George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
21-22, 8-8
Rhode Island
9-30, 2-11
Offensive Onslaught Leads Softball Over Rhode Island
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2007
KINGSTON, RI - The George Washington Colonials (21-22, 8-8 A-10) kept their conference tournament hopes alive by sweeping their Atlantic 10 doubleheader at Rhode Island (9-30, 2-11 A-10) on Saturday afternoon. GW took the opener, 5-0, and the second game, 10-6.
Freshman right-hander, Amanda Gabriel (12-8), pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout, in the opener while striking out 10 Rams. It was the Fullerton, CA, native's 15th complete game and fifth shutout of the year, both GW single-season records.
All of the Colonials' runs came in the fourth and sixth innings in game one off Rams starter, Katie Holcomb (6-14). In the fourth inning, juniors Hilary King and Colleen Kegler both hit solo home runs, their fifth and fourth of the season, respectively. GW scored three more runs in the sixth inning. Senior Elana Meyers led the charge with a single, and advanced to third on a bunt by junior Caroline Howe. King then walked, and was replaced by senior Janelle Parker, who quickly stole second. Sophomore Tori Sensi then struck out, but got to first on an error by the catcher that scored Meyers from third, and advanced Parker to third. Sensi then stole second and up came junior Katie Miller, who drove a two-run single to left.
Meyers went 3-4 in the opener with a double in the opener.
Juniors Chrysanthi Halkiotis and Jackie Yaniga led the offensive onslaught in game two with three hits apiece. Halkiotis went 3-5 with a home run and three RBI while finishing a triple away from the cycle. Yaniga went 3-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
GW got on the board early in the first with Meyers reaching second on an error and being drove in by a double to left by King. Rhode Island responded for two runs in their half of the innings but that was the last time they led in the game.
The Colonials scored five runs in the top of the third with Meyers starting the rally once again with a walk. Howe next launched her fifth home run of the season to left center to give GW the 3-2 lead. After consecutive singles by King and Sensi, Yaniga connected on her eighth homer of the year to extend the lead to four at 6-2.
After the Rams cut the lead to three in their half of the inning, GW scored two more in the fifth behind an RBI single by freshman Amanda Holst, and an RBI double by Halkiotis.
After six frames, Rhode Island narrowed the gap to 8-6, but Halkiotis slugged her first home run of the season in the seventh for some extra insurance.
Junior right-hander Lisa Cohen got the win in relief of sophomore Carrie Higdon, throwing 5.1 innings, while allowing three earned runs on six hits. Gabriel recorded her first save of the season by getting the final four outs of the game.
The Colonials will be back in action on Sunday, April 29 when they travel to Massachusetts (27-12-1, 12-0 A-10) for a 12:00 pm conference doubleheader.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cohen, Lisa (3-1)
L: ANDERSON (2-15)
S: Amanda Gabriel (1)
Batting:
2B: Chrysanthi Halkiotis 1 ; Elana Meyers 1 ; King, Hilary 1
HR: Chrysanthi Halkiotis 1 ; Howe, Caroline 1 ; Yaniga, Jackie 1
RBI: Chrysanthi Halkiotis 3 ; Howe, Caroline 2 ; King, Hilary 1 ; Yaniga, Jackie 3 ; Holst, Amanda 1
SH: Elisa Van Kirk 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chrysanthi Halkiotis 1 ; Elana Meyers 2 ; Howe, Caroline 1 ; King, Hilary 1 ; Sensi, Tori 1 ; Yaniga, Jackie 2 ; Holst, Amanda 1 ; Parker, Janelle 1
SB: Elana Meyers 1
CS: Elana Meyers 1 ; Sensi, Tori 1
HBP: Holst, Amanda 1
Batting:
2B: PETERSEN 1 ; DiBUSSOLO 1
RBI: PETERSEN 1 ; MARTINO 1 ; WILSON 1 ; DiBUSSOLO 1 ; HALCOMB 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KAMPMEIER 2 ; MARTINO 1 ; HITEMAN 1 ; QUIMBY 1 ; POEDUBICKY 1
SB: KAMPMEIER 1 ; HITEMAN 1 ; POEDUBICKY 1
