George Washington University

March 22, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington University softball team opened its Atlantic 10 Conference schedule Wednesday afternoon and split its doubleheader against La Salle at Mount Vernon Softball Field. The Colonials earned a split by winning game two, 6-4, led by sophomore Caroline Howe's (Los Alamitos, CA) 3-for-3 performance. The Explorers held off a late GW rally in game one to post a 2-1 triumph.

The Colonials, who were playing their first games at home since returning from last week's spring break trip at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida, were led offensively in the two games by Howe, who had four hits and two RBI, while junior Elana Meyers (Douglasville, GA) had three hits and freshman Maryanne Mohan (Portland, OR) went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game two.

In the nightcap, La Salle third baseman Danielle Signorelli homered to lead off the game to stake the Explorers to an early 1-0 lead. The Colonials would bounce back in the third, however, and take the lead for good with four runs in the frame highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles from junior Nikki Brooks (Chillicothe, OH) and Howe. Sophomore Teresa Thomas (Kintnersville, PA) scored GW's first run in the inning on a throwing error by catcher Michelle Sullivan and sophomore Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL) capped the scoring with an RBI groundout to plate Brooks.

GW added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to extend its lead to 6-1. In the fourth, Mohan delivered a two-out RBI single to score sophomore Cat Belanger (Monterey, CA) while Yaniga scored on a wild pitch in the fifth after being hit by a pitch.

La Salle mounted a comeback in the sixth, loading the bases and scoring two runs to chase GW starter Katie Miller (Manteo, NC). Freshman Kristin Gallant (Calabasas, CA) came on in relief and walked in another run to make it 6-4, but retired the final two batters getting first baseman Jen Street to chase strike three and centerfielder Teddi Hernandez to line out to left. Gallant pitched a perfect seventh to nail down her second save of the season.

Miller got the win to improve to 4-1 as she tossed 5.1 innings giving up four runs with one strikeout. Meyers and Mohan each finished 2-for-4, while Brooks went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run, and Yaniga had an RBI and a run scored.

In the opener, La Salle scored twice in the third as Laura DeZolt and Carissa Segura each delivered two-out RBI singles. With just two hits through five innings, Meyers started GW's comeback in the sixth as she reached first on catcher's interference. Brooks followed with a bunt single, and after Meyers was picked off at third, later scored on a single from Howe to make it 2-1. But with runners on first and second with two outs, DeZolt got leftfielder Chrysanthi Halkiotis (Brookeville, MD) to fly out to left to end the threat.

Meyers, Brooks, Howe and Halkiotis each had one hit to lead GW offensively. Sophomore Jen Hrycyna (North Brunswick, NJ) was hit with the loss although she went the distance scattering eight hits while allowing just two runs with three strikeouts.

The Colonials (14-10, 1-1) return to action when they host Massachusetts in a conference doubleheader on Friday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at Mount Vernon Softball Field.