Gallaudet splits with Cazenovia on Senior Day

Recap, photo courtesy of Gallaudet University

WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team split its Sunday afternoon North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) doubleheader with Cazenovia College at the GU Softball Complex on Senior Day. The Bison cruised in the first game and won 8-0 in five innings. In the second game, Cazenovia (7-11, 1-1 NEAC) led for the majority of the game before Gallaudet (8-12, 3-3 NEAC) tied the game, 5-5, in the fifth inning. The two teams scored once in the seventh before playing two extra innings before the Wildcats hit a go-ahead three-run home run and held on to win 9-8 in nine innings.

In between the first and second games, the Gallaudet softball program took time to recognize their senior class. Four-year letterwinners Alyssa Barlow (Chandler, Ariz.), Kelsey Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) and Genesis Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas) were honored along with team manager Jeremy Franz.

Game 1: Gallaudet 8, Cazenovia 0 (F/5)
Gallaudet broke open an 1-0 game in the bottom of the third inning with a seven-run frame. The eight-run lead was more than enough for freshman starting pitcher Hannah Carter (Dayton, Ohio) to pick up the win as she threw 4.1 innings of scoreless softball. Carter allowed four runs, walked one and struck out three Wildcat batters.

In the seven-run third, junior Jacklyn Zacarias (Montebello, Calif.) and freshman Hailey Henshaw (Newark, Del.) came through with two-run hits. Henshaw's double went to left field as GU took a 7-0 lead.

Cazenovia starting pitcher Kelsey Morgan (0-3) took the loss as she surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on six hits, walked seven and struck out four. Third baseman Megan Krieger led the Wildcats with two hits including a double.

Game 2: Cazenovia 9, Gallaudet 8 (F/9)
The Wildcat bats came alive in the second game as the visitors clubbed three home runs on the breezy and chilly afternoon. Second baseman Alexandra Clifford (4-for-5, three runs, four RBI) led the offense as she smashed a three-run home run in the ninth to give Cazenovia a 9-6 lead.

Gallaudet responded in the bottom half of the ninth when freshman Hannah Neild (Litchfield, N.H.) singled home Hudson, who was placed on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule of the last batter out from the previous inning being placed on second base. Zacarias followed with a double to center field to plate Neild and cut the lead to one, 9-8. On the same play Zacarias tried to stretch her double into a triple but got thrown out at third base to give GU two outs. Rodriguez then grounded out to end the game.

Barlow started in the circle and went 6.1 innings where she allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits, walked three and struck out two. Cazenovia tallied home runs off Barlow in the second and seventh inning. The latter ended Barlow's day in the circle as Zacarias swapped positions with Barlow and pitched the rest of the game. Zacarias (2-6) took the loss as she allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits, walked two and struck out two.

Cazenovia pitcher Abigail House (2-3) earned the win as she allowed eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits, walked three and struck out five.

UP NEXT
It will be a busy Tuesday for the Gallaudet softball program as they are slated to complete the second game of its March 24 doubleheader with Trinity Washington University in the afternoon at the GU Softball Complex. The Bison are leading 14-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. The two teams need to play at least one more inning to make the game official.  From there Gallaudet will board a bus and drive to Takoma Park, Md., to face Washington Adventist University in a non-conference doubleheader under the lights starting at 5 p.m.

GU swept in NEAC opener at Wilson

Recap, photo courtesy of GU

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Gallaudet University's softball team began its North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) schedule on the road here Thursday and dropped two games to Wilson College.

Gallaudet (5-11, 0-2 NEAC) dropped the first game 11-1 in five innings and lost 5-3 in the second game to the Phoenix (4-8, 2-0 NEAC).

Game 1: Wilson 11, Gallaudet 1
Wilson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second and added six runs to its 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away. Wilson won the game 11-1 in five innings as the game ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Gallaudet got on the scoreboard when junior Jacklyn Zacarias (Montebello, Calif.) doubled to center field to score senior Alyssa Barlow (Chandler, Ariz.) from first base. The Bison run cut the Wilson lead to four, 5-1.

The Phoenix scored six times in the bottom half of the fourth.

Barlow (3-4) took the loss in the circle as she allowed 11 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits, five walks and struck out two.

Wilson starting pitcher Megan Potter (3-4) got the win as she surrendered one run on four hits, no walks and struck out seven.

Game 2: Wilson 5, Gallaudet 3
In the second game, Gallaudet struck first and scored two runs in the first and one run in the third and held a 3-2 lead heading into the fifth inning. Wilson scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning off two Bison errors to take a 5-3 lead, which the Phoenix held until the end of the game.

Gallaudet took advantage of three Wilson errors in the first inning as the Bison pushed across two runs.

GU starting pitcher Hannah Carter (Dayton, Ohio) pitched well into the fourth inning as she only allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits, three walks and one strikeout. Zacarias (2-5) came in and eventually gave up the GU lead in the fifth.

