This post was written by Hatchet reporter Sean Hurd.
The scene: the top of the seventh inning during Friday’s game versus Dartmouth. As Colonial pitcher Meghan Rico starts her windup, the Dartmouth batter squares up for a routine sacrifice bunt to advance the runner that is on base.
She gets slightly under the ball and pops the ball up towards Rico. Initially, it appeared to be catchable with an extra effort, but instead Rico ops to let the ball fall and then field it. Just as Rico reaches to field the ball, the backspin propels it just out of her reach, allowing the Dartmouth player to cross the bag before a throw was made.
The play seemed to embody much of the Colonials’ play so far this season, where games that seem within their reach frustratingly slip through their fingers.
This weekend, the Colonials hosted the Colonial Classic. For the second time this season, GW was unable to come out with a victory by tournament’s end, losing all three of their games by a single run.
Friday, the Colonials dropped a game to Dartmouth, 3-2, and then fell to Bucknell in eight innings by a score of 4-3. Saturday, GW faced Dartmouth in a rematch of Friday’s game, but once again fell short, losing the game 2-1.
In Friday’s game against Dartmouth, the Colonials’ (3-10) offense was awakened after sophomore shortstop Victoria Valos smashed her second homerun of the season in the fourth inning. However, GW’s bats were only able to muster up three hits and a single run over the course of play, and Dartmouth (5-3) squeaked out a win
Rico was tagged with the loss. She (2-5) gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, and five walks in three innings.
Friday’s second game against Bucknell seemed hopeful for the Colonials, as they were able to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth behind four strong innings by junior Courtney Martin.
But the Bison responded in the top of the fifth with three runs of their own, taking a 3-1 lead.
The Colonials gave an answer of their own in the bottom half of the inning, thanks in big part to junior right fielder Chelsea Lenhart, who lined a two-run single to right field. The game went to extra innings, where Bucknell was able to manufacture a run with a little help from international tiebreaker rules. Starting with a runner on second, the Bison advanced her to third off a sacrifice bunt, eventually driving her in with an RBI single.
GW was unable to score and fell to the Bison by a single run in eight innings. Martin suffered the loss in her relief role after allowing only a single run on three hits in three and a third innings.
In the GW’s final game, its rematch with Dartmouth, the Colonials were only able to produce a single run although they were able to generate six hits, their tournament high.
The Colonials held onto a tie with Dartmouth into the seventh inning, but the Big Green were able to load the bases and score the clutch run against Colonials reliever Martin.
Without an answer from the Colonial offense, the Big Green won the game 2-1. Lenhart and seniors Julie Orlandi and Amanda Zakeri each had two hits for the Colonials in the loss. Rico was charged with the defeat, surrendering two runs on five hits in six and two thirds innings. Although Rico struck out a career-high ten batters, she also walked eight.
GW’s game against Seton Hall, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, was postponed.
The Colonials return to action Wednesday when they visit Towson at 2 p.m.
