WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team squeezed in two United East Conference games here Tuesday afternoon before the stronger rainstorms moved through the nation's capital. The Bison hosted Lancaster Bible College in a conference doubleheader on an overcast, cool and wet day at the GU Softball Complex. It was a close first game as the Bison rally came up short, 6-4, against the Chargers. In the second game, Lancaster Bible (6-12, 6-4 United East) defeated Gallaudet (3-15, 3-7 United East) by the eight-run rule, 11-3, in five innings.

Game 1: Lancaster Bible 6, Gallaudet 4
Gallaudet entered the seventh and final inning down four runs, 6-2, but rallied to score two runs on one hit and took advantage of two errors made by the Chargers to cut the deficit to 6-4 with two runners on base. Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.), this week's United East Player of the Week, stepped to the plate and blasted a shot up the middle but the ball hit a Bison runner, who was called out on the play to end the game. Smith's would-be hit could have scored Gallaudet's fifth run and continue the last-inning rally but the Bison were unlucky on that play.

GU scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning as sophomore Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) recorded a RBI single and freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) doubled in a run as the Bison trimmed the LBC lead to one, 3-2. 

Lancaster Bible added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead.

The defensive play of the game came in the top of the third inning when Lancaster Bible batter Bryanna Hoover lifted a fly ball to left field and sophomore Karla Gomez-Zepeda (Santa Rosa, Calif.) sprinted in and dove to make a beautiful sliding catch to end the inning. An honorable mention goes to sophomore centerfielder Kate Lorenzo (Omaha, Neb.), who ended the top of the fourth inning with a diving and sliding catch in short-center field. 

GU freshman pitcher Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.) threw a complete game and allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits, walked two and struck out three. Swecker also led the team with three hits at the plate. 

LBC pitcher Alyssa Hamilton (3-5) got the complete game win as she surrendered four runs (three earned) on nine hits and walked none.

Game 2: Lancaster Bible 11, Gallaudet 3 (F/5)
In the second game, two big innings did in the Bison as Lancaster Bible scored six runs in the second and five runs in the fifth.

Gallaudet got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Smith singled to left field to bring home Lorenzo, who singled to lead off the frame. The Bison left runners on second and third base as the next batter popped up to end the third with GU down 6-1.

The Bison tried to extend the game past the fifth inning in the bottom of the last inning when Smith singled to center field to score Swecker and Dawson as Gallaudet trailed by eight, 11-3. The next three Bison batters got out to end the game. 

GU starting pitcher Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) struck out two batters in 4.2 innings while Swecker recorded the last out in the top of the fifth.

LBC pitcher Noelle Martin (3-5) got the complete game win as she allowed three runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out four.

UP NEXT
This completed Gallaudet's 18-game homestand to begin the season. The Bison are slated to hit the road this weekend to Pennsylvania for a pair of conference doubleheaders. GU is scheduled to play at Penn St.-Abington (10-8, 5-3 United East) on Friday, April 8, at 3 p.m.