CLEMSON, S.C. – Week three of the softball season sends the Wildcats to McWhorter Stadium as Villanova (5-4) will take part in the Clemson Classic from Feb. 21-23. 

The 'Cats are scheduled for a bout against the host Tigers on Friday and matchups versus Elon and Marshall on Saturday before a TBD opponent depending on the other days' results to close out the stay in South Carolina.

KILLER KOBRYN    
For the second straight week, Villanova picked up one of the conference's top honors as first-year Lexi Kobryn was named the BIG EAST Pitcher & Freshman of the Week. Kobryn earned the league's top pitcher and rookie honors by dominating in the circle for the Wildcats, tossing a pair of complete game shutouts for two wins at the Joan Joyce Classic. The first-year right-hander allowed just six hits and three walks across 14 innings pitched, striking out eight and moving her season record to 3-0. The New Jersey native shut down the nation's No. 25 team in a 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic, surrendering just six baserunners with four strikeouts in an upset win. Kobryn equaled the feat on Sunday, going the distance in a 3-0 W over Dartmouth for a two-hit complete game shutout.

THE FACTS ON FRANZ    
As has been tradition throughout her career at VU, Ava Franz has been a tone setter near the top of the Villanova order in the early goings of 2025. The Chichester High product has hit .375 through her first 24 at bats of the season, totaling nine hits with a team-high eight runs and seven walks in addition to two homers, 16 total bases and a .667 slugging percentage. Franz is the only player on the team to reach base safely in every game so far (nine), currently owning a season-high four-game hitting streak with three two-hit outings. The senior has also played a flawless shortstop, racking up a 1.000 fielding percentage with 11 putouts and 14 assists on the year so far. 

TALKING ABOUT THE TIGERS

• This weekend's host Clemson racked up a 35-19 record in 2024, going 15-9 in ACC play. The Tigers made it to NCAA Regionals last season despite falling to Duke in the ACC Semifinals, ousted by Southeastern Louisiana in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
• The Tigers own a 5-6 record so far this year, going 3-2 at the Paradise Classic, including a loss to VU opponent and host FAU, but just 1-4 at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. 
• Clemson returns a combined 231 starts from their 2024 roster, led by All-American senior infielder Maddie Moore and All-ACC returner Alex Brown.
• Villanova maintains a 1-0 edge against the Tigers after a 2-1 win at the Disney Citrus Classic in 2020, a pitcher's duel with just seven combined hits.

ELABORATING ON ELON

• Elon wrapped up last season at 23-29 overall, bounced from the CAA Tournament by fellow VU 2024 foe Hofstra.
• The Phoenix come into the weekend at 3-5, losing four of five games at the Elon Softball Classic to start the year and splitting a doubleheader last Friday before the cancellation of Saturday's outings.
• Junior Mauri Murray became the first Phoenix All-Region selection since 2019 after an All-CAA First Team campaign. Infielder Gabi Schaal and catcher Allee Seering were each named to the conference's second team in 2024.
• The Phoenix took down Villanova in eight innings at last year's Duke Invitational, moving the 'Cats to 0-2 against Elon. Franz accounted for three runs with two doubles on the day with Kat Gallant striking out four in five frames as the starting pitcher.

HEARING ABOUT THE HERD

• Marshall went 25-28 in 2024, picking up 10 wins in Sun Belt play but falling in the tournament's quarterfinals.
• The Herd own a 3-5 record heading into McWhorter Stadium, dropping four games at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic but taking two of three against the College of Charleston, one a 17-3 win in five innings.
• Redshirt junior infielder Brooklyn Ulrich was ranked the 84th best player in the nation after an all-conference and all-region first team nod in 2024. Outfielder Bella Gerlach picked up Third Team All-Region after blasting 15 home runs and 48 RBI.
• These teams squared off twice at 2022's Buzz Classic, each going 1-1 with a five-inning victory. Franz and Alexa Raphael each appeared in both bouts that weekend, Franz earning a pair of starts at third base and generating an RBI while Raphael scored her first collegiate run as a pinch runner in the 9-1 victory.

All four games will feature statistics courtesy of StatBroadcast, with streaming available on ACCNX for the Clemson games only.