CLERMONT, Florida -- The Washington & Jefferson softball team opened their long awaited 2022 season. After having four games postponed, the Presidents opened competition at the Spring Games in Florida Saturday morning. W&J opened up with a sweep, shutting out Simpson College by a 3-0 score in game one before taking down New York University 8-7 in game two.
Game 1 - W&J 3, Simpson 0
Jordan Hinz (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) put together a stellar outing in the season opener. Hinz carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before completing the two-hit shutout. The shutout was the first seven-inning shutout of Hinz's collegiate career.
A two-run home run by freshman
Mackenzie Boyd (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) put the Presidents on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Savannah Keough (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) led off the sixth with a triple before scoring on a wild pitch to give W&J an insurance run.
Boyd and
Kasey Scears (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) finished with multi-hit efforts in game one for the Presidents.
Game 2 - W&J 8, New York University 7
NYU came out swinging and built a 5-0 lead over W&J as the teams headed to the bottom of the third inning. W&J posted three runs in the bottom of the frame to get back into things.
The Presidents loaded the bases with singles by
Aliya Schraeder (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and
Sarah Labbe (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonksee) wrapped around a walk for Keough.
Peyton Eckenrode (York Haven, Pa./Northeastern) scored Schraeder with a sac fly.
Olivia Dewick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) followed with a sac fly to plate Keough. Boyd then scored Labbe with an RBI single.
W&J best appearance behind the plate was in the bottom of the fourth inning. Labbe had a two-run double to tie the game at 5-5. Keough then scored off a wild pitch to give the Presidents their first lead of the game. An error by NYU allowed Eckenrode to reach first and score another run to stretch the W&J lead to 7-5.
NYU tallied a run apiece in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game entering the bottom of the seventh.
A leadoff double by Dewick set up shop for the Presidents. Following consecutive outs,
Alex Miller (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) drew a walk. Pinch runner
Haileigh Reed (Sproul, Pa./Claysburg Kimmel) and Miller moved up on a wild pitch.
Abby Fullem (Everson, Pa./Southmoreland) was in a tough situation, she was at the plate with two runners in scoring position with two outs and a full count. Fullem connected with the ball, which dropped into right field the record the walk-off win.
Chloe Smith (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) picked up her first collegiate win in the circle. Emily Stone of NYU was tagged with the loss.
W&J will take on Manchester and Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sunday, March 20. First pitch at Legends Park is set for 11:30 a.m.
