT CSUN: CSUN went 3-2 at the San Diego Classic last weekend, including a 10-0 victory over the Mount. The Matadors are 14-5 on the season and are 8-2 over their past 10 games. Jessica Alexander (.426, 4HR, 21 RBI), Kira Cauley (.397) and Megan Stevens (.373, 4HR, 19 RBI) lead the offense. In the circle, Kenedee Jamerson is 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts).
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Mount is 0-1 all-time against both CSUN and San Diego with both losses coming last weekend at the San Diego Classic. The Mount is 0-4 all-time against Villanova, falling in both games of doubleheaders in 1999 and 2003.
PRESEASON POLL: The Mount St. Mary's softball team has been picked to finish in fourth place in the annual Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Long Island was selected as the preseason favorite, capturing seven of the 10 first-place votes. Defending champion Saint Francis U is picked to finish second, followed by Sacred Heart, the Mount, Bryant, Robert
UP NEXT: The Mountaineers will be hosting the Mount Softball Tournament on March 13-15 at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus. The Mount opens the tournament by hosting St. Bonaventure on Friday, March 13, at 3:00 p.m. Cornell and Norfolk State will also be competing at the tournament.
