WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University softball team swept a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) doubleheader against Lancaster Bible College on a sunny Friday afternoon at the GU Softball Complex in front of the largest crowd of the season on Senior Day. The Bison scored three runs in the seventh to win the first game, 3-2, and won quickly 8-0 in five innings to complete the final home games of the regular-season.

Gallaudet (13-17, 5-7 NEAC) had a slow start to the first game as the Chargers (5-15, 4-6 NEAC) tallied nine hits and took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Despite the deficit, the Bison proved to be resilient and thrived under the pressure, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the win. Freshman outfielder Kimberly Klock (Puyallup, Wash.) started the comeback when she knocked a ball to right field to bring home junior pinch runner Montana Murphy (Simi Valley, Calif.). Junior outfielder Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) stepped up to the plate and with two strikes hit a ground ball to second base as LBC's Anna Harris scooped up the ball and threw it wildly to home plate. The errant throw allowed junior outfielder Victoria Rainey (Danvers, Ill.) and Klock to score and end the game.

Senior Rachel Sweigart (Big Rock, Ill.) pitched the entire game, giving up nine hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk in the come-from-behind win.

A totally different Bison offense showed up in the second game as the Bison tallied 12 hits and scored six runs in the fourth and two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game by the mercy rule. Offensively, Gallaudet saw contributions all across the board as eight different players had a hit. Rainey went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run, Klock went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI, Sweigart was a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and sophomore shortstop Chelsea Lee (South Brunswick, N.J.) was 2-for-2 with one RBI. 

Sweigart (7-8) pitched her second complete game of the day as she allowed only three hits to go with three strikeouts.

In between the two games, Gallaudet coach Joseph Kolcun paid tribute to his four seniors Sweigart, Rainey, Caitlin Stevens (Glen Allen, Va.) and Katie Alfsen (St. Augustine, Fla).

The Bison will finish their season on the road, starting tomorrow (Saturday, April 12), as they take on NEAC foe Penn St.-Berks for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.