Doubleheader Sweep For Softball Over Gallaudet

The Wells College softball team won a pair of games in conference action Saturday, April 21 at home against Gallaudet University. The Express rallied for a 10-9 win in eight innings in the opener, and Jessica Conover pitched a two-hit shutout as Wells won the second game 3-0.

Prior to the game, Wells College senior Dallia Rorick was honored during Senior Day festivities.

The Express improved to 4-4 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play and Wells is 5-12 overall. Gallaudet is 11-18 overall and 3-9 in the NEAC.

Wells is home Sunday, April 22 for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. against Lancaster Bible College.

Wells 10, Gallaudet 9 (8 innings)

Wells trailed by scores of 4-0, 7-3, and 9-7 during the game but rallied each time and eventually came back for the extra-innings victory.

Wells forced extra innings with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh that included an RBI double by Autumn Nolan, another run scoring on a wild pitch, and the tying run coming in on a squeeze bunt.

The international tiebreak rule was implemented for the eighth inning. Gallaudet scored twice in the top of the eighth.

The bottom of the eighth for Wells saw two walks load the bases. An infield error allowed one run to score and keep the bases loaded. Gabby Sawyer delivered a two-run single down the right-field line to score Autumn Nolan and Jessica Conover with the winning runs.

Naomi Kubo was the winning pitcher. She allowed 13 hits and nine runs (four earned) over eight innings with five strikeouts. She also had a strong day at the plate with four hits and two RBIs. Autumn Nolan was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, and three runs scored.

Wells 3, Gallaudet 0

Jessica Conover pitched a two-hit shutout for the Express. She had one strikeout and didn't walk anyone. After a first-inning error allowed a Gallaudet batter to reach base with two outs, Conover and the Express defense retired 11 batters in a row until a single in the fifth inning. Gallaudet's other hit was a two-out double in the seventh, but the final out was recorded on a ground ball and Wells took the victory.

All three Express runs came in the bottom of the first inning. Naomi Kubo doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice bunt. Lizzie Monnat scored on a wild pitch, and Autumn McLain doubled in Jenna Devora with the third Wells run.

Lizzie Monnat was 2-for-2 in the game.