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 Centerfielder Jackie Yaniga hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot, in game one of GW's season finale doubleheader against Fordham at Mount Vernon on May 7. |
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Softball Drops A-10 Season Finale Doubleheader Against Fordham
May 7, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington University softball team dropped both contests of an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader against Fordham, 9-4 and 7-0, Sunday afternoon in its season finale at Mount Vernon Field. Junior shortstop Elana Meyers (Douglasville, GA) had two hits and scored a run in the twinbill, while sophomore centerfielder Jackie Yaniga (Miami, FL) hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season in game one.
In the opener, the Colonials grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the first when sophomore Chrysanthi Halkiotis (Brookeville, MD) doubled home Meyers, who led off the inning with a walk, to make it 1-0.
The game remained that way until the fourth inning when the Rams exploded for seven runs in the top of the frame. Right fielder Trish Arno had a two-run double in the inning, while designated player Lisa Busciacco delivered a two-run single. Fordham had five hits in the fourth and were also helped by a pair of GW errors.
GW would answer back with three runs over the next two innings as sophomore Jen Hrycyna (North Brunswick, NJ) had a an RBI double in her first at-bat of the season, and third overall of her career, in the bottom of the fourth and Yaniga blasted a two-run shot to center field in the fifth to close the gap at 7-4.
Rams' starter Sara Kinney, however, would not allow another run the rest of the way and FU tacked on two more runs in the seventh for the final margin. Kinney earned the complete-game win allowing four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
GW starter Gabby Culp (Desoto, TX), pitching in her final game in a Colonials' uniform (Gabby is set to graduate in two weeks and will attend Law School at William & Mary in the fall), was hit with the loss (10-8) as she allowed four earned runs on six hits in 3.0 innings of work. Hrycyna came on in relief and tossed the final 4.0 innings. Halkiotis finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and Meyers went 1-for-3 as well with a run scored.
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In game two, Fordham took a 1-0 lead in the second when third baseman Allison Twarowski led off the inning with a solo shot over the left field fence.
The Rams blew the game open once again with a big inning in the fourth, this time scoring five runs on four hits and one GW error. First baseman Megan Hansen had an RBI single, two runs scored on a fielding error by shortstop Hilary King (Canal Winchester, OH) with two outs and the bases loaded, and a two-run double by shortstop Laura Klaiber accounted for all the scoring in the frame.
FU added a single run in the fifth courtesy of a two-out solo blast from Hansen for the final margin. Rachael Wiggins earned the complete-game shutout victory allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts. Meyers had a single to lead off the first and sophomore Cat Belanger (Monterey, CA) singled to lead off the third inning.
Sophomore Katie Miller (Manteo, NC) suffered the loss (8-4) allowing six runs, two earned, in 3.2 innings. Freshman Kristin Gallant (Calabasas, CA) relieved Miller in the fourth and allowed just the Hansen home run in 3.1 innings of work.
GW finishes its best ever season in softball with an overall record of 24-28, 3-15 in the A-10. The record for most wins in a season prior to this year was 10 victories, which was set in 2005.