Freshman Hannah Neild (Litchfield, N.H.) led the Bison with two singles and one RBI.

Potter (4-4) picked up the win as she pitched the final 3.2 innings for the Phoenix after Daphne Buzard started the game in the circle.

BISON TRACKS

Sophomore Jenny Mendis (Brook Park, Ohio) had a double in the second game
This is the second time this season GU has lost a game by two runs or less
Today's doubleheader was Gallaudet's first official away game this season
Gallaudet has only lost by the eight-run, five-inning mercy rule four times in five innings this year

GU swept by Penn St.-Abington at home

Recap, photo courtesy Gallaudet University

WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University softball team lost both games at home Sunday against North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) foe Penn St.-Abington, 11-1 in the first game in six innings, and 3-2  in the second game.

Game 1: Penn St.-Abington 11, Gallaudet 1
The Bison faced a tough opponent in the Nittany Lions, scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, after the visitors plated 11. Sophomore Genesis Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas) was on third base when sophomore Alyssa Barlow (Chandler, Ariz.) hit a solid ball to the outfield driving Rodriguez home. With 12 hits including a home run, triple and two doubles, the Nittany Lions took every opportunity they had to make contact at the plate.

Senior Kate Fetzer (Noblesville, Ind.) fought hard in the circle, where she started, faced 20 batters

Hoyas Come Up Short in Series Finale

The Blue & Gray continues conference action next weekend with a road series against Providence.
Final Stats
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University softball (9-32, 3-11 BIG EAST) dropped its series finale,4-1, against the Villanova Wildcats (28-14, 11-4 BIG EAST) on Sunday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex.

After a scoreless first inning, Villanova would get on the board first in the bottom of the second frame with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead.

Both teams registered a hit in the third inning, but strong field play from both sides kept the score at

Georgetown Snaps Villanova’s 17-Game Win Streak

Georgetown hammered out 20 hits on the day with four Hoyas registering three hits and three Hoyas collecting two hits on the day.
Final Stats
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University softball team (9-31, 3-10 BIG EAST) snapped Villanova’s 17-game winning streak with an 11-5 victory over the Wildcats in game one before falling, 2-1, in a tightly-contested game two on Saturday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex.

Georgetown hammered out 20 hits on the day with four Hoyas registering three hits and three Hoyas collecting two hits on the day.

Game 1: Georgetown 11, Villanova 5
Senior Samantha Giovanniello (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) led the circle with seven innings pitched, while the Hoyas belted out 16 hits and 11 runs total to snap Villanova’s 17-game winning streak.

GU would get on the board first in the top of the opening inning as freshman designated player Sarah Bennett (Owings, Md./Northern) singled to left center, scoring fellow freshman Mallory Belknap (Scottsdale, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) for the 1-0 Hoya lead.

The Hoyas kept the one-run lead until the bottom of the third inning when Villanova’s Lauren

Bison defeat nemesis Wilson on NFCA Strikeout Cancer Pink Day

WASHINGTON – It was an emotional day for the Gallaudet University softball team as it participated in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) "StrikeOut Cancer" Pink Day at the GU Softball Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bison had cancer survivor Natalie Grindstaff throw out the first pitch to her daughter, Raquel Grindstaff (New Market, Md.), and then celebrated its 8-5 win, the first in seven tries, and first victory over Wilson College since 2014.

The victorious feeling was short-lived as the Bison (8-12, 2-10 NEAC) battled the Phoenix (12-13,

Bison lose two to top NEAC team

Photo is courtesy of Gallaudet University

READING, Pa. – The Gallaudet University softball team lost both games on the road Sunday against North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) rival Penn St.-Berks 5-0 in the first game and 10-2 in five innings in the second game.

Game 1: Penn St.-Berks 5, Gallaudet 0
The Bison faced a tough match-up against the Nittany Lions, undefeated in NEAC play, in the first game as GU was only able to get three hits during the game. Only four Bison reached base in the complete game, but sophomore Jordan Hogan (Severn, Md.) was the only one to advance past first base.

In the top of the seventh inning, Hogan reached by a Berks error and moved to second when

Bison lose leads against Wilson in NEAC doubleheader sweep

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Gallaudet University softball team was unlucky here Sunday as the Bison lost two leads against Wilson College in a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) doubleheader sweep. The Bison held a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning of the first game before falling behind. GU rallied to tie it, only to give-up a three-run home run in the seventh to lose it 8-5. In the second game, Gallaudet (7-7, 1-5 NEAC) led 4-0 after two innings and took a 4-1 lead into the sixth before losing 6-4 to Wilson (9-9, 2-0 NEAC).

Game 1: Wilson 8, Gallaudet 5
Gallaudet trailed, led, trailed, tied it and lost it in a matter of innings against Wilson. The Phoenix