WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Timely hitting and strong pitching performances helped the Washington & Jefferson College softball team pull out a pair of close contests against visiting Pitt-Greensburg in non-conference play at Brooks Park. 

The Presidents used a two-run single by Kristen Fuertes (West Chester, Pa./West Chester) to claim game one by a 5-4 score. Brooke Lapia (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley)  and Brooke McCleester (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) both homered to power the Presidents to a 7-4 victory in game two against the Bobcats.

Game One Recap - W&J 5, Pitt-Greensburg 4

Both teams scored in the first inning of the opener, with UPG tallying a quick run to take an early 1-0 lead over the Presidents. However, W&J came right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. After a wild pitch plated Laura Ryder (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) to tie the score, Lapia found the left center field gap to bring home both McCleester and Addy Helffrich (Sewickley, Pa./Avonworth). W&J held a 3-1 lead until the visiting Bobcats pushed across a pair of runs in the third inning to tie the score. 

The score then remained tied at 3-3 over the next couple of innings as neither team was able to put together an offensive threat. UPG would take a 4-3 lead with an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning. Fuertes did a nice job to limit the damage and keep the Presidents within striking distance.

The first three Presidents reached base in the bottom of the sixth, as Ryder led off with a single before Helffrich drew a walk and McCleester singled to right to load the bases. UPG appeared poised to escape the inning unscathed after inducing a double play. However, Fuertes sent the next pitch up the middle to score both Helffrich and McCleester, giving W&J a 5-4 lead after six innings. 

Fuertes then sealed up the win by retiring the side in the seventh. The junior tossed a complete game in the circle to improve to 6-5 on the season. The right hander allowed four runs (three earned) during the victory. 

Offensively, Fuertes and Lapia each recorded two RBI while Ryder tallied a multi-hit effort. 

Game Two Recap - W&J 7, Pitt-Greensburg 4

The Presidents used the long ball to build a 3-2 lead in game two. McCleester slugged her second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the second inning. Lapia followed up with a solo home run, her third of the season, to give W&J the lead in the third inning. 

Pitt-Greensburg would work itself in position to tie the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Just like they did in the opener, W&J used a strong bottom of the sixth inning to secure victory. Sarah Labbe (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonksee) led off the frame with a single and came around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Ryder, giving W&J the lead for good.

Brooke Stout (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area Senior) followed with an RBI single of her own to score Taylor Andres (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and Helffrich then brought home Ryder with a sacrifice fly to center field. Stout capitalized on a wild pitch by UPG to race home for the Presidents' final run. 

Andres tossed a complete game to earn the victory in the circle. The senior allowed four runs on 10 hits in the nightcap. Andres struck out three as she moved to 4-7 for the season. Andres, Ryder and Lapia recorded two hits apiece at the plate in the game two win. 

The sweep improves W&J to 10-12 overall. The Presidents have won four straight at home and five of six overall. W&J hosts Thiel College for a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Brooks Park on Saturday, April 6. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.