WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team began United East Conference play on a chilly Friday at the GU Softball Complex against Penn State Harrisburg. The visiting Lions (7-5, 2-0 United East) swept the Bison (0-10, 0-2 United East) with 14-0 and 22-1 outcomes in five innings.

Game 1: Penn State Harrisburg 14 , Gallaudet 0 (F/5)
Penn State Harrisburg scored two or more runs in every inning but the fourth as they scored 14 times on 16 hits against the Bison. Gallaudet recorded its lone hit in the bottom of the third inning when freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) tripled to center field.

The Lions scored four runs in the first, two in the second, five in the third and three in the fifth. Shortstop Madelyn Lehigh and first baseman Steph Reider led the visitors with three hits and three RBI each. Carissa Yeager (6-3) picked up the win as she threw four scoreless innings and struck out four. Mary-Kate Penczkowski closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning.

Gallaudet starting pitcher Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) took the loss in the circle as she threw a complete game and struck out two batters.

Game 2: Penn State Harrisburg 22, Gallaudet 1 (F/5)
Penn State Harrisburg batted around several time in the first inning and took a 12-0 lead before the Bison could bat. The visitors added eight more runs in the second inning as Gallaudet pitchers logged 119 pitches to 35 thrown by the Lions through two innings. 

Gallaudet got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning after back-to-back walks issued to Giuntoli and freshman Esther Biser (Concord, Calif.). The duo completed a double steal of second and third base and errant throw by the Lions catcher allowed Giuntoli to scamper home and score GU's lone run. 

GU tallied four hits from four different batters. Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a double to center field in the bottom of the first inning.

Freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) took the loss in the circle as she logged 3.1 innings while Giuntoli threw 1.2 innings. Both pitchers had one strikeout. 

Penczkowski (1-2) picked up the win as she allowed one unearned run on four hits, walked four and struck out four. Yeager threw a scoreless fifth inning under the lights at the GU Softball Complex.

Penn State Harrisburg scored 22 runs on 17 hits, which included one extra-base hit (double), 15 walks and five miscues by the Bison defense.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will next host Penn College (6-5, 2-0 United East) tomorrow (Saturday, March 26) for a United East doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.