WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University softball team shutout Notre Dame of Maryland University in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday at the GU Softball Complex as the Bison won 9-0, 13-0 in five innings. Together the Bison pitching staff allowed just six hits between both games.

Junior pitcher Rachel Sweigart (Big Rock, Ill.) threw a complete game shutout as she threw five innings, allowed two hits and struck out four. Only one Gator base runner reached scoring position.

Sophomore pitcher Montana Murphy (Simi Valley, Calif.) threw a complete game shutout in the second game as she pitched five innings, allowed four hits, walked three and struck out two. Sweigart and Murphy are now 3-0 for the season. Gallaudet (6-0) is off to a tremendous start to the season. Today marked the season opener for Notre Dame (0-2).

Sweigart got things done at the plate in the first game as she went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, three RBIs and a run scored. Senior center fielder Alicia Johnson (San Jose, Calif.) went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore second baseman Mia Fernandez (Artesia, N.M.) had a two-RBI double. 

In the second game, the Gators came close to scoring in the fourth inning but Kristen Smulovitz hit into a double play. She hit the ball softly to Murphy, who threw to first base for the first out, and Tawny Cevora was out at the plate on a throw by junior first baseman Caitlin Stevens (Glen Allen, Va.) to senior catcher Nicole O'Malley (Fredericksburg, Va.) for the second out. The third out for Notre Dame (Md.) came when Heather Lancellotti (2-for-2) left third base early and was called out by the umpire.

Notre Dame threatened again in the top of the fifth inning with Colleen McCauley made it to third base after a single down the left-field line, then moved to third after Murphy issued back-to-back walks to Ashely Fallon and Katie Reading. Murphy struck out the next batter faced, then Mindy Daugherty reached first on a fielders choice while McCauley was out at home on a throw from senior third baseman Kara Gulvas (Crown Point, Ind.) to O'Malley. 

The Bison scored seven runs in the third inning. O'Malley had a double, and freshman right fielder Anna Lynch (Falls Church, Va.), Gulvas and Johnson had back-to-back-to-back doubles. While Sweigart and Stevens each had a single apiece while Fernandez had two in the inning. 

Sweigart played the second game as the designated player and went 2-for-3 with a triple, four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Fernandez went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Lynch went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Johnson went 2-for-2 with two doubles, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Kelsey Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) had a triple after coming in to pinch hit for Johnson and recorded two RBIs. 

The Bison will host Trinity (D.C.) University for two games on Thursday, March 14, at 3 p.m.