WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to Washington Adventist University here on a chilly Thursday afternoon at the GU Softball Complex. The visiting Shock won 11-3 and 14-2 as both games ended in the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Game 1: Washington Adventist 11, Gallaudet 3 (F/5)
GU trailed 10-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning where the Bison scored twice to breakup the shutout. The Bison took advantage of two throwing errors in the fourth to get on the scoreboard. Sophomore Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) reached base after Shock first baseman Delihla Garcia muffed a throw from shortstop Cassandra Esquibel. Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) singled to center field to plate Giuntoli after Esquibel made an errant throw on the play. Freshman Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) grounded out to move Smith over to third. Freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) followed with a RBI single up the middle to plate Smith as GU cut the lead to eight, 10-2.

GU scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth on a double steal. Freshman Esther Biser (Concord, Calif.) singled up the middle to begin the bottom of the fifth for the Bison. Biser stole second and third base before freshman Emily Nover (District Heights, Md.) singled to the pitcher to put runners at the corners. That set the scene for the double steal as Nover took second base and Biser raced home to give the Bison their third run of the game.

Pothorski (0-1) took the loss in the circle as she allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits, six walks and one strikeout in one inning pitched. Ketchum came on to close out the game over the next four innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) on five hits, one walk and struck out three.

Jasmine Hernandez earned the win as she allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, walked one and struck out three. Four different Shock recorded two hits and two or more RBI while three scored three times each.

Game 2: Washington Adventist 14, Gallaudet 2 (F/5)
In the second game, Washington Adventist batted around in the first inning and scored nine times to begin the contest. The Shock added two runs in the third and three times in the fifth. GU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with two runs.

In the third, Nover doubled to right field and Pothorski singled to left field to put runners at the corners. A Washington Adventist error allowed Nover to score as Pothorski stole second base and advanced to third base. Giuntoli singled home Pothorski with a single up the middle as GU trailed 11-2.

Giuntoli (0-2) pitched a complete game in the circle where she allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 12 hits, walked eight and struck out one. 

Sophia Del Dosque took the win in the circle as she allowed two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out four. The Shock had five players record two hits each while four had two or more RBI and runs. 

UP NEXT
GU was slated to play host to Elizabethtown College on Saturday, March 12, but due to inclement weather in the forecast for the region the non-conference doubleheader has been postponed and no make-up date has been decided at this time. The Bison will next play host to Messiah University on Saturday, March 19, at noon.