Softball Wins Thrilling Comeback against Campbell, Falls to Bucknell on Opening Day

Friday, February 9

Conway, SC

10:00 AM

George Washington University

0-1

Bucknell

1-0

Bucknell

George Washington

Ashley Corpuz Mid-swing at the GW Softball Field

Softball Wins Thrilling Comeback against Campbell, Falls to Bucknell on Opening Day

2/9/2024 6:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CONWAY, S.C. - The George Washington softball team wrapped up the first day of the Kickin' Chicken Classic on Friday in exciting fashion, completing an extra-innings comeback against Campbell to win, 4-3, and earn the first win of the season. The win came in the second game of the day, as GW was looking to rebound off a 7-0 loss to Bucknell in the opener. The GW Revs start the season at 1-1 and return tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. to face Coastal Carolina in the third game of the weekend with the action airing on ESPN+.

GAME 1 (GW 0, BUCKNELL 7)
Playing as the home side against Bucknell in the first game of the Kickin' Chicken Classic, GW looked to start 2024 with a bang. The Bison had other plans in mind, though, and withstood GW's consistent pressure on the basepaths on their way to a 7-0 win.

Despite being shutout, GW's offense showed flashes in the season opener. GW had eight hits in the game and had batters reach safely in each of the first six innings, including runners in scoring position in five of those innings.

Rylee Brice, Ashley Corpuz, Allison Heffley and Alena Ramirez were responsible for all eight GW hits, each with two in the game. Brice and Heffley accounted for GW's two extra-base hits, both with doubles.

Sophomore pitcher/utility Rose Cano made the start in the circle and went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) off five hits. First-year pitcher Sophia Torreso relieved Cano in the fourth and pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout.

GAME 2 (GW 4, CAMPBELL 3, 8 INNINGS)
First-year Mandy Lauth was the story of the game for GW, going 4-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBI and a run to help lead GW over Campbell and earn the Revolutionaries their first win of the season.

The Revolutionaries fell behind early after the Camels touched home first in the bottom of the first inning. GW fought back, and in the top of the second, after a Corpuz double got things rolling, Lauth put GW on the board for the first time this season with a two-run home run to left field to give GW a 2-1 lead.

The Camels didn't stay down long after Lauth's home run, and flipped the game back in their favor with a two-run single to take a 3-2 in the bottom of the second, where the score would stay until the seventh.

Lauth, in a familiar position, was first up to bat in the seventh inning with GW trailing by one and only three outs to work with. The Avon, Ind., native doubled to right-center, setting up fellow first-year Paige Hayward to drive in the game-tying run. Hayward came through and hit a double down the left-field line to drive in Daniella Lew (serving as a pinch runner for Lauth) and evened things up at three.

In extras and with runners on first and second, it was Lauth's turn to play hero again. Lauth singled up the middle, driving in Corpuz and the eventual game-winning run.

It was first-year Cece Smith's show in the circle the entire game for the GW Revs. Smith went all eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one strikeout. The Atlanta native came in clutch on multiple occasions in her first-career start, highlighted by a scoreless bottom of the eighth in which Campbell started with a runner on second.

NOTABLE

Lauth's two-run home run checked off her first career hit, home run, run and RBI in one swing. She finished the day with four hits, all against Campbell.
Brice hit leadoff in game one and recorded hits in her first-two career at bats. In GW's first at-bat of the season, Brice doubled to left field and earned her first collegiate hit.
Heffley picked up her first hit in a GW uniform with a single to left field in the third inning.
Torreso made her collegiate debut on the mound against Bucknell and recorded her first career strikeout in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Corpuz stole GW's first base of the season in the sixth inning against Bucknell - the seventh stolen base of Corpuz's career.
Smith made her collegiate debut with the start in game two and picked up her first career win and complete game.
Hayward's game-tying RBI in game two was both her first collegiate hit and RBI.

UP NEXT
The Revolutionaries have three games remaining this weekend at the Kickin' Chicken Classic. They will battle the hosts, Coastal Carolina, tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. before wrapping the tournament on Sunday with a rematch against Bucknell at 9:00 a.m. and a bout against Syracuse at 11:15 a.m.