KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (4-6) closed out The Spring Games with a split of two games. The team opened the day with a 4-0 shutout against the Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) Knights (3-4) and then fell in a tight 3-0 defeat to the Loras Duhawks (10-2).
W&J 4, Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) 0
Senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) led the Presidents from the circle. Witner threw a 106-pitch shutout, only allowing eight hits to the Knights. The senior also had five strikeouts and no walks while in the circle.
Offensively, freshman Jacie Hilligsberg (South Park, Pa./South Park) led the Presidents. Hilligsberg went 2-for-3 on the day, scoring a run and earning two RBIs. Additionally, senior Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) also went 2-for-3 and scored a run while at the plate.
W&J scored their four runs in the second and third innings of action. In the second, Hilligsberg singled, and smart baserunning allowed the freshman to advance to third on two passed balls. Sophomore Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) hit an infield single to score Hilligsberg. The next batter, senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), tripled down the right field line to score A. Luxenberger.
In the third, Gratton started a second rally by the Presidents with a double to left center field. Witner also made strong contributions offensively with a single that advanced the runner to an increased scoring position. Hilligsberg got her second hit of the morning to score both Gratton and Witner.
Strong defense from the Presidents helped to seal the shutout victory. W&J only allowed five hits in three innings of play after taking the 4-0 advantage. The Presidents also finished the contest with zero errors in the field.
W&J 0, Loras 3
DiPietro-Harvey led the Presidents offensively, going 2-for-4 from the plate. Additionally, A. Luxenberger and senior Ashley Theimer (Woodstock, Md./Marriotts Ridge) each went 1-for-3.
The Duhawks opened the game with two runs in the bottom of the first inning from a triple to right field. The Presidents settled in defensively with two innings, retiring the Duhawks hitters in order.
W&J kept putting pressure on the Duhawks to get them back into the contest. The Presidents strung together a double from freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), followed by a single from DiPietro-Harvey, kept the Presidents fighting to get over the hump and get runs on the board.
The Duhawks had answers for W&J and found a way to get out of that jam in the top of the fifth, but the Presidents kept fighting. W&J found one last string of offense to keep putting the pressure on Loras. Sophomore Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) drew a walk and stole second before A. Luxenberger singled to put runners on the corners. The Loras pitcher found one extra spurt of energy to secure that 3-0 final and clinch the save.
Altman threw an efficient 74 pitches throughout all 6.0 full innings of play and had two strikeouts.
The Presidents finished error-free in both contests on the team's final day at The Spring Games.
W&J returns to action on Tuesday (March 17) when they travel for a doubleheader against the Juniata Eagles. Game one will begin at 3:00 p.m., and game two is slated for either 5:00 p.m. or following the conclusion of game one.
