PHILADELPHIA - The fourth-seeded University of Dayton softball team will square off against No. 1 George Washington Thursday in the first game of the 2021 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship hosted by Saint Joseph's. First pitch between the Flyers and Colonials is set for 11 a.m. at SJU Softball Field.

GAME ONE - Live Stats | ESPN+

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washington (33-8) finished A-10 play with a 23-1 record, earning the number one seed in the 2021 tournament with a .958 winning percentage and securing the program's first regular season title. The Colonials' offense is led by reigning A-10 Player of the Week Jenna Cone with a .421 average (5th A-10) and 17 home runs (1st A-10), one of three players swinging above .400 and, as a team, GW ranks fourth nationally with a .354 average. The Colonial pitching corps boasts a team ERA of 1.87 (15th NCAA) led by current Pitcher of the Week Sierra Lange (17-7) at 1.83 over 141.2 innings pitched with 170 strikeouts (1st A-10) and 17 complete games in the circle.

GW is making its third-straight and seventh overall appearance in the postseason conference tournament in 2021. In 2019, the Colonials were named co-champions with Fordham after the winner-take-all final was rained out.

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (19-24) saw its final two A-10 games against Saint Louis rained out last weekend, finishing the conference season with a 14-8 record to earn the fourth seed at this year's tournament. Offensively the Flyers have six players hitting above .300 led by freshman Megan Ward (.422, 4th A-10) with 62 hits (1st A-10, 23rd NCAA) and 27 runs scored while senior Abby Ehrenborg (.345) has tallied 16 home runs (2nd A-10) and knocked in 37 RBI) for UD. In the circle, freshman left-handed pitcher Addy Bullis (11-6) carries the team's low ERA of 1.97 (5th A-10) over 110.0 innings pitched with 107 strikeouts (4th A-10) while sophomore righty Sarah Bailitz has collected a conference-best five saves (5th NCAA) this season in relief.

UD is making its eighth-consecutive and 12th overall appearance in the A-10 tournament this season.

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The winners of Thursday's two first round games will advance to meet in the semifinals, which will be played Friday, May 14 at noon. The two losing teams from the first round will play in the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament Thursday evening. The winner of that game will face the loser of the winner's bracket semifinal on Friday. The championship game will be played at noon on Saturday, May 15.

SPECTATOR POLICY AT SJU SOFTBALL FIELD
Spectators are permitted to attend outdoor Athletics contests hosted at SJU Softball Field. All guests are required to wear masks, physical distancing must be practiced, any/all group gatherings are prohibited, and outdoor restrooms will be provided.

FOLLOW #UDSB
Follow the Flyers on Twitter: @FlyerSoftball, Facebook: Dayton Flyers Softball and Instagram daytonflyersoftball


Championship Game Schedule
(Thursday, May 13 – Hosted by Saint Joseph's University)
11:00 AM ET                                   #1 George Washington vs. #4 Dayton       
1:30 PM ET                                     #2 Saint Joseph's vs. #3 Fordham
4:00 PM ET                                      Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
 
(Friday, May 14 – Hosted by Saint Joseph's University)
12:00 PM ET                                   Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2       
2:30 PM ET                                     Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
 
(Saturday, May 15 – Hosted by Saint Joseph's University)
12:00 PM ET                                  Championship Game
*If necessary game to follow approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 6