George Washington University
33-19
Dayton
28-24
Weber's Blast Powers Softball at A-10 Championship
5/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BRONX, N.Y. - Faith Weber's go-ahead, pinch-hit home run lifted George Washington softball to a 2-1 win over No. 3 seed Dayton on Wednesday to open the Atlantic 10 Championship at Fordham's Bahoshy Field.
After Weber's solo shot broke the deadlock, Sierra Lange closed out the complete-game victory, sending the sixth-seeded Colonials to a matchup with No. 2 seed Fordham on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.SEE. YOU. LATER. @GW_Softball Faith Weber lifts a pitch over the left-field wall for a seventh-inning go-ahead homer. #A10SB Championship pic.twitter.com/1nvSpsruQb
-- Atlantic10Conference (@atlantic10) May 9, 2018
Lange came out on top in the pitchers' duel, limiting Dayton to one run on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings. After allowing a run via a sacrifice fly in the first, the freshman from Texas locked in and rolled through the Flyers lineup.
Lange retired 12 in a row before a leadoff single in the seventh inning, a baserunner who was quickly erased on a double play. She then induced a game-ending flyout to clinch her fifth straight victory and team-leading 15th of the season.
GW (33-19) trailed 1-0 before Elena Shelepak's solo home run tied it in the fourth. The sophomore from New York went the other way to clear the right field fence with her 10th of the season.
After a sac fly gave Dayton a one-run lead, this bomb by @GW_Softball Elena Shelepak evened things up at #A10SB Championship Game 2 pic.twitter.com/eRmW71D1eQ
-- Atlantic10Conference (@atlantic10) May 9, 2018
The score stayed there until Weber stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter with one out in the seventh. The sophomore from New Jersey crushed one well over the left field fence for her second long ball in seven at-bats this season.
Marta Fuentes had three of GW's seven hits, including a triple to the left field fence in the fifth inning. It was her team-leading fourth of the season.
Shelepak added a double after her homer to finish 2-for-3 at the plate, while Alessandra Ponce also reached twice with an infield single and an HBP.
ON DECK: GW advances in the double-elimination tournament to face host Fordham on Thursday afternoon. The winner plays either No. 5 seed Saint Louis or top-seeded Massachusetts on Friday for a spot in the final.
WATCH THIS: Hear from Weber and Lange after Wednesday's victory.
Hear from Faith Weber and Sierra Lange after Wednesday's win over Dayton to start the A-10 Championship! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/uSykkMDsu8
-- GW Softball (@GW_Softball) May 9, 2018
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lange, Sierra (15-6)
L: WEAVER, J. (6-9)
Batting:
2B: Shelepak, Elena 1
3B: Fuentes, Marta 1
HR: Shelepak, Elena 1 ; Weber, Faith 1
RBI: Shelepak, Elena 1 ; Weber, Faith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shelepak, Elena 1 ; Weber, Faith 1
HBP: Ponce, Alessandra 1
Batting:
RBI: TASSI, L. 1
SH: BUDICIN, K. 1
SF: TASSI, L. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DAVIDSON, K. 1
SB: DAVIDSON, K. 1
HBP: HABERSTICH 1
