Updated: April 14, 2015 at 1:15 a.m.
After splitting two games Saturday, softball, which has struggled with consistency in league play all season, earned its first conference series win with a 9-5 come-from-behind victory against Saint Louis Sunday.
Sophomores Megan Linn and Bradleigh Breland had four hits each while senior shortstop Tori Valos brought them both home twice for a game-high four RBI to help secure the rubber match win over the Bilikens (25-14, 9-5 A-10).
“I can’t tell you how proud I am. I think this is the most proud of any team I’ve ever coached, right now, this moment,” head coach Stacey Schramm said. “Even when [Saint Louis] took the lead our energy said ‘No we’re coming back, no we are refusing to lose.’ That was the mentality from start to finish today.”
GW (20-17, 4-8 A-10) struggled in its first meeting with the Atlantic 10 visitor, losing 5-1 behind a lackluster defensive performance. Freshman Sarah Costlow, the Colonials’ go-to starting pitcher, threw a complete game but gave up five runs on nine hits, while Saint Louis ace Brianna Lore held GW to just three hits and struck out eight.
With sophomore Paige Kovalsky starting the nightcap on the mound, the home team turned the tables on the Bilikens, conceding only one run and exploding offensively to win 10-1 in just five innings. Kovalsky (8-1) earned her eighth win of the season as sophomore Monica Macchiarulo and senior Samantha Dos Santos drove in three runs each to pace GW hitters.
Kovalsky would also get the start Sunday, but struggled early against a sturdy Saint Louis lineup. After two scoreless innings, Kovalsky walked two batters in the top of the third, spurring three Bilikens’ runs.
“[Saturday] Costlow and the umpire didn’t match up. He was squeezing her so she had to bring it up. [Saint Louis’ hitters] were swinging and missing on Paige, so I thought I’d start with her. The leash was going to be short and I let it get a little longer than I wanted… but [Kovalsky] did awesome,” Schramm said.
Although the Colonials responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, Saint Louis continued to capitalize on walks and scored one more run in the top of the fourth. With one out and the bases loaded, Costlow relieved Kovalsky and escaped the inning with a potentially game-saving double play.
Costlow continued to throw lights-out while the GW bats began connecting. Valos, freshman Alana Anderson and junior Morgan Matetic, who smacked a two-run homer to right center to cap a six-run inning, brought runs home.
“I don’t doubt my team at any moment whenever we’re down, especially today,” Valos said. “It was a very team-oriented game today and you’ve just got to trust in each other and you’ve got to know and believe that the person behind you is going to get the job done.”
Breland singled to right in the top of the sixth to bring home GW’s ninth and final run in the four-run win. Costlow earned her 12th win of the season, allowing just one run in 3.2 innings pitched.
The Colonials will host Coppin State Wednesday at 3 p.m. and resume A-10 play on Saturday in a three-game series at Dayton.
This post was updated to reflect the following correction:
The Hatchet incorrectly reported that Saint Louis scored three runs in the top of the fourth on Sunday. Saint Louis scored one run in that inning. We regret this error.
