George Washington University Athletics
Softball Celebrates Senior Weekend vs. SLU
4/29/2022 10:30:00 AM | Softball
Buff & Blue look to continue six-game winning streak
GW softball carries a six-game winning streak into its Senior Weekend series vs. Saint Louis on the Mount Vernon Campus.
The Buff and Blue are on top of the Atlantic 10 standings with the Billikens in second place heading into the three-game set, which will include a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon and a single game on Sunday with another noon first pitch.
After Sunday's finale, GW will honor graduate students Maddy Dwyer, Hannah Eslick, Sierra Lange, Alessandra Ponce and Olivia Vinyard as well as senior Megan Osterhaus in a ceremony celebrating their tremendous success with the program.
All three games are set to be broadcast via ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT:Â GW secured a pair of victories in midweek action, going on the road to earn a run-rule victory over Delaware State on Tuesday and then defeating Mount St. Mary's at The Vern on Wednesday.
Maddie Spell picked up her first collegiate victory vs. the Hornets and also drove in two runs, and Alexa Williams led the way vs. the Mountaineers, finishing with a home run, a double and three RBIs in a 4-1 triumph.
SENIOR CELEBRATION: GW honors a distinguished group that has helped spur a historic run of success for the program. Entering the weekend, the Buff and Blue has 152 total wins, a .666 overall winning percentage and a 66-21 record in A-10 play over the past five seasons.Â
This group has helped the program to new heights, including its first A-10 title in 2019 and another conference crown and first NCAA appearance last spring with another postseason push on the horizon.
The first A-10 Pitcher of the Year in program history and last season's A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player, Lange headlines the group. The graduate student from Plano, Texas, owns every major program pitching record, including wins (87), strikeouts (720) and shutouts (15), and also ranks in the program's all-time top 10 offensively in hits (227, third), runs (157, fourth), RBIs (123, fourth), doubles (38, eighth), triples (14, second), homers (19, tied for seventh) and steals (52, fifth).
Ponce is a three-time All-Conference and All-Region selection with 206 hits, 156 RBIs and 26 home runs in her career entering the weekend. On Tuesday, the graduate student from Henderson, Nev., tied Jenna Cone's program doubles record with 54.
A graduate transfer via Stanford, Dwyer has been a major addition to the group, posting strong numbers in the circle while also contributing offensively and playing error-free defense in the outfield. The Orange, Calif., native tossed a pair of shutouts earlier this season and four of her seven wins have come vs. A-10 competition.
An infield staple with 167 starts over the past four seasons, Eslick has already set career highs in every major hitting category this spring with a batting average of .314 and an A-10 leading 15 doubles while continuing to play terrific defense at short.
A four-year member of our pitching staff, Osterhaus has made 36 appearances in the circle over the course of her career. The right-hander from Burnsville, Minn., was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2020 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge and posted a career-best 2.17 ERA last spring.
A graduate transfer via Yale, Vinyard has appeared in 74 games, including 45 starts last spring, and scored 24 runs over the past two seasons as a member of the Buff & Blue, and the outfielder from Valparaiso, Ind., has been a key contributor to a defense that has been nationally-ranked in both campaigns.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS:Â Saint Louis swept a series at St. Bonaventure last weekend to improve to 12-5 in conference play, which puts the Billikens behind only 16-2 GW in the standings. Gabbie Kowalik owns a .364/.428/.636 slash line to lead the offense, while Chloe Wendling (14-12, 2.92 ERA in 163 innings) and Taylor Hochman (6-9, 3.41 ERA in 100.2 innings) have handled a majority of the work in the circle this season.
UP NEXT:Â GW rounds out the regular season next weekend with a three-game series at UMass. The six-team A-10 Championship begins on May 11 at George Mason.
The Buff and Blue are on top of the Atlantic 10 standings with the Billikens in second place heading into the three-game set, which will include a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon and a single game on Sunday with another noon first pitch.
After Sunday's finale, GW will honor graduate students Maddy Dwyer, Hannah Eslick, Sierra Lange, Alessandra Ponce and Olivia Vinyard as well as senior Megan Osterhaus in a ceremony celebrating their tremendous success with the program.
All three games are set to be broadcast via ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT:Â GW secured a pair of victories in midweek action, going on the road to earn a run-rule victory over Delaware State on Tuesday and then defeating Mount St. Mary's at The Vern on Wednesday.
Maddie Spell picked up her first collegiate victory vs. the Hornets and also drove in two runs, and Alexa Williams led the way vs. the Mountaineers, finishing with a home run, a double and three RBIs in a 4-1 triumph.
We're excited to celebrate a distinguished group on Senior Weekend at The Vern!
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) April 29, 2022
Here's @CSchoony11 on @lange115, @_alessandra_011, @hannahhjohelle, @meganosterhaus, @maddy__dwyer and Olivia Vinyard.#RaiseHigh | #Together pic.twitter.com/3GN5fpNkyt
SENIOR CELEBRATION: GW honors a distinguished group that has helped spur a historic run of success for the program. Entering the weekend, the Buff and Blue has 152 total wins, a .666 overall winning percentage and a 66-21 record in A-10 play over the past five seasons.Â
This group has helped the program to new heights, including its first A-10 title in 2019 and another conference crown and first NCAA appearance last spring with another postseason push on the horizon.
The first A-10 Pitcher of the Year in program history and last season's A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player, Lange headlines the group. The graduate student from Plano, Texas, owns every major program pitching record, including wins (87), strikeouts (720) and shutouts (15), and also ranks in the program's all-time top 10 offensively in hits (227, third), runs (157, fourth), RBIs (123, fourth), doubles (38, eighth), triples (14, second), homers (19, tied for seventh) and steals (52, fifth).
Ponce is a three-time All-Conference and All-Region selection with 206 hits, 156 RBIs and 26 home runs in her career entering the weekend. On Tuesday, the graduate student from Henderson, Nev., tied Jenna Cone's program doubles record with 54.
A graduate transfer via Stanford, Dwyer has been a major addition to the group, posting strong numbers in the circle while also contributing offensively and playing error-free defense in the outfield. The Orange, Calif., native tossed a pair of shutouts earlier this season and four of her seven wins have come vs. A-10 competition.
An infield staple with 167 starts over the past four seasons, Eslick has already set career highs in every major hitting category this spring with a batting average of .314 and an A-10 leading 15 doubles while continuing to play terrific defense at short.
A four-year member of our pitching staff, Osterhaus has made 36 appearances in the circle over the course of her career. The right-hander from Burnsville, Minn., was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2020 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge and posted a career-best 2.17 ERA last spring.
A graduate transfer via Yale, Vinyard has appeared in 74 games, including 45 starts last spring, and scored 24 runs over the past two seasons as a member of the Buff & Blue, and the outfielder from Valparaiso, Ind., has been a key contributor to a defense that has been nationally-ranked in both campaigns.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS:Â Saint Louis swept a series at St. Bonaventure last weekend to improve to 12-5 in conference play, which puts the Billikens behind only 16-2 GW in the standings. Gabbie Kowalik owns a .364/.428/.636 slash line to lead the offense, while Chloe Wendling (14-12, 2.92 ERA in 163 innings) and Taylor Hochman (6-9, 3.41 ERA in 100.2 innings) have handled a majority of the work in the circle this season.
UP NEXT:Â GW rounds out the regular season next weekend with a three-game series at UMass. The six-team A-10 Championship begins on May 11 at George Mason.
Players Mentioned
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