George Washington University
36-14, 12-6
Dayton
21-23, 8-5
Softball Takes Two From Dayton
4/27/2019 6:51:00 PM | Softball
Colonials won the opener in thrilling fashion
In the opener, the Colonials rallied for three seventh-inning runs to win, 6-5, on Priscilla Martinez's walk-off two-run single. They carried the momentum into the second game to claim a 6-3 victory behind three extra-base hits from Jessica Linquist and a three-RBI effort from Jenna Cone.
Sierra Lange turned in a gritty performance in the circle, earning a pair of complete-game wins to improve to 25-10 on the season.
Cone enjoyed another record day, tying her own GW high for homers with her 18th of the season and recording her 62nd RBI of the spring to break another personal and program-best mark.
The Buff and Blue enter Sunday's series finale at 37-14 overall and 13-6 in A-10 play.
GW 6, Dayton 5:Â The Flyers scored five runs over their final two at-bats to grab the lead, but the Colonials fought back to win in thrilling fashion.
Down two runs, GW scored three in the bottom of the seventh without recording an out. Linquist started the comeback with an HBP before Cone served a single into left and Lange followed with another hit to plate a run.Â
That set the stage for Martinez, who sent a 1-1 pitch back up the middle to bring home Cone and Lange.
GW built a 3-0 lead on the strength of Cone's two-run blast in the first inning and Alessandra Ponce's RBI fielder's choice in the third. The Colonials held that advantage until the sixth when Dayton rallied to tie, and the Flyers scored two more in the seventh to push the Buff and Blue to the brink.Priscilla Martinez finished the comeback! Take a look at her two-run walk-off single to win our first game of the day! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/iGOk4AC7nb
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) April 27, 2019
Cone paced GW at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, while Linquist reached base three times and scored three runs.
Lange allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts over seven innings. The sophomore from Texas also reached twice via the seventh-inning single and an earlier walk.
GW 6, Dayton 3:Â The Colonials got off to another fast start in the second game and never trailed in completing the sweep.
Linquist, Cone and Lange started the bottom of the first with consecutive hits, helping GW grab a 2-0 lead. The Colonials added another run in the third when Linquist smashed a leadoff triple and later scored on an errant pickoff attempt.
After Dayton pulled within 3-2, Cone struck again in the fifth to pad the home team's lead. The junior slugger's double off the center field fence brought home Marta Fuentes and Linquist to break the single-season RBI mark.
Elena Shelepak added the final run in the sixth with her fourth home run of the season.
Lange worked around 11 hits to earn another victory. GW's ace ran into trouble in the seventh but found a way to close it out with some help from her defense.Â
After Dayton loaded the bases with three straight singles, Fuentes hauled in a pop-up over her shoulder and quickly flipped to second to double off a Flyer who had strayed too far off base. Then Olivia Ortlieb made an excellent running catch in left to end the game.
Linquist finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and three more runs scored, while Cone provided another two-hit effort and drove in three.
UP NEXT:Â GW closes out its home schedule Sunday celebrating Senior Day at the Vern. The pregame ceremony honoring Fuentes, Criza Bulanadi, Jayme Cone and Riley Tejcek is slated to begin at 11:50 a.m.
WATCH THIS:Â Hear from Martinez and Linquist after Saturday's doubleheader.
ÂWhat a great day at the Vern! Hear from Priscilla Martinez and Jessica Linquist after two wins over Dayton! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/86wPUOpxik
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) April 27, 2019
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lange, Sierra (24-10)
L: GILLIAM, Jessica (9-9)
Batting:
2B: DAVIDSON, Kyle 2 ; ZIEGLER, Ellie 1 ; BLARR, Julia 1 ; FITZGERALD, Kelly 1
RBI: ZIEGLER, Ellie 1 ; BLARR, Julia 3 ; FITZGERALD, Kelly 1
SH: DAVIDSON, Kyle 1 ; BLARR, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: EHRENBORG, Abby 1 ; DAVIDSON, Kyle 1 ; ZIEGLER, Ellie 2 ; BLARR, Julia 1
SB: CURRY, Jules 1
Batting:
2B: Linquist, Jessica 1
HR: Cone, Jenna 1
RBI: Cone, Jenna 2 ; Lange, Sierra 1 ; Martinez, Priscilla 2 ; Ponce, Alessandra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Linquist, Jessica 3 ; Cone, Jenna 2 ; Lange, Sierra 1
SB: Lange, Sierra 1 ; Bulanadi, Criza 1
HBP: Linquist, Jessica 1 ; Cone, Jenna 1
PO: Lange, Sierra 1
