George Washington University
8-19, 4-6
DAYTON
18-21, 5-7
Softball Trades Victories With Dayton
4/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - Senior Katie Miller chopped a two-out, bases loaded single, in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two for the game-winning run, as the George Washington softball team defeated Dayton in game two of an Atlantic 10 doubleheader at Mount Vernon Softball Complex Saturday afternoon. Miller's fourth hit of the game was crucial as a Dayton sweep would have seriously threatened GW's Atlantic 10 tournament hopes. Dayton took the opener, 2-1 in eight innings, while GW took the latter, 7-6.
Behind four hits, the Colonials were able to score three runs in the first inning of game two, which not only gave them a 3-1 lead, but knocked out starting pitcher Allie Falk after just one out. Senior Chrysanthi Halkiotis led off the game with a walk, but was forced out as junior Carrie Higdon reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher. Freshman Katie Terrazas singled and senior Jackie Yaniga doubled, which scored Higdon from second, and advanced Terrazas to third. Junior Tori Sensi, who also came up big in today's doubleheader then singled to center, to score Terrazas, which was later followed by Miller's RBI single through the left side. Miller's hit marked the end for Falk's day in the circle.
Dayton tied the game up at 3 in the top of the second, but GW took the lead once again with a run in the third and fourth innings. Miller collected a one-out single to left to start the third inning, and was followed by a single by redshirt sophomore Elisa Van Kirk. Sophomore Amanda Holst then hit a ground-ball shot to the shortstop who threw Miller out at third for the fielder's choice. Freshman Ali Pardo then came in to the game as a pinch runner for Van Kirk. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Amanda Gabriel then singled to center field to score Pardo to help her own cause since she relieved Higdon after 1.1 innings..
After Gabriel escaped a bases loaded, no-out situation in the fourth, Sensi continued Colonials' offensive attack in the fourth, and her hot hitting against the Flyers with a two-out home run to left, her first blast of the season.
The Flyers came right back with three runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. However, GW would not be outdone as they rallied with runs in the sixth and seventh for the victory.
Yaniga started the rally with a single through the left side to start the sixth. Sensi sacrificed her over with a bunt to the pitcher. Miller's third hit of the game advanced Yaniga to third for Van Kirk who roped a single through the left side to tie the game as six.
With the game tied at six after six, Halkiotis led off the seventh with a single, and advanced on a sacrifice fielder's choice by Higdon. With two runners on, Terrazas advanced both runners into scoring position with a bunt down the first base line. Dayton pitcher Erin Lafayette, the game one winner, and relief pitcher in game two, elected to load the bases by intentionally walking Yaniga, setting up a force at any base with one out. Sensi was not able to deliver but she was backed up by Miller's single down the third base line for the victory.
Five Colonials had multi-hit games in the game two victory led by Miller's career-high four hits and two RBIs. Gabriel helped her own cause, going 3-4 with a run batted in. The native of Fullerton, CA, also picked up the win allowing three earned runs on six hits in 5.2 innings of work, while striking out four. Sensi also drove in two with two hits. Yaniga and Van Kirk also collected two hits with a run-batted in.
GW was not as fortunate in the opener as Gabriel and Lafayette dueled, as only three runs were scored, with Dayton unfortunately scoring two of them for the victory.
The opener remained scoreless until the fourth when Dayton's Anne Maci hit a solo shot to straight-away center field for a home run.
The Colonials responded for a run in the fifth as once again Gabriel delivered with the bat as well. After leading off the inning with a double, Gabriel scored on Halkiotis' single to right. The game remained deadlocked at one, and went into extra innings when GW received an unlucky break in the eighth. With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the inning, Flyers catcher Laura Matthews hit a liner which bounced out of a charging Halkiotis' glove, which scored what proved to be the game-winner.
Halkiotis led off the Colonials half of the eighth and was robbed of extra bases as the center fielder made a ESPN Web-Gem worthy catch to take away the hit. Higdon then walked and was followed by a Terrazas single, advancing Higdon to third. However, Terrazas was thrown out at second on the play as she tried to advance on the throw to third. Lafayette was able to get Yaniga to ground out to end game one.
GW out-hit Dayton, 6-5 in the opener as Gabriel's complete game went to waste. The sophomore hurler picked up the loss allowing just one earned run on five hits in eight innings of work, while fanning seven. Lafayette got the win allowing just one run on six hits.
Gabriel led GW offensively and in the circle as she went 4-7 with a double, run scored and a RBI on the day in the batters box. In the circle, she went 1-1 with a complete game. The right-handed pitcher struck out 11 in 13.2 innings, while walking four.
Miller also batted .571 with all four hits and two RBIs coming in game two. Sensi who came into the game batting 7-11 lifetime against Dayton, went 3-6 with a a home run and two RBI. Terrazas also collected three hits, while Van Kirk, Halkiotis and Yaniga collected two hits apiece. Both of Yaniga's base knocks were doubles.
The Colonials (8-19, 4-6 A-10) are back in acton Thursday, April 17, when they travel to Emmitsburg, MD to take on Mount St. Mary's in a 3:00 pm non-conference doubleheader. GW is back home Fri-Sat. April 18-19, when the take on Charlotte in a two-day Atlantic 10 series. Friday's contest will start at 3:00 pm, while first pitch on Saturday will be at 12:00 pm.
- GW -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabriel, Amanda (7-12)
L: LAFAYETTE (0-0)
Batting:
2B: STEGEMAN 1 ; JORDAN 1
RBI: MEYER 1 ; SCHRANK 3 ; MACI 1
SH: SCHRANK 1 ; STEGEMAN 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MEYER 2 ; NICHOLS 1 ; STEGEMAN 2 ; RAPPE 1
SB: MEYER 1
Batting:
2B: Yaniga, Jackie 1
HR: Sensi, Tori 1
RBI: Yaniga, Jackie 1 ; Sensi, Tori 2 ; Miller, Katie 2 ; Kirk, Elisa 1 ; Gabriel, Amanda 1
SH: Higdon, Carrie 1 ; Terrazas, Katie 1 ; Sensi, Tori 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Halkiotis, Chrysanthi 1 ; Higdon, Carrie 1 ; Terrazas, Katie 1 ; Yaniga, Jackie 2 ; Sensi, Tori 1 ; Pardo, Ali 1
