WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (12-15, 7-9) answered the call to action in game two after suffering a 6-0 loss to Thiel College (14-14, 8-8) in game one to claim a split with a 12-7 victory in the nightcap of the Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader.
Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) and Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) paced the Presidents offensively. Allen was 4-for-4 in game two while pushing in three of W&J's 12 runs. VanNess tallied a hit in game one before going 3-for-3 in game two to total four hits, two RBIs and a walk on the day.
Game One – W&J 0, Thiel 6
Game one remained scoreless as both teams battled to put runs up until the fourth inning. Thiel plated three runners on four hits and one error in the top of the fourth.
W&J was limited to three hits and four baserunners in the opener. Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) owned two of the Presidents hits while VanNess had one hit.
Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) picked up the loss in the circle for W&J. Witner put in 3.2 innings of work before being relieved by Macayle Thornhill (Warren, Ohio/Jackson-Milton) and Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) who pitched 2.1 and 1.0 innings respectively.
Game Two – W&J 12, Thiel 7
W&J jumped out early as they put up two runs in the bottom of the first and third innings. An RBI single from Allen and sacrifice flyout from Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) scored VanNess and Kyra Blauth (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) in the first, 2-0.
Blauth pushed in the next run in the third with a single to left center before a double down the right field line from Allen added another, 4-0.
Thiel found their first run in the top of the fourth chipping away at the deficit, 4-1.
The Presidents put up eight runs in the bottom of the fourth on eight hits and two Tomcat errors. VanNess, Allen, M. Luxenberger, Rinehart and A. Luxenberger all had RBIs in the eight-run rally, 12-1.
Thiel answered with six runs in the next inning to evade the looming eight-run mercy rule but was held to seven runs as the Presidents claimed the second game win, 12-7.
Taylor Dunn (Washington, Pa./Trinity) picked up her seventh win of the season in the circle for the Red & Black. Dunn pitched 4.1 innings before being relieved by Witner for the final 2.2 innings. Both pitchers waved a batter at the plate.
Up Next: The Presidents are set to host Allegheny in a conference doubleheader on their Senior Recognition Day this coming Wednesday (April 23). First pitch will be thrown at 3:00 p.m.
