WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University's first softball game against Penn College concluded exactly at 11:59 a.m. here Saturday in the nation's capital and pitcher Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio), who threw a complete game, sprinted off the field. Elsbury, donned in her navy blue softball uniform, made a beeline to the Bison baseball dugout which is just steps away from the softball field, just over a grassy patch and a small set of steps.
Elsbury ducked into the baseball storage room and within minutes she emerged like a superhero in a buff gold baseball jersey and white pants ready to take the mound for the Bison.
Gallaudet baseball coach Curtis Pride inserted Elsbury into the line-up to begin the top of the sixth inning as the Bison took on Penn State Abington in a United East Conference game.
Elsbury, a graduating senior this May, was set to make her ninth appearance this season for the GU baseball team on Senior Day. Elsbury made history earlier this season when she made her first appearance for the Bison on February 18, 2023, against Elmira College. She became the first woman to play on a Gallaudet baseball team. Now the stage was set for something even more historic.
The right-hander made her first pitch to Nittany Lion batter Eric Bogardu and entered the history books as the first person to pitch in a collegiate baseball and softball game on the same day and in this scenario, within 10 minutes of each game.
"I am so honored I had the opportunity to pitch in both games today. I felt very humbled to know that I can compete in both men's and women's sports and show everyone that I am a competitor," said Elsbury. "I felt so energized and excited to make history. I hope this moment can inspire others to take the risk and join baseball or other men's sports and break the stigma behind women in men's sports."
Elsbury's second offering to Bogardu forced a fly out to right field for the first out. The next batter flew out to center field for the second out.
Elsbury allowed a hit and gave up a walk to place runners on first and second before she got a third fly out to end the scoreless inning in a tidy five minutes. That was the fourth time Elsbury threw a scoreless baseball inning in relief this season.
The Bison offense added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Gallaudet (7-28) lost 8-1 to the Nittany Lions (16-16).
Elsbury was not done yet as she jogged off Hoy Field and darted across the grassy patch and down another set of steps back to the GU Softball Complex for the second game against the Wildcats, who won the first game 10-0 in five innings.
Elsbury (8-11) threw a complete game in the first game of the conference doubleheader as she struck out three batters in five innings of work.
Elsbury slipped into the softball storage room and traded in her baseball uniform for the navy blue uniform and ran back onto the softball diamond.
In the second game, Gallaudet softball coach Justen Burns started Elsbury at first base and penciled her into her normal No. 3 batting spot in the Bison (14-22) lineup. Elsbury went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in a run with a single in the fourth and took a walk with the bases loaded in the fifth to collect her second RBI. Elsbury finished the softball doubleheader 3-for-5 at the plate and two RBI.
The Bison scored three runs in the decisive fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead over the Wildcats (22-8). The teams began the sixth inning but rain, thunder and lightning roared through and forced the end of the game as the Bison celebrated a 7-5 victory on Senior Day.
A memorable and busy day for Elsbury and her parents, family and friends. Elsbury, who is listed as a freshman athletically but is graduating this May, was recognized at the start of both the Bison baseball and softball games on Senior Day.
A day where a superhero pitcher showed the world you can play the two sports you love.
