George Washington University

April 19, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Three runs in the top of the eighth inning by the George Washington University softball team broke a 3-3 tie and the Colonials held on for a 6-4 victory in game two of a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon to earn a split against Maryland at the Terrapin Softball Complex. Sophomore pitcher Katie Miller (Manteo, NC) (8-3) earned the complete-game victory for the Colonials as seven of GW's nine starters had hits in the game, including a 3-for-4 performance from junior shortstop Elana Meyers (Douglasville, GA). The Terrapins posted a 5-0 shutout victory in game one.

With the split, GW improves to 23-21 overall on the season, while Maryland now stands 27-20 overall. Meyers had four hits in the two games, with three of the four hits being triples.

Heading into extra innings tied 3-3 in the nightcap, freshman Tori Sensi (Skillman, NJ) was placed on second to leadoff the eighth inning due to international tiebreaker rules. A groundout moved Sensi over to third and junior Nikki Brooks (Chillicothe, OH), the Colonials' very next batter, stepped up and delivered a single to plate Sensi to make it 4-3. Another groundout moved Brooks over to second, then a double by sophomore Hilary King (Canal Winchester, OH) allowed Brooks to essentially score the game-winning run to give GW a two-run cushion. Following a walk to freshman Maryanne Mohan (Portland, OR), a pair of passed balls allowed King to score the Colonials' final run and give them a three-run advantage.

Maryland scored one run in the bottom half of the frame for the final margin, but following the RBI single, Miller retired the final three batters in order.

With the game tied 1-1 heading into the seventh, Meyers hit her second triple of the game to lead off the inning for the Colonials. A bunt single from Mohan allowed Meyers to score to put GW ahead, 2-1. An error by third baseman Devon Williams allowed sophomore Chrysanthi Halkiotis (Brookeville, MD) to reach safely and Mohan advance to third. One batter later, centerfielder Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL) delivered a sac fly to plate Mohan and extend GW's lead to 3-1.

But, Maryland would not go quietly as it scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 3-3 and send it into extra innings. After a one-out single from centerfielder Jenny Belak, Abbey Welch tripled to plate Belak and later scored on a single from Keri Lounge to tie the game once again.

The Terrapins gained the early lead scoring a single run in the bottom of the first on a sac fly from Lounge. The Colonials answered back in the fourth as sophomore Cat Belanger (Monterey, CA) delivered a bunt single with two outs and later scored on a triple from Meyers to tie the game, 1-1.

Miller pitched all eight innings for the Colonials, her sixth complete game of the year, to improve to 8-3 on the season. She scattered nine hits, while allowing three earned runs with three strikeouts. Meyers finished 3-for-4 with two triples, an RBI and a run scored, while Brooks went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

In the opener, three Maryland pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout and a four-run sixth propelled the Terrapins to victory.

Leading just 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Terrapins scored four times to put the game away highlighted by a two-run triple from Belak and a two-run double from Lounge.

Sophomore designated player Lisa Cohen (Langhorne, PA) and Meyers were the only two Colonials to record hits in the game. Cohen had a single in the second, but was stranded at second base, while Meyers tripled to lead off the sixth but was thrown out at home attempting to score on a pop out to the third baseman.

Sophomore Jen Hrycyna (North Brunswick, NJ) (4-7) was hit with the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. Freshman RHP Kristin Gallant (Calabasas, CA) retired the final batter in the sixth. Cohen and Meyers each finished 1-for-3.

The Colonials (23-21, 3-9 A-10) return to action when they travel to Philadelphia, PA, on Friday, April 21 for an A-10 doubleheader against Temple set to begin at 2 p.m.