WASHINGTON - The ominous sky and strong winds rolled into the nation's capital early Saturday afternoon as Gallaudet University played host to Penn College in a United East Conference softball doubleheader.

The sunny skies the teams warmed up under, hours before, quickly disappeared behind the heavy clouds as the teams raced against time and nature to get the two conference games in.

Gallaudet (14-22, 8-14 United East) rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game to take a 7-5 lead over the Wildcats.

Penn College (22-8, 12-4 United East) rushed to start the sixth inning and got the first two batters on base, second and third base, before loud claps of thunder and lightning struck. That forced the teams to seek shelter in the Field House. 

The game was later deemed official by the umpiring crew since the two teams played at least five full innings. Any stats from the sixth inning are eliminated.

Freshman starting pitcher Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.) picked up the win for the Bison in the second game.

Gallaudet beat Penn College for the first time since the two schools started playing each other back in 2019. Prior to that season, the conference used two different divisions (North and South) and Gallaudet never faced the Wildcats. The Bison are now 1-9 all-time against Penn College. GU never scored more than two runs against Penn College in the previous nine meetings.

Penn College shut out Gallaudet, 10-0 in five innings, in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. That was the Wildcats' sixth shutout against the Bison.

Prior to the start of Saturday's games the Bison softball program paid tribute to its graduating seniors and recognized them and their families and friends before first pitch. Gallaudet's graduating senior class includes; Lennette Butler (Columbus, Ohio), Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio), Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas), Ariel Senics (Fishers, Ind.), Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.).

Elsbury (8-11) made history on Saturday as she became the first person to pitch in a collegiate baseball and softball game on the same day. The right-hander struck out three batters in five innings of work to earn the complete game. Immediately after the conclusion of the first game Elsbury ran over to the baseball field and changed uniforms and threw a scoreless sixth inning for the Bison baseball team. Elsbury then ran back and donned her home navy blue uniform and played first base in the second softball game.

Gallaudet split or swept all six of their conference home doubleheaders for the first time in school history. The Bison are 7-5 in home United East games but 1-9 on the road with two road conferences games slated for next weekend.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will play host to Marymount (Va.) University (14-20) on Wednesday, April 26, at 4 p.m. for a non-conference doubleheader. These are the final home games for the Bison, who will finish with a winning record at home this season.