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Washington & Jefferson College Athletics

Official athletic website of the Washington & Jefferson Presidents
Softball Seniors 2026 vs Franciscan
Stephen Rydzak
4
Franciscan FRANCISC 3-12
12
Winner Wash. & Jeff. WASH. & 6-9
Franciscan FRANCISC
3-12
4
Final
12
Wash. & Jeff. WASH. &
6-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Franciscan FRANCISC 0 0 1 2 1 4 6 3
Wash. & Jeff. WASH. & 1 7 4 0 X 12 11 1

W: Witner, Kaylee (3-3) L: Hayley Cook (2-6)

1
Franciscan FRANCISC 3-13
9
Winner Wash. & Jeff. WASH. & 7-9
Franciscan FRANCISC
3-13
1
Final
9
Wash. & Jeff. WASH. &
7-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Franciscan FRANCISC 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 1
Wash. & Jeff. WASH. & 0 5 1 0 3 9 13 0

W: Altman, Braelyn (3-4) L: Janey Winner (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Alec Beaudin, Intern Assistant Sports Information Director

Witner Records 100th Strikeout as Presidents Sweep Barons on Senior Day

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (7-9, 3-3) picked up two important Presidents' Athletic Conference wins on senior day against the Franciscan Barons (3-13, 1-5). W&J started the day with a 12-4 victory in five innings before picking up a second shortened win with a 9-1 scoreline in game two.
 
W&J 12, Franciscan 4 (Game 1)

Senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) led the Presidents offensively by going 3-for-4 from the plate, scoring three runs, and driving in two runners. Additionally, seniors Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) each recorded two hits and scored one run. Gratton also recorded two RBIs and two walks. Allen had one RBI credited to her name. Sophomore Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) went 2-for-3 from the plate and scored two runs as well.
 
DiPietro-Harvey started the game off with a triple to right field as the very first batter of the contest. Gratton later singled to second base to bring the runner home to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
The defense got off to a hot start as well. Senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) successfully recorded her 100th career strikeout to open the second of two clean innings to start the doubleheader.
 
W&J broke the game open in the bottom of the second. Freshman Jacie Hilligsberg (South Park, Pa./South Park) drew a walk to open the inning before Witner and A. Luxenberger both singled to score the run. The following batter, junior Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) singled to score another run. Sophomore Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) completed the sacrifice fly to score classmate Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) to give W&J a 5-0 lead. A double by Gratton and a triple by Allen closed out a seven run second inning for the Red & Black.
 
The Barons got one run back in the third before the W&J offense struck again to bring home four additional runs to take a 12-1 lead. A single from A. Luxenberger and a hit by pitch against Rinehart started the rally before DiPietro-Harvey doubled to clear the bases. DiPietro-Harvey rounded out the scoring following a hit by pitch against Hilligsberg.
 
The Barons tried to mount a comeback but strong defense from the Presidents forced the run rule to be in effect and W&J took the overall win 12-4 in the fifth inning.
 
Witner got the senior day start and pitched 3.2 innings with three strikeouts out of 54 pitches thrown. Sophomore Mackayle Thornhill pitched 1.1 innings in relief, only giving up one hit.
 
W&J 9, Franciscan 1 (Game 2)

DiPietro-Harvey led the Presidents again in game two. This time, the senior went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs score, and four RBIs. M. Luxenberger and Gratton both went 2-for-3 at the plate. M. Luxenberger had two runs and two RBIs. Gratton also finished the day with one RBI and a walk.
 
Like game one, W&J started the game with two clean defensive innings before opening the contest offensively in the bottom of the second. Three straight singles to start the bottom half set up sophomore Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) to score freshman Aliza Michielli (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) on a sacrifice fly. M. Luxenberger followed it up with a single to score her sister from third. DiPietro-Harvey rounded out the five run inning with a homer to clear the bases.
 
Both teams traded a run in the third inning. W&J got theirs from a Rinehart hitting the team's second home run of the contest.
 
Two strong defensive innings from the Red & Black set up a three-run fifth to put the mercy rule into effect. Bodnar hit another sacrifice fly to set up M. Luxenberger to score her sister for a second time. Singles from DiPietro-Harvey and Gratton rounded out the contest to give W&J the 9-1 victory and the series sweep.
 
Freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) pitched a complete game two, only giving up three hits and recording five strikeouts in 52 pitches thrown.
 
W&J returns to the diamond on Tuesday (March 31) when the team travels to the big city for a PAC doubleheader against the Chatham Cougars. First Pitch from Munhall, Pa. is slated for 6:30 p.m.
 
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