WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (10-12) took a break from Presidents Athletic Conference play and earns their first shutout sweep in just under three years against the La Roche Redhawks (7-17). The Presidents opened the evening with an 8-0 victory after six innings before extending the team's run total with a 5-0 win in game two.
 
W&J 8, La Roche 0 (Game 1)
 
Senior Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) helped lead an 11-hit W&J offense by going 3-for-3 with a home run. Allen scored two runs and drove in three. Additionally, sophomore Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) hit a near-perfect 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Freshman Jacie Hilligsberg (South Park, Pa./South Park) also had a strong game-one performance at the plate. Hilligsberg went 2-for-4, scoring one and driving in two.
 
W&J found their offensive stride right from the opening inning. Three singles and smart base running gave the Presidents' an early 3-0 lead. The singles came from VanNess, senior Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), and senior Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) to break the ice for W&J.
 
The Presidents put together another string of three runs to take a 6-0 lead. A Hilligsburg single started the rally off and set up VanNess to double. Allen then sent a ball over the center field fence to clear the bases.
 
The Red & Black scored the final two runs in the sixth inning to claim an 8-0 run rule victory in the opening game against the Redhawks. Smart base running by freshman Cheyenne Fischer (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) to reach base as the first batter of the inning and start the rally. Freshman Bella Stewart (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) secured her first collegiate extra-base hit to set the runners in scoring position before Hilligsburg cleared the bases to claim the win.
 
Defensively, W&J held the Redhawks to only three hits throughout the opening six innings. Witner got her fourth win of the season in the complete game of work. Witner only needed 56 pitches and recorded three strikeouts.
 
 W&J 5, La Roche 0 (Game 2)
 
Allen led the Presidents offensively in game two as well. The senior went 2-for-3 in game two, scoring one and drawing a walk. Junior Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) went 1-for-2 and scored two runs for the Red & Black.
 
W&J recorded at least one hit in all six offensive innings in game two against the Redhawks. The Presidents got themselves on the board in the second from a sacrifice fly by DiPietro-Harvey to score Rinehart after a hit by pitch.
 
W&J recorded runs in the final three innings to help close out the series sweep. In the fourth, Rinehart doubled and set up a sacrifice fly by freshman Braelyn Altman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice). Stewart singled in the fifth inning to clear the bases following a double from Allen. Finally, the Presidents recorded two runs in the sixth to secure the 5-0 victory. Three singles cleared the bases during the inning. Altman and sophomore Addison Reese (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) set up VanNess to drive the runs home.
 
Defensively, the Red & Black had an error-free shutout. Altman got the call to the mound and only gave up four fits en route to the freshman's third win of her rookie season. Altman recorded four strikeouts and 70 pitches thrown throughout the seven innings of work.
 
W&J continues their home stand at Brooks when they return to action on Wednesday (April 8). The Presidents will be returning to PAC conference play when they take on the Geneva Golden Tornadoes. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.