DOVER, Del. – The Gallaudet University softball team dropped a gut-wrenching doubleheader Saturday on the road against Wesley College as the host Wolverines took two from the Bison by the same 8-7 score. Wesley (7-9) had to score one run in the seventh inning of the first game to win it and three runs in the seventh of the second game to complete the sweep.

Gallaudet (10-10) stormed back in the second game with five runs in the top of the sixth inning in the second game to take a 7-5 lead into the seventh inning. Sophomore pitcher Montana Murphy (5-4) gave up back-to-back singles before she lost her control and threw a wild pitch that allowed the two runners to move into scoring position. Allison Kraky plated Steph Caracozza (2-for-4, two runs) with a sacrifice fly to right field. A second wild pitch allowed Taylor Hendricks to move to third base as the Bison clung to a 7-6 lead. Sarah Saunders (3-for-4) stepped to the plate and doubled and scored on a Bison error to win the game.

GU out hit Wesley 12-10 in the first game as every Bison starter had at least one hit except for one batter. Senior Alicia Johnson (San Jose, Calif.), junior Rachel Sweigart (Big Rock, Ill.), sophomore Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and freshman Anna Lynch (Falls Church, Va.) each had two hits as Johnson and Lynch scored twice.

In the first game, GU jumped out to a quick 2-1 lead before the Wolverines plated four runs in the bottom half of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Bison scored twice in the third and knotted the game at five in the top half of the fifth inning. Wesley answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth before the Bison scored twice in the sixth to tie the game at seven.

Saunders (2-for-4, two runs) played a critical role in Wesley's win as she doubled off Sweigart to leadoff the seventh inning for the Wolverines. She then stole third base and scored on a wild pitch to end the game, 8-7 in favor of Wesley.

GU senior Nicole O'Malley (Fredericksburg, Va.) led the Bison offense with three hits and two runs. The two teams committed 10 errors combined as Wesley had six of them.

The Bison will begin North Eastern Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, April 3, on the road against Wilson College. The doubleheader will start at 3 p.m.