WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team returned to the diamond after a week off during Spring Break and hosted Messiah University here Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader. The Falcons (10-4) swept the Bison (0-6) with back-to-back run-rule victories as GU fell 17-3 in five innings and were shut out 8-0 in six innings.

Game 1: Messiah 17, Gallaudet 3 (F/5)
Messiah jumped out quick and built a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning that lasted 27 minutes and saw Gallaudet starting pitcher Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) toss 51 pitches. The Falcons were relentless and scored two or more runs in every inning of the game.

Gallaudet was down to its final three outs and was down 17-0 before the Bison got on the scoreboard. Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) singled to right field to break up Messiah starting pitcher Madison Walter's bid for a no-hitter. Freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) followed with a single to center field. Smith came around to score when sophomore Kate Lorenzo (Omaha, Neb.) laid down a bunt and reached first on a Falcon error. Dawson scored minutes later on a passed ball. The Bison got down to their last out but they were not done scoring runs. Lorenzo swiped third base and then scored on a single to right-center field by freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas). 

Giuntoli (0-3) threw a complete game and struck out one batter. Walter (5-3) earned the win as she allowed three unearned runs, walked one and struck out 10. Messiah had five extra-base hits as three batters had two hits each.

Game 2: Messiah 8, Gallaudet 0 (F/6)
The Falcons picked up where they left off to begin the second game. Messiah plated three runs in the top of the first inning and scored single runs in the next three innings to take a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning. The Falcosn pushed across two more runs in the top of the sixth to activate the eight-run rule after five innings. The Bison were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Gallaudet broke up another no-hit bid in the third inning as freshman Esther Biser (Concord, Calif.) doubled to left-center field. That was GU's lone hit of the game.

Messiah starting pitcher Lydia Collison (4-1) earned the win in the circle where she struck out eight in five scoreless innings. Maggie Chinnadurai pitched the final inning to close out the game for the Falcons.

Ketchum (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Bison as she allowed eight runs (six earned) on five hits, nine walks and struck out one. 

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will host Notre Dame of Maryland University (1-1) tomorrow (Sunday, March 20) at noon in a non-conference doubleheader.