George Washington University
22-20
Howard
23-21
Softball Sweeps Howard; Snaps Six-Game Slide
4/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - Timely hitting and stellar pitching was the formula for success in game one, while an offensive awakening was the difference in game two as the George Washington University softball team snapped a six-game losing streak by sweeping Howard, 1-0 and 11-5, Monday afternoon in non-conference action at Mount Vernon Field. Sophomore RHP Gabby Culp (Desoto, TX) recorded her second save in the opener and earned the win in game two to lead the Colonials.
With the wins, GW improves to 22-20 overall, while Howard falls to 23-21 on the season. The Colonials' 1-0 victory in the opener was just their fifth one-run win of the season, and their first after three straight one-run defeats, while their 11 runs in the nightcap marked the first time since March 26 they had posted double-digit figures.
With the start of the doubleheader being delayed an hour due to rain, the Colonials scored the only run of the game in the opener in the bottom of the third. With two outs, freshman Maryanne Mohan (Portland, OR) reached first on an error by shortstop Nayrobi Nicholas, stole second and later scored on a single from sophomore Chrysanthi Halkiotis (Brookeville, MD) to make it 1-0.
Colonials' starter Katie Miller (Manteo, NC) made the lead hold up as she retired nine straight at one point and lasted 5.0 innings allowing just three hits with three strikeouts to improve to 7-3 on the season. Culp pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts to nail down her second save. Halkiotis finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In the nightcap, a sloppy first inning defensively by the Colonials coupled with four Bison hits allowed Howard to take a 4-0 lead in the opening frame.
GW bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs of its own to tie the game highlighted by a two-run home run from centerfielder Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL). Culp and sophomore Caroline Howe (Los Alamitos, CA) also had RBI's in the inning, as the Colonials could have blown the game wide open but left the bases loaded.
The Colonials had another chance to extend their lead even further in the second as sophomore Lisa Cohen (Langhorne, PA) singled with the bases loaded with just one out to plate Mohan and make it 5-4, but once again Howard escaped and GW left the bases loaded.
With the game tied 5-5 heading into the fifth, the Colonials finally put away the Bison with four runs in the frame to take a commanding 9-5 lead. Meyers led off the inning with a walk, stole second and later scored on a throwing error by leftfielder Rischelle Charles. Halkiotis then delivered a sac fly to score Mohan and a second error in the inning by the pitcher Mya Spencer allowed pinch runner Carrie Higdon (Newburg, MD), who subbed in for Howe after a single, to score. Sophomore Katy Harrigan (Reading, MA) drove in the final run with a sac fly.
In the sixth, with daylight fading fast, the Colonials added two more runs as Howe hit a two-run single to plate pinch hitters Tori Sensi (Skillman, NJ) and Nikki Brooks (Chillicothe, OH), who both reached on singles, for the final margin. From there, both teams decided to end the game as darkness was becoming a factor.
Culp earned the win to improve to 9-5, as she tossed 5.0 innings while allowing four earned runs with five strikeouts. Miller pitched the final inning, striking out all three batters she faced. At the plate, Howe finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Mohan, Cohen and Culp each had two hits.
GW (22-20) returns to action when it travels to College Park, MD, on Wednesday, April 19, for a non-conference doubleheader against the Maryland Terrapins at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Culp, Gabby (9-5)
L: Mya Spencer (0-0)
Batting:
3B: Larcus Pickett 1
HR: Larcus Pickett 1
RBI: Pyrrha Nicholas 1 ; Larcus Pickett 2 ; Kristina Cordova 1
SH: Candice Tatum 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tracy Javier 1 ; Candice Tatum 1 ; Pyrrha Nicholas 1 ; Larcus Pickett 2
SB: Tracy Javier 1 ; Candice Tatum 1
Batting:
HR: Yaniga, Jackie 1
RBI: Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1 ; Howe, Caroline 3 ; Yaniga, Jackie 2 ; Cohen, Lisa 1 ; Harrigan, Katy 1 ; Culp, Gabby 1
SH: Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1
SF: Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1 ; Harrigan, Katy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meyers, Elana 1 ; Mohan, Maryanne 2 ; Brooks, Nikki 1 ; Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1 ; Howe, Caroline 1 ; Higdon, Carrie 1 ; Yaniga, Jackie 2 ; Cohen, Lisa 1 ; Sensi, Tori 1
SB: Meyers, Elana 1 ; Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1
HBP: Mohan, Maryanne 1 ; Harrigan, Katy 1
