George Washington University

Feb. 24, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington University sophomore Gabby Culp (Desoto, TX) pitched a complete-game two-hitter to lead the Colonials to a 2-1 victory over Army, while sophomores Hilary King (Canal Winchester, OH) and Caroline Howe (Los Alamitos, CA) each had two RBI in a 5-2 victory against Mount St. Mary's to lead GW during the first day of action at its home GW Challenge Tournament Friday afternoon at the Mount Vernon Softball Field.

King and Howe each had three hits and two RBI on the afternoon, while the Colonials' pitching staff combined to record nine strikeouts and allowed just three runs in 14.0 innings.

In the Colonials' season opener versus Army, GW struck first in the fourth led by junior Kaity Harbour (Macomb, MI) starting a two-out rally after being hit by a pitch. Sophomore Katie Miller (Manteo, NC) followed with a single to put runners on first and second. King was up next and sent a grounder to short, which was handled by Lindsey Gerheim, but second baseman Melissa Garza could not handle her throw for the force at second and Harbour was able to score to make it 1-0.

GW added an insurance run in the sixth as sophomore Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL) walked to leadoff the inning, stole second and later scored on a sacrifice bunt from Harbour to make it 2-0 Colonials. Black Knights' designated player Veronica Lauzon spoiled Culp's no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh and later scored on an RBI single from Sarah Yates.

Following Army's lone run, Culp (1-0) retired the final batter with two runners on for the complete-game win. She allowed just two hits over 7.0 innings with two strikeouts. Junior Elana Meyers (Douglasville, GA) went 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, while sophomore Lisa Cohen (Langhorne, PA), Howe, Miller and King each had one hit to pace GW.

In game two against Mount St. Mary's, the Mount took a 1-0 lead in the third as Ashley Monsour scored on a miscue by King after a leadoff single and a passed ball.

The Colonials rallied to take the lead for good in the fourth with four runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Howe and a two-out two-run blast off the bat of King to make it 4-1. GW tacked on a single run in the fifth when sophomore Cat Belanger (Monterey, CA) scored on a double steal attempt with two outs before the final out could be made.

Sophomore Jen Hrycyna (North Brunswick, NJ) (1-0) was solid in the circle pitching into the sixth before taking a line drive off her right knee that sent her out of the game. She still earned the win tossing 5.0 innings allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts. Miller came on in relief and pitched her way out of a first-and-third one-out jam in the sixth to preserve the lead. She earned the save (1), the second of her career, pitching 2.0 innings while striking out three of the nine batters she faced.

The Colonials (2-0) return to action on Day Two of the GW Challenge Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 25, to take on Manhattan at 1 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Softball Field.