WASHINGTON – A slow rolling ball hit to Gallaudet University third baseman
Ariel Senics (Fishers, Ind.) was quickly tossed over to first baseman
Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) for the third and final out in the second softball game as the Bison celebrated a 4-3 victory over Penn St.-Berks.
The win is significant as it breaks a 33-game losing streak to the conference power Penn St.-Berks, the defending United East Conference champions and winners of seven conference crowns since 2013.
Gallaudet last defeated Penn St.-Berks back on April 9, 2011, on the road in an 8-3 win. Current Bison assistant coach
Alicia Johnson was the winning pitcher in that five-run victory as Johnson threw a complete game and struck out two batters in seven innings pitched.
Gallaudet (9-9, 3-1 United East) trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning but the Bison put up three runs to take a 3-1 lead over the Nittany Lions. Penn St.-Berks starting pitcher Arizona Shreck (2-2) plunked two Bison batters with the latter forcing in GU's first run. Senics followed with the bases loaded and reached on a fielder's choice play that got the runner at third base. An errant throw by the Nittany Lions third baseman allowed Senics and junior
Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) to move into scoring position. Sophomore
Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) singled to right field to plate Giuntoli but Senics was thrown out at home to end the three-run inning.
The two teams scored one run each in the fourth. Freshman
Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio) singled to center field to bring home freshman starting pitcher
Lou Cherena (El Paso, Texas) as GU led 4-2.
Cherena cruised into the seventh inning with the two-run lead but the Nittany Lions singled and walked to begin the frame and Gallaudet coach
Justen Burns turned to Elsbury to close things out. Penn St.-Berks moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly brought in the third run for the Nittany Lions. Penn St.-Berks had the game-tying run on third base but the next batter grounded out to Senics and the Bison bench poured out onto the field to celebrate the victory.
Cherena (1-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out one in six innings worked. Elsbury picked up her third save of the season as she faced only three batters to secure the historic win.
In the first game, Penn St.-Berks (6-4, 1-1 United East) no-hit the Bison behind starting pitcher Briana Smith (4-2) who only issued one walk en route to the complete game nine-strikeout performance.
The Nittany Lions scored one run in the first, fourth and seventh innings against Elsbury (5-4).
UP NEXT
Gallaudet is back at home tomorrow (Saturday, April 1) with a conference doubleheader against Penn St.-Abington (8-6, 2-2 United East) at 1 p.m.
