TAKOMA PARK, Md. - The Gallaudet University softball team faced its first stern test of the season here Sunday on the road against Washington Adventist University, a NAIA program, and came away with an 11-8 win in seven innings.

The Bison (5-0) received a shock from Washington Adventist (1-1) as the home team went up 6-0 after the first inning. 

Gallaudet battled back and scored the next nine runs, over the course of four innings, to take a 9-6 lead into the sixth inning.

WAU tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth as the Shock scored one run to cut the margin to two, 9-7. The Shock had runners on second and third base with one out but the next batter hit into a double play. The WAU batter grounded out to the pitcher and then GU got the runner going from third to home to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, freshman Kaitlyn Ruble (Findlay, Ohio) blasted a two-run home run high over the left field fence to put the game out of reach. 

Freshman Christina Elsbury (North Canton, Ohio) came on to pitch after the Shock jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Elsbury steadied the ship and went the distance for her third win in two days. The freshman right-hander allowed two runs on five hits, walked none and struck out seven in seven innings pitched.

BISON TRACKS

• Elsbury went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and one double
• Freshman catcher Ariel Senics (Fishers, Ind.) had a RBI double in the fourth
• Three different Bison had two or more RBI
• The game lasted two hours and 40 minutes
• This is GU's best start to a season since the 2013 season when the Bison began 8-0

UP NEXT
GU is off for a few days before hosting Washington Adventist at the GU Softball Complex on Friday, March 13, at 2 p.m.