WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team hosted Penn St.-Berks here Friday in a United East conference doubleheader at the GU Softball Complex. The Nittany Lions (20-7, 17-3 United East) swept the Bison (3-29, 3-19 United East) with back-to-back run-rule victories 21-1 and 11-1 in five innings.

Game 1: Penn St.-Berks 21, Gallaudet 1 (F/5)
In the first inning, the Bison defense came to play and held their own against the second-place team in the United East. Freshman pitcher Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) started the game by striking out the first batter. Freshman third baseman Isabella Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) ended up in the Nittany Lion dugout with a foul out catch for the second out. Sophomore outfielder Kate Lorenzo (Omaha, Neb.) made a running catch in left-center field to help retire Penn St.-Berks in order.

GU kept the positive energy going in the bottom of the first when freshman Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) slammed a triple to center field and scored moments later on a RBI single from freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) as GU led 1-0.

The Nittany Lions scored the next 21 runs on 22 hits in four innings to end the game in five. Every batter for Penn St.-Berks had two or more hits as Susan Duncan (3-for-4) connected on two home runs and finished with nine RBI.

Gallaudet freshman Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.) added the third hit for the Bison in the third inning with a single to right field. 

Pothorski (1-6) took the loss in the circle as she tossed a complete game and struck out one. 

Penn St.-Berks starting pitcher Briana Smith (11-3) earned the win as she surrendered one run on three hits, walked none and struck out nine.

Game 2: Penn St.-Berks 11, Gallaudet 1 (F/5)
Penn St.-Berks picked up where it left off and scored two runs in the first two innings and added three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to win by 10.

Gallaudet broke up the no-hit bid in the second inning as Smith singled to left field. Three batters later, freshman Emily Nover (District Heights, Md.) singled up the middle to score Smith and get the Bison on the scoreboard. GU's last hit came from freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif. ) with a single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the fifth.

Ketchum (1-9) took the loss in the circle as she pitched five innings.  

Penn St.-Berks starting pitcher Arizona Shreck (9-4) threw a complete game as she allowed one run on three hits, no walks and struck out one.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will close out its home schedule tomorrow (Saturday, April 23) with a conference doubleheader against Penn St.-Abington (17-11, 12-6 United East) at 1 p.m.