MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny softball team split a pair of Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) games at home on Senior Day Saturday (April 20) against Washington and Jefferson.
The Gators fell in extra innings, 5-4, in game one before bouncing back with a 7-2 win in game two,
Before the games, the Gators honored
Meredythe Baird (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer),
Sophia Godzak (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon),
Hadley Horensky (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic),
Cameron Long (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) and
Isabelle Wakefield (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) on Senior Day.
Game One - W&J 5, Allegheny 4 (8 innings)
The Presidents struck first in game one, scoring a run off a sacrifice fly in the top of the second. They added another pair of runs in the third.
Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field) led-off the fourth with a single.
Arianna Wilkinson (Warren, Ohio/Howland) pinch ran for her and advanced on a wild pitch. After
Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) was walked, Godzak hit a line drive single, scoring Wilkinson and moving Genareo to third.
Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) drove in the second run, singling through the left side to plate Genareo. The game became tied when Long hit into an error to score a pinch running
Madison Hulse (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo).
The game stayed that way through regulation as it went into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Presidents regained the lead. They scored twice in the frame off of three hits and an error.
Godzak doubled with one out in the bottom of the inning and moved to third on a flyout.
Halle Book (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) drove her in to cut the deficit to one run. However, the Presidents recorded the final out for the win.
Inside the Box
- Godzak had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove a run in.
- Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon), Blarr, Devries, Genareo, Book and Blarr all singled.
- Aleya Belardinelli (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore) struck out five.
Game Two - Allegheny 7, W&J 2
The Gators got out to a quick start as Phillips led-off the bottom of the first with a home run over the left field. The home run was her first of the year and second of her career. After a single by Belardinelli, Devries hit the second home run of the inning and her ninth of the season as the lead grew to 3-0.
Book doubled to the centerfield fence to start the second inning. After a wild pitch, Hulse singled through the right side to drive her in. Long singled to put two runners on. Belardinelli doubled to score Hulse before a groundout by Devries scored Belardinelli to increase the lead to 6-0.
The Gators once again began an inning as Genareo hit on in the third. She would eventually score on a passed ball, making it 7-0.
The Presidents scored a run in the sixth and seventh, but it was not enough to overcome the Allegheny advantage.
Inside the Box
- Hulse earned the win, improving to 6-1 on the season. She struck out three while allowing just one run
- Devries hit a two-run home run while Philips had a solo shot.
- Genareo, Godzak, Belardinelli and Phillips all had a pair of hits.
- At second base, Belardinelli helped facilitate two groundball double plays for the Gator defense.
News and Notes
- The Gators moved to 22-8 overall and 13-5 in PAC play.
- Allegheny is now 11-4 all-time against W&J
- Phillips hit her second career home run.
- Devries hit her ninth home run of the season. She is now tied for third most in a season as a Gator.
Up Next
The Gators play their final PAC doubleheader of the season when they host 2023 conference champion Waynesburg Wednesday (April 24).
