George Washington University

March 13, 2008

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington University softball team split it's doubleheader with La Salle Thursday afternoon at Temple University's Ambler campus. The Colonials took the opener, 7-1, while the Explorers won the nightcap, 15-5. GW has now gone 1-1 to start Atlantic 10 play in three of the last four seasons.

Behind a perfect 3-3 game with three RBI by senior Katie Miller (Manteo, NC/Manteo), and a complete game by sophomore right-hander Amanda Gabriel (Fullerton, CA/Sunny Hills), the Colonials took the opener. Gabriel struck out the side in the first and got another 1-2-3 inning in the second, where GW took a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Elisa Van Kirk (Southington, CT/Southington) got the inning started reaching on an error. Miller followed with a single, advancing Van Kirk to third. Miller stole second and sophomore Amanda Holst (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) walked to load the bases for Gabriel. Gabriel reached on a fielders choice and Van Kirk was able to score from third. With the bases still loaded with just one out, senior Chrysanthi Halkiotis (Brookeville, MD/Sherwood) drove in another run with an RBI groundout to second.

The Colonials tacked on another run in the third with an RBI double by Miller, which scored junior Tori Sensi (Skillman, NJ/Montgomery).

GW recorded two more runs in the fourth on four base hits. Gabriel singled to left to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Junior Carrie Higdon (Newburg, MD/La Plata) singled advancing Gabriel to third and promptly stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for freshman Katie Terrazas (Murietta, CA/Vista Murietta). A two-run single by Terrazas extended the lead to five, which ended for La Salle starting pitcher Gina Massaro.

La Salle's only run came in the sixth on a solo home run by Danielle Signorelli but GW answered right back with a two-run bomb by Miller in the sixth.

Gabriel got the win evening her record to 4-4 on the season. The native of Fullerton, CA pitched her sixth complete game in eight starts giving up just one earned run on eight hits, striking out nine. She also helped her own cause with an RBI and a run scored in the opener.

Gabriel got plenty of help by her offense as Terrazas also posted a multi-hit and multi-RBI game. Halkiotis, Higdon, senior Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL/Southwest Miami) and Sensi also collected hits in the opener.

Higdon made her first start of the season in the circle in the nightcap giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits in three innings before getting releieved by freshman Ali Pardo (Miami, FL/Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart). Pardo did not fare much better giving up eight more runs in two innings.

GW did get solid games by Miller and Gabriel once again in game two as both players hit slugged their team-high fourth home runs of the season. Higdon homered in game two as well.

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the second, GW cut the lead down to one on three consecutive two-out hits. Miller started the rally with a two-out single and was followed by another single by Holst. Gabriel then doubled to center field to bring in both runners.

La Salle would tack on four in their half of the third, extending the lead to five, before GW came back with another two runs on home runs by Miller and Gabriel in the fourth to make the score 7-4.

The Explorers then erupted for eight runs in the top of the fifth, putting the game virtually out of reach at 15-4. GW would not go down without a fight as Higdon led off the inning with a home run, her second of the season. Terrazas and Yaniga both reached safely to follow but La Salle was able to get out of the jam and pick up the win.

For the day, Miller went a perfect 5-5 with four runs scored, two round-trippers, a double and four RBIs. She also stole a base and recorded a team-high 10 putouts without an error, in just her third and fourth appearances at first base. Gabriel picked up an impressive win and was almost as impressive with the bat, going 3-5 with two runs scored, a home run, a double and four RBIs. Both also drew a walk.

GW (5-8, 1-1 Atlantic 10) is back in action Saturday, March 22 when they travel to St. Louis, MO to take on the Billikens in an Atlantic 10 doubleheader. GW is 1-4 all-time against Saint Louis with that one win being a memorable one to close out the 2007 season, advancing the Colonials to its first-ever A-10 Tournament.