WC Sweeps McDaniel For The First Time Since 2008

CHESTERTOWN, MD – Host Washington College won both ends of a Centennial Conference softball doubleheader against visiting McDaniel on Thursday afternoon at Washington College Softball Field.  The Shorewomen won 7-6 in game one and captured game two, 9-1, in six innings due to the eight-run rule.   The Shorewomen improve to 17-15 overall and 8-4 in conference play, while the Green Terror drop to 8-18 overall and 3-9 respectively.  The eight conference victories are the most for Washington since going 12-4 in 1997.  It was also the first time the Shorewomen have swept the Green Terror in three years and have taken six of the last eight from their in-state rival.

In game one, the Green Terror took a 2-0 lead when Megan Elfert roped a two-run double to left-center with one out in the top of the first inning. 

The Shorewomen responded immediately in the bottom half of the first with four runs to grab a 4-2 lead.  Junior Sally Snover (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park) delivered a two-run double to right-center to tie the score at 2-2 and the next batter, senior Becca Nicely (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) socked her fourth home run in six games, this time a two-run shot to right field to also score Snover and put WC up 4-2.

McDaniel tied it in the top of the fifth with two runs.  Erinne Warrenfeltz walked with the bases loaded to score Ashley Crawford and it was 4-3 game.  The next hitter, Elfert singled to left-center to chase home Rachel Sidney to level the contest at 4-4.  The Green Terror tried to take the lead when Jordan Beans flew out to right field for the second out, but Washington freshman Hilary Rosenberg (Sweetwater, NJ/Oakcrest) threw a perfect strike from right to nail Beth Ann Fusco at the dish to keep it a tied contest.

Washington countered with three in the last of the fifth to take a 7-4 lead.  Nicely singled through the left side with two outs to score junior Leigh Carbutt (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) and put the hosts up 5-4.  The next batter, sophomore Brittany Walter (Forest Hill, MD/C. Milton Wright) tripled to left field to plate a pair and gave the Shorewomen a three-run lead.

The Green Terror did not go quietly in their last turn at-bat in the top of the seventh as with two outs and nobody on, Elfert singled up the middle.  The next hitter Beans, launched a two-run longball over the left field fence to cut the WC lead to 7-6.  McDaniel got the next two batters on and had runners at first base and third base with Lauren Wildasin at the plate.  But WC junior pitcher Meaghan Kimme (Lumberton, NJ/Holy Cross) got Wildasin to fly out to right-center to end the opening contest.

For the hosts in game one, Nicely went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored to spark the offense.  Snover and Carbutt scored twice, while Snover and Walter drove in two runs.  Kimme got the win in the circle in relief and improves to 8-5. 

Elfter had a game-high three hits and also plated three to lead the McDaniel offense.  Beans added two RBI for the guests.  Pitching wise, Sara Erlichman takes the loss and drops to 5-4.

In game two, all 10 runs scored were unearned.

Washington scored twice in the bottom of the first inning with the help of two McDaniel errors.  In the last of the second, the Shorewomen scored five times, with the help of two Green Terror miscues to take a 7-0 lead.  The inning was highlighted by a two-run double down the left field line off the bat of Carbutt.

McDaniel got on the board in the top of the sixth when Kaitlyn Vadenais scored on a fielder's choice to trim the hosts' lead to 7-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Shorewomen scored twice to clinch the victory due to the eight-run rule.  With two away, Snover walked with the bases loaded and that forced in sophomore Shaelan Nottingham (Ocean City, MD/Stephen Decatur) and it was 8-1 WC.  The next batter, freshman Kelly Ward (Baltimore, MD/Mercy) singled to shallow left field to score freshman Lauren Dockrill (San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic) to put Washington up 9-1, end the contest and secure the doubleheader sweep.

For Washington, Dockrill and Shaelan Nottingham both had two hits with Dockrill scoring three times and Shaelan Nottingham crossing home plate twice.  Carbutt had two runs scored and two RBI in the victory.  In the circle, Walter tossed her ninth complete game of the year as she allowed just two hits and struck out five, while not allowing an earned run.

Warrenfeltz took the loss for McDaniel in the circle and drops to 0-5 on the season.

The Shorewomen are back in action tomorrow afternoon at Gettysburg in Centennial action.  First pitch of the Friday doubleheader is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.