Live Stats

Villanova, Pa. - The Villanova softball team will begin BIG EAST Conference play this weekend at Seton Hall. The Wildcats and Pirates will square off at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday and close the weekend with a 12 p.m. game on Sunday. Villanova is 11-8 on the season, and Seton Hall sports a 13-9-1 record. Live stats are available for all games.

OVER 800

Head Coach Maria DiBernardi is in her 33rd season at Villanova. During her time on the Main Line, DiBernardi has compiled an 829-722-10 record. She picked up her 800th career victory last season in an 8-7 victory over St. John's on April 2.

FOUR FOR O'DONNELL

Associate head coach Jessica O'Donnell returns for her fourth season on the Villanova coaching staff. O'Donnell aids DiBernardi with the day-to-day operations of the program, along with leading the infielders and catchers.

NEW COACH IN THE DUGOUT

Stephanie Sanders began her first season as an assistant coach with the team this year. Sanders spent last season as an assistant at Saginaw Valley State and is a 2015 graduate of Michigan State.

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats put together an impressive offensive performance in a doubleheader against Rider on Thursday afternoon at the Villanova University Softball Complex. The home team swept the Broncs by scores of 15-0 and 9-1.

A YEAR AGO

Villanova and Seton Hall played five times during the 2015-16 season, and the Wildcats won all five games. The teams first squared off at the USF Under Armour Invitational. Villanova won both games in Florida by scores of 14-4 and 4-3. Later in the year, the Wildcats swept the Pirates in a three-game weekend series.

SCOUTING SETON HALL

Seton Hall has the highest winning percentage in the BIG EAST at .587. The Pirates are tough on their home field, as they are 4-0 this season. Alexis Walkden is the top contributor on offense for the Pirates. Walkden is batting .362 with 25 hits, 24 runs, 16 RBIs and 10 doubles. Lauren Fischer, Reganne Camp and Chrisa Head have all seen significant action on the hill. Fischer has a 2.33 ERA in seven starts this season.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE STATS

Nikki Alden is having an impressive 2016-17 season. The junior is batting .432 on the year with 19 hits, 10 runs and 21 RBIs. Teammate Lauren Hanna has a .358 average with 19 hits, eight runs and six RBIs. On the mound, Brette Lawrence leads the team in ERA at 2.45. In her final season, Lawrence has an 8-4 record in 74.1 innings pitched. She has struck out 64 batters, while walking just nine.

CHASING THE RECORD BOOKS

Lauren Herschberg has 179 hits in her career, which is just 21 shy of the 200 mark. Herschberg also has 43 doubles during her time at Villanova. She needs four more to move into a tie for third place on the program's all-time list and nine more to tie Megan O'Leary's first place total of 52 doubles.

FIVE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

Villanova is 8-0 this season when scoring five or more runs. The Wildcats are 6-0 when leading after six innings and 11-1 when leading after five frames.

UP NEXT

Villanova will return home for a doubleheader against La Salle on Tuesday, March 28. The first game is scheduled for 3 p.m.