DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton softball team returns to UD Softball Stadium this weekend for a three game series against George Washington University.  Action gets underway at noon on Saturday with a doubleheader, followed by the conclusion of the series on Sunday with another game that starts at noon.

Recent Action
The Flyers have a 28-12 overall record (12-2 A-10) and are coming off a three-game series sweep of Saint  Joseph's last weekend in Philadelphia. The Flyers won both games of the Saturday doubleheader (7-1, 9-0) and prevailed with a score of 6-1 in the Sunday finale. UD lost a non-conference mid-week game to Ohio, 8-2, on Tuesday.  George Washington enters the game with a 21-17 record overall (4-8 A-10). The Colonials have won four out of their last five games, coming into the weekend with three straight wins.

Series Stuff 
Dayton holds a 12-11 all-time record against GW.  The Flyers split two games with the Colonials a season ago, posting a 8-2 victory and a 3-0 loss in April 2014. 

Scouting Report
As a team, the Colonials are hitting for a .289 average while allowing their opponents to a .261 mark. GW is led by Carlee Gray, who is hitting for a .371 average with 13 runs scored, six doubles and four triples. Victoria Valos leads the team with 36 RBIs. The pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.74 with 132 strikeouts and 181 walks in 248.2 innings of work. Paige Kovalsky leads the staff with a 3.34 ERA and an 8-1 record. Sarah Costlow leads the team in strikeouts with 65.

Weather Report
Saturday: Rain in the afternoon, high of 63 degrees, chance of rain 50%
Sunday: Rain showers, high of 61 degrees, chance of rain 60%

Just Win Baby
With the 8-0 victory over Rhode Island on March 28 head coach Cara LaPlaca reached the 20-win milestone for her sixth time at UD, and her fifth season in a row.  LaPlaca then broke her record for most wins in a season at UD which was 27, following the 6-1 win over Saint Joseph's on April 12.  She is now looking to break the overall record for most wins in a season at 35 (2000), as well as the record for conference wins at 12 (2013).

300 Club
With the 8-0 victory over the Fordham Rams on April 4, LaPlaca earned her 300th career victory.  It was her 169th at Dayton.  She earned 131 victories while head coach at her alma mater Clarke College.

Perfect English
Senior pitcher Kayla English threw the first perfect game in UD history on March 29 against Rhode Island.  She retired all 15 batters in a row in the 10-0, five-inning victory.  It was her second no-hitter in her career, she threw one against Wright State on March 27, 2014.  For her performance, she was awarded A-10 Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season.

Top Tossers
This season the UD pitching staff leads the Atlantic 10 in ERA with a 2.28 mark, which is good for 24th in the country.  The staff is led by Kayla English who is tops in the A-10 with a 1.56 ERA (27th nationally). Manda Cash ranks second in the conference with a 1.66 ERA (32nd nationally).  English also ranks first in the conference in hits per seven innings (4.10, 11th nationally), shutouts (6, 15th nationally), while Cash is tops in strikeouts per seven innings (9.4, 19th nationally) and in saves with five (fifth nationally)

Veterans Making Their Mark
Several Flyer seniors have made significant impacts on the Flyer record books in their careers:  

• Kayla English holds the all-time career record in strikeouts with 539, ranks third in wins with 50, and fourth in innings pitched with 553.2.
• Tiffany Ricks ranks first in slugging percentage (.624), second in home runs (29), third in batting average (.344), runs (93), doubles (32), RBI (110), and steals (31).
• Natalie Mariano is fifth in hits (168) and runs scored (88).
• Grad Student Jordan Jennings is tied for third all-time in home runs (22) and is ninth all-time in RBI (82)

As always, admission is free into the UD Softball Stadium, and after the conclusion of Sunday's game, kids have the opportunity to run the bases.