STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team split Saturday afternoon in their Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader against the hosting Franciscan Barons.
Game One – Franciscan 6, W&J 5
The Presidents jumped out to an early lead scoring two in the first inning. Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) singled to put the first runner on base. DiPietro-Harvey advanced to third on a stolen base and ground out. Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) secured the lead by blasting a two out, two-run homer before the Barons were able to escape the inning.
W&J put up an additional run in the top of the third and fourth innings to take a four-run lead before the Barons found the scoreboard and cut the deficit to 4-2 heading into the fifth.
W&J was held scoreless in the top of the frame before Franciscan put up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at four.
Two hits and an error by the Barons catcher gave the Presidents back the lead in the top of the sixth inning, 5-4. The Barons scored one more in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and force extra innings.
Only one extra inning was necessary as W&J was held scoreless and a walk and three single inning gave the Barons a walk-off 6-5 win over the Presidents.
Game Two – W&J 10, Franciscan 0
An error placed Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) on first base before singles by Kyra Blauth (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Allen loaded the bases. Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) singled to right field and scored Rinehart and Blauth to put the Presidents up 2-0 after the first inning.
After reaching first on a single, Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) utilized some aggressive and heads up baserunning to put a runner in scoring position by making her way to third base on a steal and pass ball. Ashley Theimer (Woodstock, Md./Marriotts Ridge) scored M. Luxenberger on a single before the Barons recorded the third out of the inning.
Two more runners crossed the plate for W&J in the fourth inning. Rinehart knocked a two out single and scored in the next at bat as Blauth blasted a double that scored Rinehart
from first. Allen traded places with Blauth as she hit a double of her own before the third out was recorded, 5-0.
A five-run rally ended the game by mercy rule in the fifth inning with W&J claiming a 10-0 victory in game two. A triple by freshman first baseman Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) tripled to score the first two runs of the inning. An error scored A. Luxenberger and allowed Rinehart to reach first and advance to second. A single by Blauth scored Rinehart before Blauth scored on a single by Allen to put the Presidents ahead 10-0. A swift three-up-three-down inning in the bottom of the frame secured the second game win and split in the PAC doubleheader.
Up Next: The Presidents are set to host Chatham in a conference doubleheader on Wednesday (April 2). First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
