St. Bonaventure vs. Norfolk State (3-2)
Saturday, Feb. 19 (9:00 a.m.) – Sunday, Feb. 20 (9:00 a.m.)
Hampton, Va. – Lady Pirates Softball Stadium 

St. Bonaventure at Hampton (3-1)
Saturday, Feb. 19 (11:00 a.m.) – Sunday, Feb. 20 (11:00 a.m.)
Hampton, Va. – Lady Pirates Softball Stadium 

The St. Bonaventure University softball team will travel to Hampton, Va. for four games this weekend to begin their 2022 campaign. On Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20 the Bonnies will take on Norfolk State at 9:00 a.m. and right after that they will compete against the host team Hampton at 11:00 a.m.

RETURNING TO THE FIELD

• The Bonnies finished the 2021 season with a 2-26 overall record.
• The bulk of the team from last year returns for this season, including sophomore Grace Walker (21 games played, .352 batting average, .463 slugging percentage), senior Emily Lewandowski (.279 batting average, .347 on-base percentage), junior Haley Strang (28 starts, 32 total bases) and graduate student Grace Perechinsky (five homers, 17 RBIs, .982 fielding percentage).
• Walker earned a spot on last year's Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, the first St. Bonaventure selection since Perechinsky in 2018.
• On the bump senior Ally Haskell (54.1 innings, 36 strikeouts), senior Tierney Fitzgerald (58.2 innings, 36 strikeouts), and sophomore Elizabeth Lis (seven appearances, 2.15 ERA).

VETERAN PRESENCE

• This season the Bonnies have nine juniors, seven seniors, and one graduate that will be suiting up.
• Twelve of these 17 upperclassmen made a significant impact on the field for St. Bonaventure last season with all of them playing in at least 16 games.

EXPLORING NORTH CAROLINA

• The Bonnies will make back-to-back trips to North Carolina following opening weekend. Bona's has a three-game series with Elon Feb. 26-27 followed by another three-game set at UNC Wilmington March 5-6.
• Those two series mark the final two series before the Bonnies begin conference play March 12 at George Mason.

ABOUT NORFOLK STATE

• The Spartans finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 20-19 and a conference record of 12-7.
• Gabby Andersen was named as the Preseason Pitcher of the year, while pitcher Alexis Robinson, catcher Tuli Iosefa, first-basemen Gabby Vaughan, and outfielder Imani Moore were named to the MEAC Softball Preseason All-First Team.
• Outfielders Alison Guckin and Yrral Davis nabbed second team honors.
• Norfolk has started 3-2 with all three wins against Hartford.
• On the mound the Spartans have been led by Robinson (8.1 innings pitched, seven strikeouts) and Andersen (13 innings pitched, 11 strikeouts). At the plate, Iosefa leads the team in batting average (.385), while freshman Kenna Higa (.308 batting average, one home run, three RBIs) has started off the season strong.
• Norfolk State was selected as the co-MEAC favorites with 107 points and three first-place votes, according to the 2022 MEAC Softball Preseason Poll

ABOUT HAMPTON

• Due to COVID-19 Hampton has not competed since the spring of 2020.
• The Pirates have begun the 2022 season with a 3-1 record, earning two victories against Norfolk State and a win against Hartford.
• Seniors Samyah Richardson (.364 batting average, two doubles, four RBIs) and Janae Lyles (.333 batting average, three RBIs).
• In the circle senior Emily Workman has led the pirates with 1.71 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
• Hampton is projected to finish eighth in the 2022 Big South Softball Preseason Poll, receiving 26 points. The Pirates' roster also features former Little League World Series star Mo'ne Davis. She is currently 2-for-10 with three RBIs and a double so far this season.

UP NEXT

• The Bonnies will begin their spring break trip in North Carolina with a three-game set at Elon University. The Bonnies will play a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 and then a single game Sunday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.

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