WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team picked up its first win of the 2022 season here on a windy Friday as the Bison split a United East Conference doubleheader with SUNY Morrisville. GU won the second game, 8-5, and dropped the first game 16-7 in six innings.

Game 1: SUNY Morrisville 16, Gallaudet 7 (F/6)
The Mustangs scored two runs in the top of the first before the Bison responded with three runs in the bottom half and added another run in the second to take an early 4-2 lead.

Sophomore Kate Lorenzo (Omaha, Neb.) took one for the team as she got on base after a hit by a pitch to start the rally for GU in the first. Freshman Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) flied out to center field to score in Lorenzo to get their first run on the scoreboard. Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) followed with a RBI single before sophomore Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas.) tripled in Smith as the Bison took the 3-2 lead.

GU increased its lead to two runs, 4-2, with a single run in the second and later Smith smacked a bases clearing triple to left-center field to cut into the Morrisville lead, 14-7, in the fifth inning. Smith's triple staved off the eight-run rule for another inning as the Mustangs scored twice in the top of the sixth inning.

Freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) took the loss in the circle as she pitched 3.1 innings and struck out two. 

Game 2: Gallaudet 8, SUNY Morrisville 5
GU heated up its bats and scored at least one or more runs in each of the first four innings en route to its first win of the season. 

Smith came through with a clutch double to left-center field to bring home Lorenzo and Pothorski to grab an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. GU scored a single run in the second inning, two in the third and three in the fourth. Freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) had a RBI single in the third while Pothorski's triple to right-center started the three-run fourth.

Pothorski (1-2) picked up the win in the circle as she threw a complete game where she allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits, walked three and struck out seven.

BISON TRACKS

• Freshman Isabella Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) batted 2-for-2 in game one
• Smith totaled seven RBI in the doubleheader

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will welcome Wells College (0-8, 0-6 United East) to the GU Softball Complex tomorrow (Saturday, April 2) at 1 p.m. for a United East Conference doubleheader.