DUNMORE, Pa. – Gallaudet University senior pitcher Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.) reached a major milestone on Sunday as she recorded her 300th career strikeout as the Bison swept Penn State Scranton, 11-3 in six innings and 16-9, at UGI Utility Field.

Drolsbaugh needed four strikeouts entering the second game after she recorded three in the first game. She reached the milestone with her fourth strikeout in the bottom of the third inning. She finished the second game with 10 strikeouts and now has 306 career strikeouts.

"I'm really proud of Lacey! Reaching 300 career strikeouts is a big-time achievement. We have not seen that milestone here in a long time, so it is a special moment for her and for our program," said Gallaudet coach Justen Burns.

Drolsbaugh is now the second Gallaudet pitcher to reach 300 career strikeouts, as she joins Kari Richards, who holds the program record with 324 career strikeouts over three seasons (1999-2001).

"Since my freshman year, this milestone has been the result of hard work and stepping up for my team. I'm grateful for every teammate, coach, and moment that helped me get here. I'm especially thankful to my athletic trainer, Tom [McKnight], for keeping me healthy along the way. I am excited to finish the season strong," said Drolsbaugh.

Game 1: Gallaudet 11, Penn St.-Scranton 3 (F/6)
Penn St.-Scranton jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning before sophomore shortstop Olivia Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) put Gallaudet on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the second. In the next inning, Wascher reached on a shortstop error, which allowed Drolsbaugh to score and tie the game at 2-2.

The Lions responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning before the Bison erupted for nine unanswered runs over the final three innings, including six in the fifth. The surge was highlighted by a two-run triple from sophomore outfielder Sophia Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.). The game ended in the sixth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Twin sisters, Olivia and Sophia Wascher, both tallied two hits, as Olivia drove in three runs and Sophia added two RBIs.

The buff and blue stole seven bases and drew nine walks.

Drolsbaugh (5-9) finished the game with a win, recorded three strikeouts and allowed two earned runs.

Game 2: Gallaudet 16, Penn St.-Scranton 9
Gallaudet (6-15) jumped on the Lions early as the Bison built a 6-0 lead over the first two innings played. Sophia Wascher had a three-run inside-the-park home run in the second inning. Penn St.-Scranton scored a run in the third inning on an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-1.

GU added four more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from sophomore third baseman Kinsley Bond (Beulaville, N.C.) as the Bison increased their lead to 10-1.

The first batter Drolsbaugh faced in the bottom of the third inning turned into her 300th career strikeout on a six-pitch at-bat. Lion batter Vanessa Hughes swung and missed on the third strike and the Bison players in the field cheered and celebrated the milestone. Coach Justen Burns called a quick timeout to save the game ball for Drolsbaugh to remember the moment. 

The celebration was short-lived as Penn St.-Scranton (4-21), a non-NCAA school, erupted for eight runs in the third and fourth innings. 

The Lions, a USCAA program, strung together back-to-back RBI doubles and added two more runs on errors in the rest of the third inning as they only trailed by four, 10-6.

In the fourth, Gallaudet first-year second baseman Leokadia Saunders (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored on a wild pitch after she reached first on an error and advanced twice on wild pitches. However, the Lions capitalized on Bison miscues and picked up three more runs to close the gap to 11-9.

Gallaudet did not show any panic in the fifth inning as Bond delivered an RBI single, followed by a run-producing groundout from first-year first baseman Mattea King (Capitol Heights, Md.). The buff and blue then scored back-to-back runs on wild pitches, as Olivia Wascher and first-year catcher Geneva Brock (Carmichael, Calif.) crossed the plate to make it 15-9 in the fifth. 

The Bison added an insurance run in the seventh as Saunders scored on a wild pitch to seal the victory.

Bond tallied a career-high four hits and matched her career-high with three RBIs.

The buff and blue swiped 10 bases and recorded 18 walks.

Drolsbaugh (6-9) earned the win after she struck out 10 and allowed four earned runs over 5.1 innings.

BISON TRACKS

• Drolsbaugh recorded her sixth game with at least 10 strikeouts
• GU ended a nine-game losing streak
• Gallaudet is now 4-0 against Penn St.-Scranton since 2010

UP NEXT
GU returns home for the first time since April 1 to face Penn St.-Abington (10-16, 1-9 United East) this Wednesday, April 15, for two conference games. The Bison (0-7 United East) will aim to pick-up their first conference win of the season.