George Washington University Athletics
Softball Aims to Extend Streak at Buff & Blue Challenge
3/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Alessandra PonceFr. || 5-6 || IF
Henderson, NV
Ponce had six hits in eight at-bats (.750) last weekend and also reached via two walks and two HBPs. The freshman from Nevada had hits in all five games that she played, raising her season batting average to an even .500 (15-for-30) to lead the Colonials. She also ranks fifth on the club with 11 RBIs.
The Colonials will face each team once before the field is seeded into a four-team tournament to decide a champion. They kick off the action Friday with a doubleheader against the Leopards and Bears.
Thanks to a six-game winning streak, GW carries a 15-7 overall record, including an 8-0 mark at home, into their final weekend before Atlantic 10 play.
LAST TIME OUT: GW won all six of its games at the Colonial Classic over the weekend, sweeping three games apiece with Princeton and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Colonials outscored those foes, 64-9, for the tournament, ending four of the victories early via run rule.
GW got it done in all facets, showcasing an offense that hit .477 collectively and a pitching staff that compiled a 1.85 ERA. Eight different Colonials tallied at least six hits, while Sarah Costlow, Sierra Lange and Kaitlin Buff picked up two wins apiece in the pitching circle.
Jenna Cone was honored as the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after going 8-for-8 with a home run, a double, seven walks and three HBPs She also finished with eight runs scored, nine RBIs and two steals to win the award for the first time in her career.
Costlow earned conference Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time after going 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA over 12 innings, including her first shutout of the season.
NATIONALLY RANKED: Thanks to last weekend's offensive explosion, GW has moved up to No. 16 nationally in batting average at .329 through 22 games. The Colonials have 196 hits in 595 at-bats. They lead the A-10 in that category by more than 40 points.
GOING LONG: Morgan Rinehart ended last Saturday's 10-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson with a grand slam. It was the senior outfielder's second home run of the season and fifth of her career. She also has four doubles and a triple among her 16 hits, good for a slugging percentage of .718 that ranks second on the squad.
SCOUTING BROWN: The Bears sit at 3-6 after splitting four games at UC-Riverside's Highlander Classic last weekend. They sport a .306 team batting average, led by Junior Meghan Wimmer, who is 15-for-29 at the plate and has earned two wins in the pitching circle.
SCOUTING LAFAYETTE: The Leopards (1-13) returned to action Wednesday with a 6-3 loss to Penn after snow had wiped out their previous four games. Freshman Paige Grover leads the squad in hits (11), runs (seven) and home runs (three).
SCOUTING SIENA: The Saints are 1-8 in the early going, coming off three losses in four games last weekend at George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic. Madysen Cossack is hitting .370 (10-for-27) with two home runs and five doubles so far.
ON DECK: GW hosts UMBC next Wednesday in a rescheduled game before kicking off its A-10 slate with a three-game set at home against St. Bonaventure on March 24 and 25.
