Weather
Current Conditions
In Washington, DC
CLEAR
Temp: 48
Wind: 7 N
 |
|
 |
 Van Kirk now has six home runs this season |
 |
Van Kirk Homers For Team-Leading Sixth Time, Softball Swept by Maryland
April 23, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, MD - The George Washington softball dropped a pair of non-conference games to Maryland at the Terrapins' Robert E. Taylor Stadium Wednesday night. Maryland took the opener, 3-0, and took the nightcap, 17-1 in five innings.
The Colonials threatened to start the opener as they loaded the bases, starting with a one-out walk issued to junior Tori Sensi. After a double by freshman Katie Terrazas advanced Sensi to third, and a two-out walk to sophomore Amanda Gabriel, senior Katie Miller flew out to left to end the inning.
GW hurler Amanda Gabriel retired the side in the first but allowed leadoff hitter Brittany Bessho to reach on a single, who advanced to second on an error. Another single by Devon Williams put two runners in scoring position after Williams advanced on a throw from right field. However, Gabriel was able to escape the jam unscathed after a strikeout and a flyout to center.
Gabriel retired the next six batters she faced before allowing a one-out walk to Bessho in the fourth. A sacrifice bunt by Breanna Shaw advanced Bessho to second with two outs. Williams then smacked a single just above the outstretched glove of the second baseman Sensi, which allowed Bessho to score from second. Williams then stole second and scored on another RBI single, this time by Meghan Booth to left field. Gabriel struck out Julie Lofland to end the inning, but the damage had already been done, as Maryland took a 2-0 lead
Maryland tacked on another run in the fifth as Amanda Schultz was plunked by a two-out offering by Gabriel. After stealing second she scored on a RBI single to center field by Sarde Stewart, the younger sister of the NPF's Washington Glory star Amber Jackson, to give the Terrapins a 3-0 lead.
|
|
 |
For the second time of the game, GW loaded the bases in the top of the sixth but was not able to score. Gabriel singled up the middle with one out to start the attempted comeback. Miller then doubled to left, advancing Gabriel to third. After redshirt-sophomore Elisa Van Kirk walked, freshman Ali Pardo grounded into the inning-ending 3-2-4 double play.
Gabriel retired the side in the sixth to keep the Colonials in the game, down 3-0 going into the seventh inning. However, the Colonials went down in order in the final frame to end the game.
Gabriel pitched well in the loss allowing just three earned runs on six hits, but GW was unable to come up with the clutch hit. She dropped to 7-16 on the season but recorded her 15th complete game of the season.
The second game started off much differently than the first, as GW went down in order, and the Terps exploded for six runs on eight hits as the Colonials replaced starting pitcher Katie Miller after recording just one out. Gabriel bailed Miller out of further damage and got two straight outs to end the inning.
Pardo got her first start of the season in right field, the first player other than the regular nine to start a game this season. She moved into the circle to start the second inning as Gabriel moved to right.
Maryland tacked on two runs on three hits in the second, and eight runs on seven hits in the third to take a 16-0 lead.
GW finally got on the board as Van Kirk hit a one-out solo home run in the fourth to make the score 16-1. The blast was Van Kirk's team-leading sixth home run of the season and her seventh career round-tripper.
The Colonials stranded eight runners in the opener, and five in the nightcap as they fell to 8-25 on the season.
GW faces Temple and Saint Joseph's for four pivotal Atlantic 10 games in three days in the City of Brotherly Love Fri-Sun, April 25-27. The two-day matchup against the Owls is on Friday/Saturday in 3:00 pm and 12:00 pm starts. The twinbill against the Hawks is Sunday at 12:00 pm.
