May 1, 2005
Playoff Hopes Alive After Split
WAC Defeats Bullets for First Time Since 1997

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The Washington College softball team kept its hopes for a spot in the Centennial Conference Playoffs alive with a double-header split against visiting Gettysburg College today. The Shorewomen dropped the first game, 4-0, but captured the second game, 6-0, behind a three-hit shutout performance from freshman Michelle Laque (Ocean Pines, MD/Stephen Decatur). Senior Laura Scimeca (Cream Ridge, NJ/Allentown) hit her school-record eighth home run of the season in the second game.

The Bullets, who are now 29-8-1 overall and finish 13-3 in conference play, clinched the top seed and hosting rights in next weekend's Centennial Conference Tournament with their game one win. The Shorewomen, now 19-15 overall, finish 7-9 in conference play. Washington's playoff hopes lie with Haverford College, which hosts Muhlenberg College in a double-header on Tuesday. At least one win by Haverford gives the Shorewomen the fourth and final conference playoff spot, while Muhlenberg earns that spot with a sweep of the Fords.

Washington's game two win also marked the first time the Shorewomen have beaten the Bullets since 1997, when the Shorewomen swept both games of a double-header, 4-3 and 7-0. Washington had lost 15 consecutive games to Gettysburg before winning today's second game.

The Shorewomen got off to a quick start in game two, plating four runs in the first inning as freshman Amanda Campbell (Boothwyn, PA/Garnet Valley) and senior Andrea Braverman (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) each hit two-RBI doubles. Scimeca provided Washington's other two runs with her two-run home run in the fifth inning. Scimeca's eighth home run of the season broke the single-season school record of seven set by junior Diane Green (Milford, DE/Milford) just last season.

Laque held the Bullets, who were hitting .339 as a team coming into today, to just three hits and a walk in game two. Laque became just the second pitcher this season to shut out Gettysburg. Scimeca finished the second game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Green was 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Sophomore Beth Anne Hartman (Ellicott City, MD/Baltimore Lutheran) went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Shannon Kiry pitched a four-hitter as the Bullets took the opener. Molly Gale was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI for Gettysburg, while Scimeca finished 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt.

Washington's 19 wins this season represent the second-most victories ever by the Shorewomen in a singles season. The 1997 team won 21 games.

Tuesday's Muhlenberg-Haverford double-header will be played at Haverford beginning at 4:00 p.m.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE