WASHINGTON, Pa. --
Breanna Thomas (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) and
Haylee Holman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) slugged their first collegiate home runs to power the W&J softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Franciscan University on Tuesday at Brooks Park. W&J put up a five-spot in the sixth inning to earn a 5-2 game one win before collecting a 6-0 win in game two behind a two-hit shutout from
Alisha Kulka (Hanover, Pa./South Western).
The sweep pushes W&J to 3-1 in 2021 while Franciscan drops to 0-4.
Game 1 - W&J 5, Franciscan 2
Franciscan opened the scoring with a solo run in the top of the first inning. Barons' leadoff hitter Alysson Weiss led off with a single before eventually coming around to score on a wild pitch. The Barons tacked on another run in the top half of the second inning, as the visitors used a sac fly to make the score 2-0.
W&J was stymied offensively for the first five innings of the game by Franciscan starter Andi Queen. However, the Presidents came through in a big way in the bottom of the sixth inning. W&J posted five runs on seven hits in the frame to gain a 5-2 edge. Back-to-back singles by
Brooke McCleester (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) and
Sarah Labbe (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonksee) put the Presidents in business. Two batters later Thomas launched her first collegiate home run over the left center field fence to give W&J a 3-2 advantage.
The Presidents weren't content with the one run lead, as the next five batters reached base as well.
Olivia Dewick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks),
Jordan Hinz (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and Kulka reached base consecutively on three straight singles to load the bases.
Marissa Rush then inserted
Brooke Stout (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area Senior). The move paid off for Rush and the Presidents as Stout delivered a two-run singe to plate Charlton and Hinz.
Hinz then recorded the final three outs to finish off the W&J victory. Hinz improved to 2-0 in the circle after tossing 7.0 strong innings. Hinz allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits. She struck out three and walked just one. Dewick and Hinz recorded multi-hit efforts in the opener.
Game 2 - W&J 6, Franciscan 0
More good pitching was the story in game two for W&J. Kulka recorded her first collegiate shutout, as the junior allowed just two hits over 7.0 dominant innings in the circle. Kulka struck out three and issue no walks and threw just 62 pitches in the victory.
W&J opened the scoring in the second inning of game two when
Kasey Scears (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) singled and scored on the first collegiate home run by Holman.
The Presidents tacked on a run in the third when Labbe doubled home
Peyton Eckenrode (York Haven, Pa./Northeastern) to push the lead to 3-0. In the fifth inning, Eckenrode doubled and later raced home to score on a wild pitch to make it 4-0 W&J. The Presidents added two unearned runs in the sixth inning to close out the scoring.
Labbe and Charlton finished with two hits apiece in the game two victory.
WHAT'S NEXT: W&J hosts Chatham University on Saturday, March 13. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Brooks Park.
