George Washington University
12-7
Fairleigh Dickinson
4-8
Softball Improves to 4-0 at Colonial Classic
3/10/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
WASHINGTON - Morgan Rinehart homered in both games of a doubleheader Saturday, powering George Washington softball to a sweep at the Colonial Classic.
Rinehart's first blast was a grand slam to end a 10-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson by run rule in the fifth inning. The senior outfielder added another one in the first inning against Princeton, going back to back with Elena Shelepak to send the Colonials on their way to an 11-0 victory in five innings.Rinehart totaled three hits and seven RBIs over the two wins, improving her batting average to .455 for the season. Shelepak had five hits, walked twice and drove in seven runs, including a five-RBI performance against Princeton to set a career high.
In addition, Jenna Cone reached base six times and scored three runs in the doubleheader with a sacrifice fly in her other at-bat. The reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year is 4-for-4 with six walks and two HBPs in four games this weekend.
GW has won its first four games of the weekend at GW Softball Field on the Mount Vernon Campus to improve its overall record to 13-7. The Colonials remain unbeaten at home with five of their six wins ended early by the run rule.
GW 10, Fairleigh Dickinson 1 (5 innings): The Colonials broke open a tight game with a seven-run fifth inning. They batted around to chase Fairleigh Dickinson starter Erica Johnson before Rinehart ended it with her no-doubt shot over the fence in left center. Olivia Ortlieb also had a two-run double in the explosive frame.
GW grabbed the lead with a two-run first, highlighted by Shelepak's RBI double. After the Knights (4-8) got one back, Criza Bulanadi pushed the lead to 3-1 with a two-out single that plated Sidney Bloomfield.
Kaitlin Buff held Fairleigh Dickinson in check, picking up her second win of the season with a complete-game effort. The sophomore left-hander allowed just two hits over her five innings and retired 10 batters in a row during one stretch.
Ten different Colonials recorded hits in the victory with Marta Fuentes, Bloomfield and Shelepak providing two apiece. They also racked up seven steals as a team, including two each for Fuentes, Bloomfield and Bulanadi.
GW 11, Princeton 0 (5 innings): The Colonials kept the hit parade going in the second game to complete the sweep. They batted around in both the second and third innings to amass 11 runs on 13 hits.
Shelepak was the star against the Tigers (0-9). The sophomore from New York launched a two-run homer in the opening inning, ahead of Rinehart's second long ball. She added a two-run single in the four-run second and picked up another RBI hit in the four-run third.
Fuentes, Rinehart and Alessandra Ponce went for two hits apiece in the victory, while Priscilla Martinez picked up a pair of RBIs with a pinch single in the third.
Sierra Lange improved to 6-4 with her second victory in as many days. The freshman hurler scattered five hits over four scoreless innings before turning it over to Ashley Pilcher to finish it.
ON DECK: GW will wrap up the Colonial Classic with another doubleheader Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. The Colonials are set to face Princeton before finishing the weekend against Fairleigh Dickinson. (Note: The game times are moved up an hour from what was originally announced.)
WATCH THIS: Hear from Shelepak and Rinehart after Saturday's doubleheader.
Hear from Elena Shelepak and Morgan Rinehart after Saturday's sweep at the Colonial Classic! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/GMSiPzWaVg
- GW Softball (@GW_Softball) March 10, 2018
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Buff, Kaitlin (2-0)
L: JOHNSON, Erica (1-4)
Batting:
2B: CERVANTES, Reanna 1
RBI: SCHMEH, Rylie 1
SF: SCHMEH, Rylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MERCIER, Holly 1
Batting:
2B: Ortlieb, Olivia 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 2
HR: Rinehart, Morgan 1
RBI: Bloomfield, Sidney 1 ; Ortlieb, Olivia 2 ; Cone, Jenna 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 2 ; Rinehart, Morgan 4
SF: Cone, Jenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fuentes, Marta 2 ; Bloomfield, Sidney 1 ; Ortlieb, Olivia 1 ; Cone, Jenna 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 1 ; Tejcek, Riley 1 ; Rinehart, Morgan 1 ; Bulanadi, Criza 2
SB: Fuentes, Marta 2 ; Bloomfield, Sidney 2 ; Lange, Sierra 1 ; Bulanadi, Criza 2
HBP: Cone, Jenna 1
