WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team swept visiting Clarks Summit University here Saturday on a cold and blustery Saturday afternoon at the GU Softball Complex. The Bison won the first game, 8-0 in six innings, and took the second game by 17 runs with a 22-5 victory in five innings.

Game 1: Gallaudet 8, Clarks Summit 0 (F/6)
Freshman pitcher Christina Elsbury (North Canton, Ohio) threw a complete game shutout as she gave up four hits, walked two and struck out nine batters to record her first collegiate victory in the circle. 

As Elsbury had things in control within the circle, the Bison offense went to work against Clarks Summit starting pitcher Mara Marshall LeRoy (0-1). 

Freshman Kaitlyn Ruble (Findlay, Ohio) tallied RBI singles in the first and sixth innings and finished the game, 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Bison attack. 

Sophomore Chandler Gloudeman (Waukesha, Wis.) was the second Bison with two hits while sophomore Kendall Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) and freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) scored two runs each and stole a base.

Game 2: Gallaudet 22, Clarks Summit 5 (F/5)
The Bison exploded for 14 runs in the first inning and never looked back in the rout of the Defenders. Gallaudet (4-0) scattered 20 hits throughout the field and held a comfortable 22-0 lead after three innings. 

Clarks Summit (0-2) got on the scoreboard with four runs in the fourth and added a late run late in the fifth. 

Gallaudet's first four batters combined to go 13-for-16, scored 15 runs, drove in nine runs and accounted for five extra-base hits and five stolen bases.

Hudson (3-for-5, four runs) hit an inside-the-park home run to begin the bottom of the first inning. Ruble (3-for-4, three runs) drove in two runs and had a double while freshman Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored four runs and Elsbury (4-for-4) scored four runs, hit two doubles and a triple to go with five RBI in the win.

Elsbury (2-0) cruised in the circle as she allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, walked four and struck out seven to get the win. 

BISON TRACKS

• The Bison stole a combined 18 bases on Saturday
• GU now has 51 stolen bases in four games
• Gallaudet has won four games to begin the season for the first time since 2016
• The Bison scored 30 or more runs in back-to-back doubleheaders
• Gallaudet now has a team earned run average of 1.67

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will take a short trip over to Takoma Park, Md., on Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. for one seven-inning game with Washington Adventist University (1-0).