Washington, D.C.— Winthrop softball split on the first day of the Bluff & Blue Challenge with an 8-7 extra inning victory over Monmouth before falling to the host George Washington 7-2.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (10-9) | Monmouth (10-7) | George Washington (6-12)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Ansley Gilreath (4-for-8, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) |
Madyson Watson (3-for-9, 2 2B, 5 RBI)
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. Monmouth
- The Hawks took the first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning
- With one away, Katie Harrington singled down the left field line and the next batter Sam Tomasetti doubled down the left field line as Harrington came around to score
- Baron followed with an RBI single to right center
- Eagles threatened in the top of the fourth as Taylor Charton and Madyson Watson reached on back-to-back errors to put runners at the corners with one out
- Watson was caught trying to steal second and then Lauren King grounded out to third to end the top half
- Erika Coreth led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to right center and two batters later she scored on a single from Amber Wozniak
- An RBI double by Harrington made it 4-0 and the Hawks added one more for the five run advantage heading to the 5th
- Eagles got two back in the top of the sixth as Sabrina Shroades set the table with a leadoff walk
- After Ashley Westbrooks reached on a fielding error Ansley Gilreath followed with a single to load the bases
- Logan Webb put the ball in play but Shroades was out on the play at the force out at home
- Watson came through with a single to left, scoring Westbrooks for the first run
- King grounded out to third to score Gilreath and make it a three-run game
- The momentum continued into the seventh inning for the Eagles as they pushed five across for a 7-5 lead
- Tori Walker singled to left with one out followed by singles from Shroades and Westbrooks to load the bases
- Gilreath and Logan Webb had back-to-back RBI singles to make it a one run game as the bases remained loaded
- Watson stood in and went the other way as she doubled down the right field line, clearing the bases for a 7-5 lead
- The Hawks fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh as Coreth doubled down the line with one out and Morgan Maziarz followed with a walk with one out
- Aisha Weixlmann got Wozniak swinging for the second out but pinch-hitter Tommi Stowers doubled to left center, scoring two runs to tie it up
- In the top of the ninth, Westbrooks was placed on second and Watson doubled to right center, scoring the winning run
- Watson closed the door on the Hawks in the bottom of the ninth
- Coreth was placed on second but Watson got a pop up followed by consecutive strikeouts to end the game
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. George Washington
- Walker was hit by a pitch to start things off and advanced to second on a wild pitch
- Three batters later, Ansley Gilreath doubled to center that scored Walker for the 1-0 lead
- In the bottom of the third the Colonials drew back-to-back walks to start off
- After a foul out, Allessandra Ponce came through with a double to right center that plated two for the 2-1 lead
- Elena Shelepak made it a two run advantage with a two-out RBI double to right
- GW extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Hannah Eslick led off the inning with a homerun to left
- Eagles cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning as King drew a leadoff walk and two batters later Gilreath singled to left
- Charlton doubled to right center, scoring King and Gilreath advanced to third
- That was all Weber gave up the rest of the inning as she struck out Watson and Weixlmann to end the threat
- Eslick homered in the fifth inning with a two-run shot to left for a 6-2 lead and a solo shot by Parker in the sixth for the 7-2 lead
EXTRA BASES
- Watson tied her career-high for RBI in a single game with five against Monmouth
- Gilreath's double in the first inning against George Washington extended her hitting streak to 11 straight games
- Logan Webb extended her hitting streak to five games and has now reached base in six straight
ON DECK
Winthrop is back in action at the Bluff and Blue Challenge Saturday morning as it will take on Monmouth at 10 a.m. and Rider at noon.