WASHINGTON, D.C. – A record-setting outing from
Rebecca Gottleib (Linthicum, Md./North County) kickstarted the Hood College softball team to a sweep of Gallaudet University, shutting the Bison out in both games to the tune of 5-0 and 6-0 for the first wins of the season.
In the Circle
Gottleib whiffed 13 batters in game one to become to all-time leader in career strikeouts.
Sydney Weaver (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) allowed just two hits in five innings for a game two shutout.
At the Plate
Lizzie McConnell (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island) went 5-6 across both games, stealing two bases and smacking a double.
Jocelyn Pfleiger (Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) batted 4-7 on the day, totaling four RBIs and hitting a home run in game two.
Sammy McIntosh (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) hit 2-3 with a walk in the first game, scoring once.
Hood 5, Gallaudet 0
Although no one reached base through the first two innings, the Blazers began putting pressure on the Bison defense when McConnell singled and stole second with two outs. A Gottleib knock then took a funky hop that fooled Gallaudet's outfield, allowing McConnell to cross home plate for the first run of the game.
The next two innings were quiet on the scoresheet, but Hood's offense came through once again in the sixth, with a double from Pfleiger followed by singles from
Hanna Janke (Calgary, Alberta, Can./Bishop Carroll) and McIntosh loading the bases. Bats would not be required for the Blazers' next two runs though, as two wild pitches allowed the two lead runners to score without contest. A pop up to center would cut them off before any more damage could be done though.
In the bottom of the sixth, two strikeouts from Gottleib tied her for the most all-time, with the second getting her out of the inning and three outs away from a perfect game.
A two-run top of the seventh pushed Hood's lead to 5-0, and Gottleib was just barely unable to achieve perfection, but kept the Bison off the scoresheet and struck out her 368th career batter to move into first all-time and collect her first shutout of the season.
Hood 9, Gallaudet 0
Inning one was quiet once again to start game two, but that changed quickly in the top of the second, as the Blazers found the bases loaded once again, this time with just one out. A walk and a fielding error allowed two runs to score, with
Sam Larkin (Pasadena, Md/Chesapeake High School) hitting a sacrifice fly to get Hood's third run of the game. Clearing the bases was no problem this time around, as Pfleiger blasted a shot to left-center that just found its way over the wall for a home run to cap the Blazers six-run half-inning.
They would add another run in the third and two more in the fifth to put Gallaudet in danger of being mercy-ruled, and although Weaver could not end the game with the no-hitter she had going into the fifth, she did prevent the Bison from getting on the board to activate the eight-run mercy rule and complete Hood's midweek sweep.
For the Opponent
Lacey Drolsbaugh allowed four earned runs through seven innings to take the game one loss.
Up Next
The Blazers go on their yearly spring break trip to Florida for an eight-game week, starting with Kean University and Thomas College in Bartow, Florida Sunday, March 9 at 12:45 and 3 p.m.
