WASHINGTON - Ariel Senics (Fishers, Ind.) will always remember her final Gallaudet University softball at-bat at home as the graduating senior blasted a grand slam over the left field fence Wednesday evening at the GU Softball Complex. Senics and her teammates celebrated at home plate as the Bison scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game of a non-conference doubleheader against Marymount (Va.) University. The Saints swept the twin bill with 10-1 and 17-6 victories in five innings over the Bison.
Gallaudet (14-24) fell behind early in both games against Marymount (16-20).
The Saints scored runs in the first three innings of the first game as they led 6-0 and added four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore
Caitlyn Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth to get GU on the scoreboard with its second hit of the game.
Graduating senior
Christina Elsbury (Uniontown, Ohio) pitched a complete game in the circle. Elsbury (8-12) struck out three batters in five innings pitched. Her counterpart, Shanyn Burch (10-9) threw four scoreless innings and only allowed one hit and struck out three. Graduating senior
Emma Giuntoli (Austin, Texas) hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning.
In the second game, Marymount scored seven runs in the first inning against starting pitcher
Lou Cherena (El Paso, Texas). Giuntoli relieved Cherena and Elsbury closed things out as she threw her final two innings at home in the circle and added one additional strikeout. Elsbury currently has 93 strikeouts in 144.1 innings pitched.
Cherena hit a two-run double in the bottom of the second to plate Giuntoli and Senics to cut the lead to five, 7-2.
Marymount scored five runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 15 runs.
GU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with two walks and one single to set the stage for Senics.
The games marked the final home games for graduating seniors; Elsbury, Giuntoli, Senics,
Lennette Butler (Columbus, Ohio) and
Elaine Swecker (San Diego, Calif.).
UP NEXT
Gallaudet is slated to drive to New York on Friday, April 28, at play its final two games of the season against Wells College. The United East Conference doubleheader is slated to start at 2:45 p.m. The Bison (8-14 United East) swept the Express (1-31, 0-20 United East) back on March 25 at the GU Softball Complex.