George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
42-15
Saint Joseph's
28-24
Softball Advances to A-10 Final with Walk-Off Win
5/10/2019 2:46:00 PM | Softball
Sierra Lange's game-ending single delivered another thrilling win
By winning the action-packed slugfest, the third-seeded Colonials moved to 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament at Sortino Field. They'll face the winner of the consolation bracket – top-seeded Fordham or Saint Joseph's – on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with a chance to claim their first conference title.
Lange led the way by finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs at the plate and earning her third complete-game win in as many days.
Priscilla Martinez went 3-for-4, including her second home run of the season, with a pair of RBIs in the victory.
GW (42-15) led by six runs after two innings but needed a rally following a spirited charge by Saint Joseph's. After the Hawks jumped in front 11-10 with three runs in the top of the sixth, Martinez produced the immediate answer for the Colonials with her solo shot to lead off the bottom of the inning.
Lange headed back to the circle in a tie game and set the stage for the exciting finish by throwing a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.
The nationally-ranked Buff and Blue offense took it from there. Sidney Bloomfield led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a hit by Jessica Linquist and took third on a wild pitch. The Hawks then intentionally walked Jenna Cone to load the bases for Lange.
Lange came up clutch, ripping the first pitch the other way over the right fielder's head to set off a victory celebration.
GW found a way late after exploding for nine runs over the first two innings, highlighted by a three-run home run by Hannah Eslick.Sierra Lange with a first-pitch RBI SINGLE to win it in the bottom of the 7th! @GW_softball advances to their first #A10SB Championship game since 2012!
— Atlantic10Conference (@atlantic10) May 10, 2019
Thanks for the #InstantClassic GW & @SJUHawks_SB pic.twitter.com/7cNd19y9lp
After Saint Joseph's scored a pair of first-inning runs, the Colonials produced an emphatic answer, rolling up five runs in their half of the opening frame.
Martinez brought home Linquist and Cone with a single to tie the game before Eslick's blast. The sophomore shortstop turned on an inside pitch and sent it over the left field fence for her second homer of the season to make it 5-2.
GW extended its advantage to 9-3 with four more runs in the second, capitalizing on four walks and a hit batter. Lange worked a bases-full free pass, Linquist scored on a wild pitch, Alessandra Ponce smacked a run-scoring single and Elena Shelepak added a sac fly.
Saint Joseph's climbed back by scoring seven of the next eight runs, but as they have throughout an already memorable season, the Colonials came back swinging to move a step closer to a title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
In addition to her seventh-inning single, Bloomfield also recorded her first double of the season and later scored in the fifth. Ponce also had a multi-hit effort, while Cone reached four times with a single, two walks and an HBP.
UP NEXT:Â In the A-10 final for the first time since 2012 and second time in program history, GW will wait to find out its opponent as Fordham and Saint Joseph's are set to square off earlier Saturday in the consolation final. The winner there must beat the Colonials twice to take the title. The first game is set for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch with the if-necessary game to be played on Sunday.
WATCH THIS:Â Hear from Head Coach Shane Winkler, Bloomfield and Martinez after Friday's win.
"We're right where we want to be."
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) May 10, 2019
Hear from Head Coach Shane Winkler, Sidney Bloomfield and Priscilla Martinez after our walk-off win over Saint Joseph's! #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/5A2Z8rrAGo
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lange, Sierra (29-11)
L: HERR, Amanda (8-5)
Batting:
2B: COX, KIRSTIN 1 ; GROBER, Taryn 1 ; HERRERA, Jancarla 1
HR: OSTASZEWSKI, Sarah 1 ; MARINELLI, Taylor 1
RBI: COX, KIRSTIN 2 ; OSTASZEWSKI, Sarah 2 ; KAPALA, Molly 2 ; MARINELLI, Taylor 2 ; GROBER, Taryn 1 ; RYBINSKI, Carly 1
SH: KULP, Amanda 1 ; HERRERA, Jancarla 1
SF: GROBER, Taryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KULP, Amanda 1 ; COX, KIRSTIN 2 ; OSTASZEWSKI, Sarah 1 ; KAPALA, Molly 2 ; ABADIE, Caela 1 ; MARINELLI, Taylor 1 ; GROBER, Taryn 1 ; HERRERA, Jancarla 1 ; RYBINSKI, Carly 1
Batting:
2B: Lange, Sierra 1 ; Bloomfield, Sidney 1
HR: Martinez, Priscilla 1 ; Eslick, Hannah 1
RBI: Linquist, Jessica 1 ; Lange, Sierra 2 ; Martinez, Priscilla 2 ; Ponce, Alessandra 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 1 ; Eslick, Hannah 3
SH: Lange, Sierra 1
SF: Linquist, Jessica 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Linquist, Jessica 2 ; Cone, Jenna 2 ; Lange, Sierra 1 ; Martinez, Priscilla 1 ; Ortlieb, Olivia 1 ; Ponce, Alessandra 1 ; Eslick, Hannah 1 ; Bloomfield, Sidney 2 ; Fuentes, Marta 1
SB: Eslick, Hannah 1
HBP: Cone, Jenna 1
