WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team swept Wells College here Saturday in a United East Conference doubleheader at the sunny GU Softball Complex. The Bison (3-13, 3-5 United East) took the first game, 10-2, and the second game, 18-2, both in five innings over the Express (0-10, 0-8 United East).

Game 1: Gallaudet 10, Wells 2 (F/5)
Gallaudet took a no-hitter into the top of the fifth inning before the Express got a single up the middle to break up the bid as the Bison led 10-2. The Express tried to extend the game past the fifth inning but had a runner thrown out at the plate and left another runner on third as Gallaudet freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) struckout the last batter on a called third strike. The Bison won the game in five inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The Bison trailed 2-1 before the bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth and scored nine runs on six hits and two Express errors. Sophomore Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) had a two-run double down the left field line to start things off. Freshman catcher Emily Nover (District Heights, Md.) came through with a two-run single and two batters later freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) did the same. Ketchum then lifted a pop fly to centerfield that bounced off the Wells outfielder's mitt and rolled to the fence. That allowed Ketchum and two other Bison runners to come all the way around and score and increase the Bison lead to 10-2.

Freshman Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start in the circle for the Bison and pitched the first two innings before Ketchum (1-5) came on to close out the game. The two Bison pitchers recorded three strikeouts each.

Wells scored twice with a run in the first and third innings as the Express took advantage of 11 walks issued by the Bison. Wells' lone hit came off the bat of catcher Serina Sheradin in the fifth.

The defensive play of the game came in the top of the third inning when the Bison turned a rare triple play. The Express had the bases loaded when Sheradin lifted a pop fly to right field where Dawson made the catch and threw to first base to get the runner who had broke towards second base without tagging. Pothorski, who had just moved to first base, then fired a throw over to freshman Isabella Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) at third base as that runner had already ran to home plate without tagging up for the third out.

Express pitcher Megan Litzenberger (0-6) took the loss as she surrendered 10 runs (nine earned) on nine hits, three walks and struck out one. 

Game 2: Gallaudet 18, Wells 2 (F/5)
The Bison broke open a 3-0 game in the bottom of the third inning as they scored 13 runs on two hits and four Wells errors to take a 16-0 lead. Wells issued seven walks and two hit by the pitch to go with the four fielding errors as the Bison batted around in the third. 

In the three-run first inning, freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a two-run triple to center field followed by a RBI double by Giuntoli to plate Smith. 

GU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when both Pothorski and Smith singled to right field and advanced bases due to fielding errors.

Freshman pitcher Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.) got the start in the circle for the Bison and threw a complete game where she allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, walked six and struck out seven.

Wells scored runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. Megan Litzenberger (0-7) took the loss as she allowed five unearned runs on six hits, walked one and struck out one in two innings of work. Jennifer McCumber pitched the other two innings and allowed 13 runs (one earned) on two hits, nine walks and no strikeouts. 

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will next host Lancaster Bible College on Tuesday, April 5, at 3 p.m. for a conference doubleheader.