WASHINGTON – There is a new name atop the Gallaudet University softball career strikeout list after recording 10 strikeouts on Friday evening, senior Lacey Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa.), stands alone. 

Drolsbaugh became the program's all-time strikeout leader with 325 career strikeouts, as the Bison dropped a United East doubleheader to Penn College of Technology, 17-7 and 16-5, in five and six innings, respectively, at the GU Softball Complex. 

Drolsbaugh passed Gallaudet pitching great Kari Richards (1999-2001) for the program's all-time strikeout record (324) when she struck out Penn College's Addison Detweiler, in the top of the third inning of the second game, to end the inning. Detweiler swung and missed the fourth pitch, on a 1-2 count, as Drolsbaugh and her teammates leaped in celebration as they jogged off the field. Drolsbaugh finished the second game with four strikeouts, as she raised her career total to 326.

"Being able to break this record while representing this program means everything to me. I'm thankful for every teammate who trusted me in the circle and every coach who helped me grow," said Drolsbaugh. "I hope this milestone inspires the next generation of pitchers to chase their own goals!"

Drolsbaugh entered the day nine strikeouts shy of history and recorded six in the first game of the doubleheader, putting her within three of becoming Gallaudet's new "Strikeout Queen."

After the game, the Bison team gathered in right field to celebrate Drolsbaugh's accomplishment and they had a special guest. Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Famer and longtime Bison softball coach Sarah Burton Doleac had Richards FaceTime Drolsbaugh to pass along her congratulations.

"Lacey, records are meant to be broken. I'm glad it was you! Well deserved," signed Richards via FaceTime. 

Drolsbaugh's parents and extended family and friends were on hand to pass along their congratulations after the game.

"This is a proud moment for Gallaudet softball. Lacey Drolsbaugh has broken the school record with 325 career strikeouts," said Gallaudet coach Justen Burns. "This milestone is proof of her hard work, growth, and success, and we are so proud to celebrate this special moment with her. Congratulations, Lacey — your legacy is now part of Bison history."

Game 1: Penn College 17, Gallaudet 7 (F/5)
The Wildcats attacked early with four runs in the first inning before the Bison cut the deficit to one, 4-3, after they scored three runs, highlighted by Drolsbaugh's RBI double to center field and an RBI hit by first-year outfielder Leokadia Saunders (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Gallaudet carried the momentum into the second inning and added three more runs to take a 6-4 lead. Sophomore second baseman Kendra Cogswell (Riverside, Calif.) sparked the rally with a single through the left side of the infield, followed by a RBI single from sophomore Olivia Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.), who then stole second, which allowed Cogswell to steal home.

The Wildcats broke two innings of scoreless play with an eight-run fourth and never looked back. Penn College added four more runs in the fifth to build a 17-6 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Saunders doubled down the left-field line to plate Wascher as GU trimmed the deficit to 10 runs. It was not enough as Penn College got the final two outs to secure the run-rule victory (up by eight runs after five innings).

Drolsbaugh took the loss in the circle after she struck out six batters over 3.2 innings.

Game 2: Penn College 16, Gallaudet 5 (F/6)
Penn College jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings as the Wildcats pushed across one run in the second and three in the third, after being held scoreless in the first.

Drolsbaugh celebrated after she recorded her 325th career strikeout on the third out of the third inning. The milestone moment sparked the Gallaudet offense in the bottom half of the third. The Bison plated three runs, highlighted by Olivia Wascher's RBI single down the right-field line, to cut the deficit to one, 4-3.

The Wildcats (29-5, 14-2 United East) did not let the Bison (6-23, 0-15 United East) keep momentum, as the visitors added three more runs in the fourth as Penn College took advantage of Bison miscues. Payton Crawford (2-for-4, four RBI) smashed a shot to deep right field and scored on an inside-the-park home run.

Drolsbaugh tried to help her own cause in the bottom of the fourth when she drove in sophomore third baseman Kinsley Bond (Beulaville, N.C.) with a double to left-center field to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Penn College put the game out of reach for Gallaudet when the Wildcats scored eight runs on six hits and one error in the top of the sixth. 

Cogswell brought Bond home with a sacrifice bunt to make it 16-5 in the bottom of sixth but the Wildcats recorded the third out to run-rule the Bison.

Drolsbaugh (6-14) took the loss in the circle after she recorded four strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will close out the 2026 season this Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. with a make-up game against Notre Dame of Maryland University (9-17, 5-8 United East) on Senior Day.