WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University softball team took a bite out of Notre Dame of Maryland University on Sunday at the GU Softball Complex as the Bison swept the Gators, 11-8 and 2-1, on a sun-filled afternoon in the nation's capital.

Gallaudet (3-1) had four clutch doubles in the first game that drove in eight of the 11 scored by the Bison. GU put up five runs in the third and fifth innings with one-run sandwiched in between in the fourth.

Junior Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) cleared the bases with a three-run double in the third inning.

In the fifth inning, freshman Lou Cherena (El Paso, Texas) had a RBI double which cut the Gators lead to one, 8-7. Fellow freshman Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.) followed with a two-run double to give the Bison a 9-8 lead and freshman Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio) capped the scoring in the fifth with a two-run double to left field. 

Drolsbaugh (1-0) picked up the win in the circle as she struck out six batters while Elsbury came on in the seventh to pick up the save.

Notre Dame (0-4) had four batters with two hits as the Gators were led by Jessie Leatherwood (2-for-3) with three RBI and two runs scored.

In the second game, runs were hard to come by but GU was able to manufacture a run in the third and sixth innings to secure the 2-1 win.

Drolsbaugh had a sacrifice fly in the third to plate junior Lennette Butler (Columbus, Ohio). Cherena came through with the game-winning hit in the sixth with a single through the right-side of the infield to bring home sophomore Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.).

Elsbury (2-0) went the distance and picked up the complete game win as she held the Gators to one run on two hits, walked one and struck out two.

Gators starting pitcher Ciarra Bocks (0-2) took the loss after five innings where the Bison scored two runs on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will host Southern Virginia University (6-2) this Friday, March 10, at 4 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader at the GU Softball Complex.