WASHINGTON – It was an unexpected home softball doubleheader for Gallaudet University as the Bison were originally scheduled to play at Notre Dame of Maryland University on Saturday, March 23, but rain washed those plans out and moved the game here on a sunny and breezy Sunday afternoon.
Gallaudet couldn't match the offensive output made by Notre Dame as the Gators swept the doubleheader 10-3 and 7-2.
Notre Dame (6-6) finished with 24 hits between the two games as 16 were extra-base hits (nearly 67 percent) including four home runs that cleared the fences. Gallaudet (4-6) recorded five extra-base hits out of eight (62.5 percent) between the two contests.
Game 1: Notre Dame (Md.) 10, Gallaudet 3
The first game got off to a slow start before both teams scored twice in the second inning. GU's scoring was highlighted by an RBI double by
Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.), who drove in
Adele Daniels (Frederick, Md.). Perry got thrown out running back to second base after thinking about going to third. Daniels reached base due to a throwing error but that play allowed sophomore
Lou Cherena (El Paso, Texas) to score from third. Cherena led off the inning with a double.
The Gators broke open the game in the third with four runs with two coming off the bat of Lilyian Hafner (3-for-4, three runs), who slammed a two-run home run down the left field line. Her other two hits were doubles.
GU got one run back in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore
Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.) singled to center field and worked her way around the base paths. Drolsbaugh moved to second on a passed ball, stole third and raced home (on the same play) after a throwing error by the catcher permitted Drolsbaugh to score and cut the lead in half, 6-3.
The Gators added one run in the fourth and three in the fifth. Bethani Newbold (2-for-4, two runs) blasted a two-run home run to left field in the fifth. Newbold's other hit was a triple in the third inning.
GU starting pitcher
Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio) took the loss as she threw a complete game. NDMU's Gena Donalds (1-3) won her first game of the season as she went the distance.
NDMU leadoff hitter Anabelle Hafner (4-for-5) led all batters with four hits which included two doubles and a triple.
Game 2: Notre Dame (Md.) 7, Gallaudet 2
Gallaudet scored first but could only plate two runs, one run in the first and sixth innings, as the Gators powered past the Bison with two runs in the third and five in the fourth.
Drolsbaugh led-off the bottom of the first with a triple to left field and scored moments later, on a grounder by first year
Andi Sisemore (Arlington, Texas) as Drolsbaugh beat the throw home. Drolsbaugh recorded GU's only two hits in the game as she singled to lead off the sixth.
Notre Dame took the lead in the top of the third with two runs but one was aided by a Gallaudet error.
The Gators walloped Drolsbaugh, the Bison starting pitcher, in the fourth with five runs as two NDMU batters slammed two-run home runs. Anabelle Hafner (2-for-4, two runs) went opposite field with a homer to right-center field. Moments later, Jessie Leatherwood took a Drolsbaugh pitch over the right field fence to score her younger sister, Julianna, who doubled to reach base.
At the plate, Gallaudet could not solve Jessie Leatherwood (3-2) as the left-hander struck out 11 Bison in seven innings of work. Jessie Leatherwood recorded two or more strikeouts in the first, second, fourth and seventh innings. She struck out the side in the fourth inning. Her only mistake was a wild pitch in the sixth, which allowed Sisemore to score from third base.
Jessie Leatherwood allowed two runs on two hits, one walk and struck out 11 for the complete game win. Drolsbaugh (2-3) went the distance and tallied four strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet will begin conference play this Wednesday, March 27, on the road at Lancaster Bible College (6-9). It will be the first conference games for both teams. This will also mark Gallaudet's first road game of the season. LBC is currently 5-1 at home this year.
