Final Stats

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University softball team opened BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday at hom against Creighton with a split of the first two games of the series. GU picked up the win in game one by a score of 5-2, before falling in the rematch, 11-6. The Hoyas improved to 8-18, 1-1 in the BIG EAST Conference while Creighton improved to 10-17, 1-1 in conference play.

Game 1: Georgetown 5, Creighton 2

Anna Brooks Pacha (Houston, Texas/St. John's School) started on the rubber for GU, she went the distance going seven innings and giving up two runs on five hits while striking out 10. With the win, Pacha now improves to 6-6 on the season.

They Hoyas opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with two runs. The inning began with two-consecutive singles by Mallory Belknap (Scottsdale, Ariz./Xavier College Prep) and Theresa Kane (Mystic, Conn./Stonington). Both runners moved up a base after a wild pitch, and a popup left it with runners on second and third with one out. Noelle Holiday (Bear, Del./Red Lion Christian Academy) then delivered an RBI groundout to plate Belknap and Kane, who scored on a late throw.

The Blue & Gray added some run support in the third inning. Sarah Bennett (Owings, Md./Northern) led off the inning with a walk. This was followed up by a string of three-straight singles. Holiday delivered a single into center field to advance pinch runner Ciara Sullivan (Middletown, N.J./Middletown) to second. Gabriela Elvina (Edison, N.J./Bishop George Ahr) stepped up and hit a base hit up the middle to score Sullivan and leave runners at first and second. Hannan Ramsey (Buda, Texas/Jack C. Hays) bunted for a single to load the bases with no outs. After a fielder's choice, Alexa Dolby (Round Hill, Va./Woodgrove) reached on an error to score Elvina and pick up the second run of the inning. Delaney Darden (Tustin, Calif./Beckman) then picked up an RBI on a groundout to score Ramsey and put the Hoyas in front 5-0.

The Bluejays would plate two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but that would be all they could muster offensively against Pacha.

Belknap ended the game with three hits and Ramsey chipped in two hits to lead the team offensively.

Game 2: Creighton 11, Georgetown 6

Katie Vannicola (Vienna, Va./James Madison) started in the circle for the Hoyas, going three innings and giving up eight runs on nine hits. Casey Kozak (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace) came on in relief to pitch the final four innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Creighton led the game from the beginning after scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The Bluejays also scored two runs in both the second and the fifth inning and scored individual runs in the third and seventh innings.

The Hoyas got on the scoreboard in the first inning with two runs to pull the score to 5-2. Kane delivered a one out single, and the bases became loaded after Bennett walked and Elvina was hit by a pitch. The first run of the inning came on the next play with an RBI walk by Ramsey. Bennett then scored after the Creighton pitcher delivered an illegal pitch.

In the third inning Bennett delivered her team-leading fourth home run of the season for a solo shot to put the score at 8-3.

Trailing 11-3 heading into the final inning, the Blue & Gray finished strong with three more runs. Pinch hitter Ciara Sullivan led off with a walk and was replaced by Dolby on the bases. Dolby proceeded to steal second and scored on Belknap's double down the left field line. Kane stepped up and hit a triple into right field to score Belknap and Bennett ended the scoring with a base hit up the middle to score Kane.

Georgetown returns to the field on Sunday, for the series finale against Creighton. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. For live stats visit www.GUHoyas.com.