George Washington University
9-11
NIU
19-7
GW Softball Wraps Blue/Gold Challenge on Saturday
3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The George Washington softball team wrapped play at the three-day Blue/Gold Challenge on Saturday afternoon, falling to Northern Illinois and host UNC Greensboro.
The Colonials out-hit Northern Illinois, 8-7, to open the day, but six walks issued by GW proved costly as the Buff and Blue fell, 4-2.
The Huskies (19-7) got on the board in the bottom of the first after a leadoff triple was promptly followed by an RBI single, but sophomore starter Sarah Costlow escaped the inning without further damage.
The Colonials tied the contest in the third with a solo home run from junior Megan Linn, her second of the season.
In Northern Illinois' half of the third, a walk and consecutive hit batters loaded the bases with one out. Another walk plated the go-ahead run for the Huskies and a single put NIU ahead, 3-1, before freshman Jayme Cone came on in relief of Costlow to record the final two outs of the stanza.
GW responded with a run in the top of the fourth that began with a leadoff double by senior Morgan Matetic. Sophomore Rochelle Draper then singled up the middle to plate Matetic and put the Colonials within one.
The Huskies added an insurance run in the sixth on two hits to close the game with a 4-2 victory, as the game was ended after six innings due to time constraints.
In the nightcap, host UNC Greensboro posted a five-run first inning after back-to-back hits to start the frame and a two-run double gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead before an RBI single added one more. With one out, UNCG belted a two-run home run to center to take a 5-0 lead at the close of the first.
The Spartans added two more in the third on a walk and a home run. Another pair of runs in the fourth - again by virtue of a two-run homer - gave UNCG a 9-0 advantage.
GW tallied a pair of hits against the host Spartans (20-11), off the bats of Linn and Draper - both coming in the first inning.
The Colonials (9-12) return home for a mid-week doubleheader against Lafayette at the GW Softball Field on the Mount Vernon Campus on Wednesday before opening Atlantic 10 Conference play next weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: THACKER, Tara (5-4)
L: Costlow, Sarah (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Gray, Carlee 1 ; Matetic, Morgan 1
HR: Linn, Megan 1
RBI: Linn, Megan 1 ; Draper, Rochelle 1
SH: Draper, Rochelle 1 ; Leal-Robles, Aiyana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Linn, Megan 1 ; Matetic, Morgan 1
CS: Draper, Rochelle 1
Batting:
2B: GRABLE, Kayti 1 ; HOWLETT, Abby 1
3B: KOSSAKOWSKI, Kali 1
RBI: LAMICH, Katie 1 ; GRABLE, Kayti 1 ; VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1 ; HOWLETT, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KOSSAKOWSKI, Kali 2 ; GRABLE, Kayti 1 ; RIO, Jessica 1
SB: KOSSAKOWSKI, Kali 1 ; WARREN, Caitlyn 1
HBP: GRABLE, Kayti 1 ; NAEGELE, Emily 1
