The Canisius College softball team ended its weekend stay in the nation's capital by going 1-1 on the final day of the Colonial Classic, hosted by George Washington University. The Golden Griffins (10-8) started the day by falling to Binghamton 1-0 before bouncing back to defeat the host Colonials 4-1 in the nightcap.
In the second game against George Washington, Canisius scored single runs in each of the first four innings en route to the team's 10th victory of the season. Junior Lauren Hope put the Griffs on the board in the first after she led off the frame with a base hit, and then stole second and third base before being knocked in on on RBI-single by senior catcher Michelle Fridey. Hope drove in the Blue and Gold's second run of the game with an RBI-single in the second which allowed freshman Katie Medina to score from third. In the third inning, Paige Freiberger got on base with a one-out single and later crossed the plate on an RBI-single by junior Emily Helbig. The Griffs' put their fourth and final run on the scoreboard in the fourth when Medina raced home from third base on a wild pitch.
Hope finished the day by going 3-for-3 with a run scored, a run batted in and two stolen bases, while Helbig also registered two hits and a run driven in. The four runs were more than enough for junior pitcher Caroline Main, who evened her record to 4-4 on the year after she allowed one run on eight hits while striking out six in five innings. Freshman Amanda Baun came on in relief and tossed two scoreless innings to earn her first career save.
In the first game of the day, Binghamton catcher Deannie Plemon led off the sixth with a solo homer and it proved to be all the runs the Bearcats would need as Binghamton avenged a one-run loss from Saturday with a 1-0 win on Sunday. Baun was the tough luck loser in the circle after she allowed one run on seven hits while striking out 12. Fridey went 1-for-3 with a double in the loss to Binghamton as the Blue and Gold left six runners on base through the contest.
The softball team will return to action March 20-21 when the team takes part in the Miami (Ohio) Invitational. The Griffs will start that two-day event March 20 when the team meets Toledo at 10 a.m.
