George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball Drops Two on First Day of JMU Invitational
3/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 16, 2012
Box Score vs. Pittsburgh | Box Score vs. James Madison
The Colonials (6-14) were out-slugged by
Junior Julie Orlandi was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs against the Panthers. Sophomore Chelsea Lenhart went 3-for-7 with two runs and an RBI on the day, and junior Autumn Taylor slammed two home runs - one in each contest - for a total of four runs scored. Freshman Victoria Valos scored three runs on the afternoon, including a three-run homer against JMU. Valos also hit GW's first triple of the season against Pitt.
In Game 1, the Panthers (13-6) jumped to an immediate lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Colonials responded with a three-run first, highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Taylor and Lenhart. Valos hit her first career triple to center field, and Orlandi drove home Valos with a double to right for the final run of the frame.
Senior Amanda Zakeri led off the fifth with a single to center and stole second. Zakeri then advanced to third on a base hit by senior Lauren Wilson and scored on a sacrifice by freshman Samantha Dos Santos.
Freshman Chelsey Pedley (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs in three innings pitched.
In the nightcap, GW capitalized on a JMU (9-13) fielding error in the first inning to jump to a 3-0 lead. With Lenhart and Taylor on first and second, respectively, Valos launched her second homer of the season to lift the Buff and Blue to an early advantage.
The Colonials allowed a Dukes' run in the bottom of the first with a fielding error of their own, and JMU cut GW's lead to one with a home run to left-center in the bottom of the third.
Three straight hits by the Dukes in the bottom of the fifth gave the tournament hosts their first lead of the afternoon. The Colonials pulled within one on a solo home run by
Senior Kara Clauss (4-8) took the loss after she ceded four runs on 10 hits and two walks in four innings pitched.
GW returns to action on Saturday with a 9:30 a.m. contest against Atlantic 10 foe Fordham, followed by a 2:30 p.m. game with JMU. Fans can follow live stats here.
