FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Senior
Sophia Blasius (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) belted her first career grand slam to help Gettysburg capture a victory in game one and earn a split in a non-conference doubleheader at the University of Mary Washington on Saturday.
Gettysburg (8-6) dominated game one, winning 17-5 in five innings. The 17 runs were the second highest output by the team this season as they scored 18 at Shenandoah University in the season opener.
The Bullets busted out the bats in game one, racking up 17 runs, 14 hits, 13 RBI, and three homers.
Gettysburg took a massive 10-0 lead after firing six runs in the top of the first inning and four in the third inning. Senior
Meredith Taylor (Hamilton, N.J./Northern Burlington) and sophomore
Brooke Studnik (Miami, Fla./Dr. Michael M. Krop) each tallied RBI singles followed by Blasius' grand slam in the opening inning.
Junior
Liz Cowell (Verona, N.J./Mount Saint Dominic) blasted her first solo dinger of the season to open the third inning. The Orange and Blue then racked up three more runs as Taylor hit a two-run RBI single and sophomore
Shelby Baker (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) scored on a passed ball.
The hosts reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning after registering three runs.
Miscues from Mary Washington's defense allowed the Bullets to spurt out three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Baker completed the Orange and Blue scoring in the frame after cranking out a three-run homer.
The Eagles ripped two more tallies off a sacrifice fly and a solo dinger in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Senior pitcher
Morgan Clauser (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington) tossed three strikeouts and now holds a 7-1 record on the season from the circle.
Junior
Rachel Julie (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff), sophomore
Brynn Griffith (Maple Glen, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), junior
Nicole Farese (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), Baker, and Taylor posted two hits each. Blasius led the team with four RBI followed by Baker and Taylor who concluded the game with three each.
The Bullets started game two how they finished game one, pounding out the home runs. This time, it was Griffith who busted a three-run homer in the top of the first to pull Gettysburg ahead 3-0.
After that, the momentum shifted as the Eagles (8-9) tied the game up at 3-3 at the bottom of the second inning. Mary Washington continued to soar out the runs as they grabbed two in the third, three in the fourth, and four in the bottom of the fifth to take game two from the Bullets.
An RBI single by Baker in the top of the fifth would be the final tally for Gettysburg.
Griffith paced the Bullets with three RBI and a hit, while Julie and Baker each added a hit as well.
Gettysburg continues play on the road as they travel to Hood College for another non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday at 3 p.m.