READING, Pa. - The Gallaudet University softball team ventured away from the GU Softball Complex for the first time this season and traveled to Penn State Berks on Saturday for a United East Conference doubleheader. The Nittany Lions (13-6, 10-2 United East) swept the Bison (3-17, 3-9 United East) in five innings with 16-0 and 23-8 victories.

Game 1: Penn St.-Berks 16, Gallaudet 0 (F/5)
GU got off on the right foot when sophomore Kate Lorenzo (Omaha, Neb.) tripled to left field to begin the game but after that the Bison only recorded three more hits in the 16-0 shutout. The Bison recorded one hit in every inning but the third.

Penn St.-Berks scored three runs in the second, four in the third and nine in the fourth en route to the mercy rule victory.

Freshman Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) had Gallaudet's other extra-base hit with a double to left-center field in the top of the fourth inning.

Freshman starting pitcher Kaci Ketchum (Austin, Texas) took the loss in the circle as she pitched a complete game and recorded two strikeouts.

Game 2: Penn St.-Berks 23, Gallaudet 8 (F/5)
It was a rough start for the Bison as Penn St.-Berks scored 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Nittany Lions added 12 more runs spread out over the next three innings. GU got on the scoreboard in the second with two runs and added six runs in the top of the fourth.

Freshman Jade Dawson (Clearlake Oaks, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly to plate Smith as GU scored its first run. Freshman Emily Nover (District Heights, Md.) followed with a RBI double to left-center field to plate sophomore Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas).

In the fourth, Dawson, Ketchum and Smith recorded RBI singles in the four-run frame. 

Freshman Elaine Swecker (San Diego) got the start in the circle and took the loss. GU used four different pitchers in the game as the Nittany Lions hit four home runs and five doubles. Penn St.-Berks starter Arizona Shreck (5-4) threw a complete game.

UP NEXT
GU stays in the state of Pennsylvania and will travel to Penn St.-Abington (12-8, 7-3 United East) tomorrow (Sunday, April 10) for a conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.