WASHINGTON, PA. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team (10-14, 4-8) fell in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader to the Geneva Golden Tornadoes (19-5, 8-2). Geneva took game one 9-2 and followed it up with a 7-2 win in game two.
W&J 0, Geneva 9
Sophomores
Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) and
Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) each went 1-for-2 at the plate during game one.
Geneva found their offense right from the beginning of the contest, taking an early 1-0 lead after the opening inning. The Geneva defense was too strong for the Presidents in game one. W&J kept finding ways to put balls in play, but a Golden Tornado glove kept getting in the way.
Geneva broke the game open halfway through and ended up taking the 9-0 victory. Senior
Kaylee Witner (Freeland, Pa./MMI Preparatory School) got the start in game one and pitched 2.2 innings and recorded one strikeout. Freshman
Haylee Young (Zanesville, Ohio/John Glenn) entered the game in relief, pitching 2.1 innings and fanning two.
W&J 2, Geneva 7
A. Luxenberg led the Presidents at the plate in game two, going two-for-three. A trio of Presidents went 1-for-3 on offense. Additionally, senior
Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) went 1-for-2 and scored a run. W&J as a team found ways to reach base in each inning of play during game two.
Similar to the previous game, Geneva got an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning of play. W&J responded with two scoreless defensive innings and only allowed one hit.
Geneva broke the game open again, but W&J did not give up. The Presidents rallied two runs in the seventh to avoid the shutout. A double from Gratton got the rally going and set up senior
Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) to single. Smart baserunning put the two classmates in scoring position. Junior
Mirranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa./Trinity) followed it up with a single to score Gratton, and VanNess hit a third single of the inning to move the runners in scoring position. Senior
Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) forced a fielder's choice to conclude the scoring. The Golden Tornadoes held on to take the 7-2 victory in game two.
The Presidents continue their homestand at Brooks Park when they return on Saturday (April 11) to host the conference-leading Westminster Titans. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.
