By Dominic Rapposelli
Outgoing Sports Editor
Washington College softball secured a pair of wins in their regular season finale over the Franklin and Marshall College Diplomats. In two home games on April 26, WC grabbed a 4-3 game one outcome, followed by a 5-3 game two result. The Shorewomen conclude the regular season with a 12-24 overall record but boast a 7-9 Centennial Conference finish.
Each squad scored a run in the opening inning. As the visiting team, F&M was at bat first, scoring in the top of the first. The Shorewomen tied the game in the bottom of the first. Junior outfielder Mia Mavoides added a double before advancing to third, and fellow junior outfielder Julia Weglarz batted her home to secure the first Shorewomen run.
Down 2-1 in the third, the Shorewomen pulled the game even again. This time, it was senior catcher Shannon Rosché who was batted home. Senior third base player Chloe Trefz sent a double into the field, which propelled Rosché home, leaving the game tied again at 2-2.
After being walked onto first, junior first base Jenna Harper advanced to third before senior shortstop Neveah Unzueta singled Harper home putting WC ahead 3-2.
After F&M tied the game 3-3, the Shorewomen returned to bat in the bottom of the seventh. Rosché doubled to put herself on second base before advancing to third on a fielding error. Mavoides sent Rosché home again to end game one in a 4-3 WC victory.
The second game saw the Shorewomen in a 2-0 hole heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. At that point, the WC offense came to life. Harper, junior designated hitter Lilly Wenzel, and Unzueta each got on base to put WC in a favorable scoring position.
Senior outfielder Lilly Cook slammed a single straight ahead to the pitcher, which sent Harper home to score the first run of game two. Junior second base player Gracelyn Goforth rattled off a triple, which cleared the remaining runners and put WC ahead 4-2 as the fourth ended.
Rosché batted Unzueta home in the bottom of the sixth for WC’s final run of the afternoon. F&M added one more run later in the contest, to no avail as WC completed their sweep of the Diplomats 5-3.
The pair of wins was enough to place WC back in the postseason.
“Making the postseason is always fun and this season we have a chance to be an underdog. We’ve made the playoffs the last three years and each time has been a unique experience. It’s the ultimate team experience to come together and try to win single games as opposed to our usual doubleheaders,” Trefz said.
The game was also the Senior Day for the Shorewomen, who honored their sextet of seniors before the doubleheader: Cook, Mavoides, Rosché, Trefz, Unzueta, and the team’s pitcher Jen Kozub.