WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (18-8, 4-10) falls in a Presidents Athletic Conference double header against the conference-leading Westminster Titans (17-8, 12-2). Westminster took game one 8-0 and followed it up with a 4-1 win in game two.
 
W&J 0, Westminster 8 (Game 1)
 
The Titans got on the board early and took a 1-0 lead following the opening frame. Senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) drew a walk in response, but the Titan defense did not give W&J a breakthrough.
 
Westminster opened up the contest with a seven run third inning of offense to round out the scoring in game one. Sophomore Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) got the lone hit for W&J with a double in the bottom of the third.
 
Senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) got the game one start for W&J, throwing 2.1 innings. Freshman Haylee Young (Zanesville, Ohio/John Glenn) closed out the game with one inning pitched and recorded one strikeout.
 
W&J 1, Westminster 4 (Game 2)
 
Sophomore Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) helped lead the Presidents in game two of this afternoon's doubleheader. Bodnar went 1-for-2 at the plate and drove in a run. Additionally, senior Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) went 1-for-3 and scored.
 
W&J struck first in game two to take a 1-0 lead following the bottom of the second. Allen started the inning off with a double to right-center field. Bodnar traded places with Allen on second and recorded a double of her own to score the run.
 
The Titans responded in the top of the third to tie the game at one. The Presidents' defense settled in and held the Titans at one through four innings of play. Ultimately, Westminster broke the game open, scoring three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.
 
W&J did not go away easily in game two, though. A double from senior Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) started a rally, and freshman Hayley Young advanced classmate Cheyenne Fischer (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) as the pinch runner. Westminster ultimately found an extra gear and was successfully able to shut down the Presidents' rally.
 
W&J forced Westminster to return their ace to the circle, and the Titans closed out the 4-1 victory.
 
Freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) got the call to start game two and pitched 4.2 innings. Altman recorded one strikeout. Young came in for 2.1 innings of relief and only allowed one hit.
 
W&J begins a four-series road trip and will close out non-conference play on Monday (April 13) when they travel to Pitt-Greensburg. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader against the Bobcats is slated for 3:00 p.m.