MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Gallaudet University softball team split a doubleheader with College of St. Elizabeth at Convent Field as the Bison lost the first contest 3-2 in eight innings but rebounded by doubling up the Screaming Eagles, 12-6, in the second game on Sunday.

Gallaudet's bats came alive in the second game but the Bison trailed 3-0 after one inning of play before outscoring the Screaming Eagles 12-3 the next six innings.

The Bison (11-15, 1-5 NEAC South Division) scored twice in the second inning and took the lead for good in the fourth when they pushed across four runs and took a 6-3 lead. Things got wild for St. Elizabeth starting pitcher Catherine Eber (2-3) who threw a wild pitch to score sophomore second baseman Mia Fernandez (Artesia, N.M.) from third base and moments later a passed ball allowed sophomore right fielder Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) to race home. Freshman left fielder Kelsey Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) scored the third run of the fourth inning when senior catcher Nicole O'Malley (Fredericksburg, Va.) grounded out to shortstop Kelly O'Dell. Sophomore pitcher Montana Murphy (Simi Valley, Calif.) scored the final run of the inning on an RBI-single from senior center fielder Alicia Johnson (San Jose, Calif.). Gallaudet tacked on three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to earn the program's 11th win of the season.

The 11 wins are the most in a season for the Bison under the direction of third-year head coach Joseph Kolcun. The last time the Bison won more than 10 games occurred during the 2006 season when Gallaudet posted a 12-19 record. Gallaudet is in its third year in the NEAC after 20 years in the Capital Athletic Conference. The school record for wins in a season is 17 set in 1999. The Bison have 14 regular-season games left this season.

Three different Bison scored three times in the 12-6 win including Fernandez (3-for-4, double, RBI), Ciccarelli (2-for-4, RBI) and Hudson (2-for-4). Murphy (6-6) hurled a complete game as she allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, walked three and struck out five Screaming Eagles.

Catcher Alesandria DeSapio led the Screaming Eagles (5-4, 1-4 NEAC South) at the plate as she went 3-for-4, hit a double and scored once in the loss.

The first contest was a pitching duel through the first three innings before both teams scored twice in the fourth inning.

Freshman designated player Anna Lynch (Falls Church, Va.) grounded out to second base for the inning's first out but that was enough to score Fernandez from third. Ciccarelli scored the second run on a RBI single to left field by senior third baseman Kara Gulvas (Crown Point, Ind.).

The Screaming Eagles answered the Bison with two runs of their own as Madellyn Rodriguez hit a two-run double to knot the contest at two. The game eventually went to extra innings. DeSapio had the game-winning hit as she scored Katrina Kenny to win the game, 3-2, in eight innings.

Gulvas led things at the plate for the Bison as she went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Junior pitcher Rachel Sweigart (Big Rock, Ill.) suffered as she threw 7.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned), walked one and struck out five. Kenny (3-1) earned the win for the Screaming Eagles as she went the distance and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, walked three and struck out two.

The Bison are back in action on Saturday, April 13, when they welcome NEAC foe Penn St.-Harrisburg (4-16, 1-5 NEAC South) to the GU Softball Complex for two games starting at noon.