George Washington University
11-17, 2-8
Saint Joseph's
13-17, 5-4
Softball Splits with Saint Joseph’s
4/7/2023 6:30:00 PM | Softball
Series-deciding Game Three is set for Saturday at noon
PHILADELPHIA - GW softball went 1-1 against Saint Joseph's in Saturday's doubleheader. The Colonials dropped Game One, 2-0, before responding with a 6-3 win in Game Two.
GW 0, SJU 2
The Colonials and Hawks went head-to-head in a Friday afternoon matinee, and for the first time since 2019, the Hawks walked away victorious. Two home runs from the Hawks' leadoff batter Meghan Sinkus was the difference as Saint Joseph's took Game One of the doubleheader, 2-0.
Saint Joseph's jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Sinkus broke into the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Colonials' offense got runners aboard in each of the next four innings, but couldn't find a way to score. GW nearly converted in the fourth inning when Ashley Corpuz was sent home from second base on a Reese Torres single, but Corpuz was called out on a close play at the plate.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Sinkus drove another ball over the center field fence and doubled the Hawks' lead with her second home run of the game.
The Colonials threatened once again in the fifth inning, and after walks from Gabby Polsky, Arizona Ritchie and Maggie Greco, GW found itself with a two-out bases-loaded opportunity. In a pivotal moment in the game, Hawks' pitcher Emily Siler attacked the zone aggressively, and after walking three GW batters aboard in the inning, got out of the jam by striking out the final batter of the inning.
The play of the game was a defensive highlight by shortstop Ritchie. Ritchie made a spectacular diving catch on a line-drive to her right side, and from her knees, threw out the runner retreating to first base. The double play helped GW get to the top of the seventh inning still down just two.
Despite a great defensive effort in the sixth, Ritchie lined out to start the seventh, and the Hawks wrapped-up into up by striking out the final two batters.
GW6, SJU 3
Emma Fales was lights out on the mound in Game Two against Saint Joseph's, and along with RBIs from Alena Ramirez, R. Torres, Abby Schaub and Polsky, helped GW to a 6-3 win.
Fales was credited with the save after pitching the first four innings and coming back to finish off the seventh, giving up zero runs off six hits and only one walk. Rose Cano picks up the win after pitching two innings and moves to 11-10 on the year.
The Colonials were first to score in Game Two. After the first two batters of the second inning reached base via hit by pitch, Ramirez singled up the gap and brought home R. Torres for the game's first run.
R. Torres wasn't done scoring, and with one runner aboard in the fourth inning, she crushed a two-run home run to extend the GW lead to three. The longball was R. Torres' second in three games and third of the year.
Saint Joseph's didn't go quietly though and tied the game with three runs of its own in the fifth inning.
GW didn't wait long to regain the lead as after the first two batters of the sixth inning successfully reached base, Polsky, who was in as a pinch hitter, delivered what would go on to be the game-winning RBI on a sac fly into center field.
GW added insurance runs in the seventh thanks to a Schaub double and clever base running from R. Torres, and went on to take the 6-3 victory.
UP NEXT
GW returns to the SJU Softball Field on Saturday for the series-deciding Game Three against the Hawks. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Siler (8-7)
L: Cano, Rose (10-10)
Base Running:
SB: Polsky, Gabby 1
CS: Lew, Daniella 1
HBP: Cano, Rose 1
Batting:
HR: Sinkus 2
RBI: Sinkus 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinkus 2
SB: Sinkus 1 ; Cancila 2 ; Smith 1
