George Washington University
0-4
Long Beach State
2-2
Softball Battles No. 3 Oklahoma in Mexico
2/8/2020 10:21:00 PM | Softball
Colonials wrapped PV College Challenge on Saturday
The Colonials scored the game's first two runs and led into the fourth inning before the Sooners edged ahead. It was a confidence-boosting effort vs. the highest ranked opponent the program has ever faced to close out a tough opening weekend on foreign soil against decorated competition.
In the first game of the doubleheader, GW was stopped by Long Beach State, 16-3, in six innings, but the Colonials quickly recovered to stand tall vs. Oklahoma, the 2019 national runner-up.
Oklahoma 5, GW 2:Â The Colonials became the first team this season to hold a lead vs. the Sooners thanks to clutch hits from two members of GW's decorated senior class.
GW's third-inning rally started with Maggie Greco's one-out walk, and Sidney Bloomfield followed with a bunt single to stoke the threat.Â
Jenna Cone's two-out single up the middle brought home Greco with the game's first run, and Priscilla Martinez came through with a run-scoring hit of her own to plate Bloomfield.
GW continued to hold the advantage into the fourth when Oklahoma rallied for four runs. Lynnsie Elam's home run tied the game at 2-2 before a sac fly and a two-run single put the Sooners in front, 5-2.
The Colonials threatened again in the sixth with a pair of runners in scoring position, but three straight strikeouts squashed the comeback bid.
Megan Osterhaus battled in a gritty complete-game effort in the circle. The sophomore from Minnesota worked around nine hits and four walks, stranding eight Sooners. She allowed base runners in all six of her innings, but Oklahoma scored in just two of them.
GW made its three hits count with all of them coming in the third inning. With her 1-for-3 effort, Cone closed the tournament hitting a team-best .357, while Martinez reached twice with a hit and a walk.
Afterward, Cone and Osterhaus were honored on the PV College Challenge All-Tournament Team.
Long Beach State 16, GW 3 (6 innings):Â Long Beach State scored in five of six innings en route to the run-rule victory.
After Cone's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth made it 9-2 to extend the game, LBSU responded with seven runs in the top of the sixth to double the advantage.
Cone finished 2-for-3 with the RBI, while Alessandra Ponce reached base three times. Elena Shelepak also delivered an RBI hit vs. LBSU.
A first-year from Illinois, Greco recorded her first career hit and run scored in the contest.
ON DECK:Â GW hits the road to East Carolina next weekend to compete in the Pirate Clash. The Colonials will face Hampton, DePaul and the Pirates during the three-day event.
WATCH THIS: Hear from head coach Shane Winkler, Jenna Cone and Megan Osterhaus after Saturday's finale vs. Oklahoma.
Hear from Head Coach Shane Winkler, Jenna Cone and Megan Osterhaus after our battle vs. No. 3 Oklahoma to close out our stay @PVCollegeSB. #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/gFwhNFdh4p
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) February 9, 2020
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: White, Kellie (2-0)
L: Weber, Faith (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Gonzalez, Alyssa 1
RBI: McCollum, Sydney 1 ; Hernandez, Naomi 2 ; Lockman, Abby 1 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 3 ; Rowland, Taylor 2 ; Seip, Rylie 1 ; Olson, Sara 1 ; Salazar, Emily 2 ; Briones, Justine 1
SF: Gonzalez, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McCollum, Sydney 1 ; Hernandez, Naomi 2 ; Lockman, Abby 3 ; Gonzalez, Alyssa 2 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1 ; Olson, Sara 1 ; Salazar, Emily 3 ; Briones, Justine 3
SB: McCollum, Sydney 1 ; Seip, Rylie 1 ; Ruffin, Maddy 1
HBP: Lockman, Abby 1
Batting:
RBI: Cone, Jenna 1 ; Shelepak, Elena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Linquist, Jessica 1 ; Ponce, Alessandra 1 ; Greco, Maggie 1
HBP: Ponce, Alessandra 1 ; Wilson, Daniella 1
