MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (16-18, 9-11) extends their winning streak to five games with a sweep of the Allegheny Gators (9-21, 6-14) in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. The Presidents opened the day with an 8-3 win in game one and closed the twinbill with a 3-2 victory.
 
W&J 8, Allegheny 3 (Game 1)
 
Senior Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) led the Presidents at the plate in game one, hitting a perfect 4-for-4. Allen also drove in two RBIs. Additionally, classmate Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) hit 2-for-3, scored a run, and drew a walk.
 
The Gators got on the board first, but W&J responded with five unanswered runs of their own. In the second, W&J got three runners on to start the inning. Freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) cleared the bases on a one-out double and gave the Presidents the early 2-1 lead. Sophomore Maddie Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) followed it up with a sacrifice fly to score Altman.
 
The Red & Black broke the game open in the fifth when senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) doubled, and sophomore Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) followed it up with a single to clear the bases. Allen allowed Bodnar to round the bases with a single of her own to extend the Presidents' lead to 5-1.
 
W&J closed out their eight-run output with three runners crossing the plate in the sixth. Gratton and Bodnar set up the rally with consecutive singles. Sophomore Sydnes VanNess cleared the bases with a double to right-center field. The following batter, Allen, singled to score VanNess.
 
Allegheny each got a run in the seventh, but the W&J defense held strong to open the twinbill with a win. Altman picked up her seventh win of the season. The freshman recorded one strikeout, averaging around eleven pitches per inning.
 
W&J 3, Allegheny 2 (Game 2)
 
Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) led the Presidents at the plate in game two of the twinbill. The sophomore batted 2-4 and drove in a run. Sister M. Luxenberger batted 2-for-3 as well. 
 
Each team traded a run in the opening frame. Bodnar got W&J on the board in game two from a home run over the left field wall. This was the sophomore's first home run of the season.
 
The Presidents broke the deadlock in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Two errors from the Gators set up consecutive doubles by VanNess and Allen to bring both runs home for the Red & Black.
 
Like game one, Allegheny got a run in the closing stages of the contest. The W&J defense continued to hold strong all evening and secured the sweep with a 3-2 victory.
 
Senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) got the call in game two and pitched a complete game for her sixth win of the season. Witner was efficient in the circle, only needing to throw 62 pitches to force nine flyouts and 12 groundouts.
 
W&J returns home to Brooks Park for a clash with the Bethany Bison on Saturday (April 25). The two-game series to close out the regular season is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.