Softball matched its 2018 program record with its 13th consecutive win after facing Hampton in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.
The Colonials (19-10) won both of their back-to-back matchups against the Pirates (13-25) courtesy of a pair of complete-game pitching performances from graduate students Sierra Lange and Maddie Dwyer. Senior utility player Mia Parker helped score two of GW’s runs on the day to put a victorious end to a three-game break from GW’s conference schedule.
Game 1
Graduate pitcher Sierra Lange led the way in the first game with a complete game shutout in GW’s 4–0 victory. Lange has now won eight consecutive games on the mound, conceding an average opponent batting average of .239 while earning 12 runs this season.
The score remained deadlocked at 0–0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when freshman utility player Gabby Polsky recorded the first hit of the game on a single to push graduate pitcher Maddie Dwyer into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Valetina Perrone and a sacrifice fly from Lange led Dwyer to score the first run of the day.
The Colonials extended their lead to four later in the sixth inning. The push started with graduate infielder Hannah Eslick, who rocked a double into deep left field, scoring Parker. In another impressive at-bat by Dwyer, Eslick and junior Maddie Greco scored on a hit up the middle, making the score 4–0.
Lange only allowed three base runners for the Pirates and led a nine-strikeout performance that allowed the Colonials to dominate the field and close off the game with a decisive victory before heading into the second game of the day.
Game 2
The second matchup of the series resulted in a 4–2 victory for GW after Dwyer logged the second complete game performance on the day, keeping the Pirates at bay with two strikeouts and two runs allowed.
The Colonials set the first inning into motion when Lange scored from third base despite a Parker grounder that skipped past the Hampton second baseman. GW held the Pirates scoreless in the first two innings before widening its lead as Perrone batted in sophomore utility player Maddie Spell for the second run of the afternoon.
Following another scoreless inning in the third, the Pirates came back in the fourth, scoring two runs to knot the game at 2–2. GW was unable to fire back in the bottom of the frame but managed to hold Hampton scoreless in the fifth.
The Colonials gained some momentum with a double in the fifth inning from sophomore utility player Alexa Williams. GW then added on two more game-sealing runs from graduate student outfielder Olivia Vinyard and Williams to give GW the lead.
Despite giving up a leadoff single in the seventh, Dwyer closed out the game with the final three Pirate batters.
Pitching led the way in both matchups, with Dwyer and Lange allowing just two runs in 14 innings. Dwyer retired 10 out of the final 12 batters in the last three innings of Game 2.
The Colonials will continue their home stretch with three games against A-10 rival Dayton this weekend. The series will start with a doubleheader Saturday followed by a final game Sunday. The first pitch is set for noon on both days.