KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (1-1) split their first two games of the season at The Spring Games. W&J started the day with a tight 6-4 defeat to the Thomas Terriers (2-3) and finished off the opening slate of games with a 4-3 win over the Dean Bulldogs (0-2) in the first ever meeting between the two schools.
W&J 4, Thomas (Maine) 6
Junior Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) led the Presidents offensively, going three for four with two RBIs and one run scored.
W&J jumped out to a 4-1 advantage after a third-inning rally started by a single from sophomore Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township). A successful bunt from senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) advanced Luxenberger into scoring position. A bases-loaded single from Rinehart scored Luxenberger and DiPietro-Harvey. The following batter, senior Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford), secured a bases-clearing double to score Rinehart and sophomore Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township).
The Terriers responded with a three-run inning of their own in the fourth to tie the game at four. Thomas found two extra runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 6-4 win.
Senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) started out her 2026 campaign with four strikeouts in 7.0 full innings and 107 pitches thrown.
W&J 4, Dean 3
A. Luxenberger led the way for the Presidents at the plate, going two for three and scoring one run.
The bats got hot early for W&J as the team scored two runs in the top of the first inning. The run started with a leadoff single by DiPietro-Harvey. A single from Allen got DiPietro-Harvey across home plate. M. Luxenberger cleared the bases to score Allen with a single of her own to give the Presidents an early 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs got three runs of their own, but the Presidents responded accordingly. W&J retook the lead with two lone runs in the third and fourth innings. A sacrifice flyout by Allen scored Rinehart. Additionally, a single from sophomore Addison Reese (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) scored A. Luxenberg to help secure the win for the Red & Black.
Freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) picked up her first collegiate win in a six-inning complete game. Altman had 10 strikeouts on the day and 104 pitches thrown.
The Presidents return for day two of The Spring Games with two additional contests. W&J opens against the St. Scholastica Saints at 2:45 p.m. and concludes day two against the North Park Vikings at 5:00 p.m. Both games are at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
