WASHINGTON - For several hours on Saturday afternoon the sun shined brightly and a slight breeze blew through the GU Softball Complex but things drastically changed in the second game between Gallaudet University and Penn St.-Abington.

The visiting Nittany Lions won the first United East Conference game, 3-0, but much like the wind that picked up during the afternoon things quickly changed directions in the second game. GU turned the tables and defeated Penn St.-Abington, 7-0, in a longer than normal game.

Gallaudet (10-10, 4-2 United East) scored six runs in the bottom of the first to take a 6-0 lead over Penn St.-Abington (9-7, 3-3 United East). The Bison took the six-run lead into the top of the fifth inning. A strong thunderstorm cell, just north of campus, produced loud thunder roars and several flashes of lightning were spotted in the distance, even though it was sunny at the GU Softball Complex. The complex was vacated as the teams and fans left for shelter to wait out a one-hour lightning delay.

Once play resumed the Bison tried to run-rule the Nittany Lions in the bottom of the fifth as GU scored one run and had the potential game-winning run on third base with two outs but couldn't get the runner home.

The next wave of storms were on the horizon as the wind picked up rapidly and things became blustery for the final inning and a half as the sky turned from clear blue to dark cloud cover. The Bison were competing against the Nittany Lions but also time and nature. Even though it was April 1st, the weather was no joke on this Saturday.

Freshman starting pitcher Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.) got the first two Nittany Lions to strikeout in the top of the seventh and the final batter flied out to center field to end the two hour and 46 minute marathon game.

Drolsbaugh (2-1) picked up the complete game shutout as she allowed three hits on two walks and struck out six.

Penn St.-Abington starting pitcher Emmalee Myerholtz (1-2) took the loss as she only pitched the first inning.

Gallaudet received at least one hit from six different batters as sophomore Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. 

This was the first time since 2017 that GU defeated Penn St.-Abington to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Nittany Lions. The last time Gallaudet beat Penn St.-Abington at the GU Softball Complex came on March 29, 2015. During that span GU is 3-17 against Penn St.-Abington. Overall, the Nittany Lions hold a 31-7 edge over the Bison since 2011.

In the first game, Penn St.-Abington scored one run in each of the first three innings while GU was limited to three hits in the 3-0 shutout.

Freshman pitcher Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio) took the loss against Gretchen Yanss (6-3). Elsbury recorded three strikeouts in the complete game.

UP NEXT
GU will next host Lancaster Bible College (6-8, 2-2 United East) this Tuesday, April 4, at 3 p.m. in a conference doubleheader.