WASHINGTON, D.C. – It was a tough task for the Gallaudet University softball team on Wednesday afternoon as the Bison hosted North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) South Division first-place leader Wilson College. The Phoenix (8-6, 8-0 NEAC) remain perfect in conference play as they swept the conference doubleheader from Gallaudet 17-5 in five innings and 7-3 in the second game. All of Wilson's wins have come in conference play thus far this season.

Gallaudet (2-14, 0-6) has now dropped six straight and are 1-9 this season at the GU Softball Field. This is the second straight home doubleheader that the Bison lost to a conference foe in the second game with the same 7-3 outcome.

The Bison ran into a buzz saw in Wilson starting pitcher Nicole Musser (4-3). The sophomore struck out 14 of the 27 batters she faced during the seven-inning second game. She allowed three runs on five hits and walked none. Musser's counterpart was sophomore pitcher Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills), who like Musser went the distance. Paige Johnson allowed seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits, walked four and recorded three strikeouts.

Wilson plated all seven runs within the first three innings of the second game. The Phoenix finished their scoring with a four-run third inning. GU got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder Alicia Johnson (San Jose, Calif.) blasted a triple to right field and then scored, on the same play, due to a Phoenix throwing error on the relay. Alicia Johnson's triple was the second in a row off Musser as senior Alicia Balzer (Montgomery Village, Md.) tripled moments before and scored Gallaudet's first run of the game.

In the first game, Wilson scored a run in every inning as they broke open a 3-3 game in the second inning with a seven-run outburst. The Phoenix scored 17 runs off nine hits against Bison pitcher Alicia Johnson (1-4), who walked 11 batters and struck out seven. Gallaudet's big inning came in the bottom of the first inning when freshman Krystal Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) blasted a three-run home run to left field. Two innings later, Alicia Johnson added a solo home run of her own to left center, her third homer of the season. In the fifth inning, Krystal Johnson (2-for-2, four RBI) singled home Alicia Johnson (2-for-2, three runs, one RBI) to give the Bison five runs.

Sophomore pitcher Leigh Roche (4-3) won the game for the Phoenix as she went the distance and allowed five runs on five hits, walked three and struck out 10 Bison. Sophomore Tara Fields drove in a team-high four RBI and scored twice to pace the Phoenix.

Gallaudet turns around and will host College of Notre Dame (Md.) in a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow (Thursday, April 7) at home with the first game set to start at 3 p.m. This is a make-up from Tuesday's washout with the Gators.