WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's softball team played the first of a four-game weekend series here on a frigid Saturday against Penn St.-Abington in the first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) opener for both teams. The Bison played a good game but ended up on the wrong end of an 8-6 outcome before a few brave souls that came out in the wintry elements.

Freshman Alyssa Barlow (Chandler, Ariz.) hit a home run over the fence with two outs in the seventh inning to cut the lead to two. Freshman Kristi Luna (Austin, Texas) took advantage of the energy on the field and hit a double all the way to the left-field fence but was left on base as the next batter flew out to center to end the game.

The Bison (3-15, 0-1 NEAC) and the Nittany Lions (3-1-1, 1-0 NEAC) scored two runs in the first inning but Abington took the lead in the fourth when the Nittany Lions scored five runs on five hits and aided by a Bison error. 

Barlow (2-7) took the loss as she allowed seven runs off 11 hits, four walks and one strikeout. Abington left fielder Greta Sheridan led the offense with a two-run home run in the five-run fourth and Whitney DeLagoi added a double, three runs and two walks. Third baseman Emily Forsberg (Riverside, Calif.) led GU with two RBI in the loss.

The Bison began the second game against Abington at 5 p.m., a delay due to the GU Track and Field Invitational going on at the same time, but the game was suspended after the first inning due to freezing temperatures and high winds impacted the game. The NEAC has a cold weather policy for baseball and softball that states if wind chill temperatures are 31 degrees Fahrenheit and below then a home game (conference or non-conference) or practice can't be held outside. The teams will pick up the game tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. in the second inning with Abington leading 8-0. Two additional games will follow in the afternoon.