(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Wilson opened up the softball season on the road with a doubleheader against Gallaudet on a chilly Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix were edged by the Bison in a slugfest in the opener before the Blue and Black kept the bats hot in Game 2 to win by mercy rule and split the day.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 10, Gallaudet 11
Game 2 – Wilson 15, Gallaudet 5 (5 innings)
Venue: GU Softball Complex
Records: Wilson 1-1, Gallaudet 1-1
How It Happened – Game 1
- Claudia Umbrell (Gr., Willow Hill, Pa. / Fannett Metal) put Wilson up early as her single to left allowed Madison Briggs (Fy., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) and Haley Privett (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) to come home and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Phoenix increased that lead in the next inning as Alyssa Wenger (Jr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) scored on a wild pitch. The momentum didn't last long as Gallaudet regained the lead with eight runs on seven hits in the bottom half of the frame.
- Wilson didn't give up and came right back in a big way with seven runs during its next at-bat. The Phoenix started their rally as Alecia Hamilton (Sr., Canton, Ohio / GlenOak) took advantage of a Bison error to make the score 9-4. Briggs followed up with a two-run home run to further cut the deficit to three. Three batters later, Wenger doubled to left to score Cassie Clevenger (Fy., Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill). Haiden Brookens (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) added to the inning with a single to center to score Kaesey Green (Sr., Taneytown, Md. / Francis Scott Key). The Phoenix tied the game at 9-all two batters later when Hamilton singled to center to bring in Wenger. Marina Monsalve (Sr., Corona, Calif. / Centennial) then put the Phoenix back in frontwith a base knock through the left side to score Brookens.
- The Bison were able to regain the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs. They tied the game on a double steal of second and home before setting the final score on an RBI single to left.
How It Happened – Game 2
- Offenses remained hot for both teams in the first inning of the nightcap. Wilson struck first with three runs with Wenger scoring on a Bison error before Privet singled in both Hamilton and Riley Henry (So., Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle). However Gallaudet was able to answer with three runs in the bottom half and proceeded to take a 4-3 lead with an RBI double in the second.
- The turning point in the game came in the fourth as the Phoenix bats exploded once again. Ashley Stevens (So., Valencia, Calif. / Valencia) tied the game on a double to left center to bring around Clevenger to start the onslaught. Two batters later Wenger brought her in as well as Hannah Lyons (Jr., Dover, Del. / Dover) on a double of her own. The highlight of the frame came two batters later as Henry sailed a pitch over the left field wall for three more runs. After some defensive reassignments, Briggs made the score 10-4 as she hit in Hamilton.
- Wilson added to its lead with a five-run fifth. Wenger set the scoring in motion with a single up the middle that scored Stevens before Brookens hit in Addyson Stewart (Fy., Felton, Del. / Lake Forest). After a walk to load the bases, Hamilton knocked in two more runs with a double to left bringing in Brookens and Wenger. Katherine Kimmel (So., Dover, Pa. / Northern York) closed the scoring with a sacrifice to score Henry.
- Gallaudet was able to score one more on a solo home run in the fifth, but starter Paige Dill (Fy., New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford) was otherwise unscathed in the frame as she struck out three to give her five on the day to help her secure the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Wenger finished an incredible day by going a combined 5-for-8 with a double, triple, a walk, four RBI's, and five runs scored.
- Hamilton and Privett both recorded three-hit days. Hamilton was 3-for-7 with a walk, three RBI's and three runs, while Privett was 3-for-6 with two walks, two RBI's and a run scored.
- Henry, Stevens and Umbrell all had multiple hit days as well for the Phoenix with two hits each. Henry hit in three runs and scored thrice herself. Briggs also hit in three runs for the Blue and Black.
- Nine different Phoenix recorded a hit in the opener while eight combined for the RBI's in Game 2.
Up Next
The Phoenix won't compete again until Spring Break when they head south to North Myrtle Beach for games against 10 different teams. Those games will start on Saturday, March 11.
