George Washington University
1-0
Bucknell
0-1
Softball Splits Games on Opening Day
2/10/2023 3:51:00 PM | Softball
Colonials complete seventh-inning comeback against Bucknell, come up short against Maine
Spartanburg, S.C. - Year two of the Chrissy Schoonmaker era got off and running today with GW softball splitting games at the Upstate Classic. The Buff and Blue beat Bucknell, 2-1, in thrilling fashion before dropping game two against Maine, 3-2, after a second seventh-inning comeback attempt fell just short.Â
GW 2, Bucknell 1:Â
The season got underway with a low-scoring affair between GW and Bucknell. First-year Rose Cano made her collegiate debut and had a stellar day on the mound. Cano went the distance, giving up three hits, zero earned runs and recorded five strikeouts. Bucknell's lone run came in top of the first inning, by way of a runner who advanced from first to third on a fielding error, eventually scoring. Â
GW played most of the game down one run, but not for a lack of scoring opportunities. The Buff and Blue left seven runners on base prior to the seventh inning - the best chance coming in the fifth, when runners were left stranded on first and third.Â
After six innings of GW threatening to score, the Colonials finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Sidney Torres was the rally starter, blasting a solo home run to left-center field and giving GW its first run of the game and season.
The seventh-inning rally continued with an Arizona Ritchie single into right field, followed by a Reese Torres walk. Both base runners advanced on a double steal, which gave Mia Parker the chance to play hero, which is exactly what she did. Parker singled into center, scoring Ritchie and lifted GW to its first win of the season.Â
Maine 3, GW 2:
The Buff and Blue found itself in another tight battle against Maine. GW out-hit Maine five to three, but the Black Bears were able to capitalize on early opportunities, and GW's late comeback fell just short.
The Black Bears took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and put up two more in the third. The runs came off first-year Lily Hanafin, who started the game and went three innings. Hanafin gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit and struck out three batters in her college debut.Â
Also making her collegiate debut was first-year Emma Fales, who replaced Hanafin on the mound in the top of the fourth inning. She provided four innings of scoreless pitching and kept GW within arm's reach.
Just as it did against Bucknell, GW battled until the final out. With the bases loaded in the last of the seventh, Ritchie cut the lead down to one with a two-run double. Then with two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, the comeback was halted as Parker was unable to replicate her game-one heroics.Â
Notable:Â
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Sidney Torres hit her first collegiate home runÂ
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Six student-athletes made their collegiate debuts (Lily Hanafin, Ashley Corpuz, Daniella Lew, Rose Cano, Emma Fales and Reese Torres)
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Across its first two games, GW allowed just six hits but committed three fielding errors
Up Next:Â
GW has three games left at the Upstate Classic. The Buff and Blue will look to even the series against Maine tomorrow at 9 a.m., followed by a 3 p.m. first pitch against USC Upstate. The Colonials put a bow on opening weekend at 10 a.m. on Sunday with a rematch against Bucknell.Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cano, Rose (1-0)
L: S. Jones (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: S. Jones 1
SH: K. Lorberter 1 ; M. Rapino 1
Base Running:
RUNS: C. Knapp 1
HBP: A. Seropian 1
Batting:
HR: Torres, Sidney 1
RBI: Parker, Mia 1 ; Torres, Sidney 1
SH: Greco, Maggie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ritchie, Arizona 1 ; Torres, Sidney 1
SB: Ritchie, Arizona 1
