May 7, 2011
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Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
PHILADELPHIA- The Explorers put up a four-spot in the fourth inning of game two, helping them make a comeback against the George Washington Colonials in the final game of the regular season. La Salle's 5-4 victory was a returned favor for GW handing the Explorers a 1-0 defeat in the preceding game.
Before the doubleheader got underway for the Explorers and Colonials, the La Salle Athletic Department recognized the six senior members: Ashley Lake, Rebecca Turygan, Kristen Paoletti, Laura Beth McCreesh, Ali Shepherd and DJ Guinn for their dedication to the softball program over the past four years.
When the preluding ceremony concluded, Guinn headed out to the circle for her final start in La Salle Blue and Gold. Coming into the game, she was one strikeout away from 300 career strikeouts, which would make her the sixth Explorer all-time to reach the milestone.
In the first inning of game one, Guinn wasted no time flirting with the milestone when she rung up GW's Kara Clauss on strikes.
From that point on Guinn cruised in another pitching dual. Guinn completed her 10th game of the season and her sixth in Atlantic 10 play. She finished the day with eight strikeouts, coming just one shy of tying her career high at nine K's for the third time this season.
Guinn didn't surrender a run until the final inning of the game when Tara Fogarty singled into right field, allowing Lauren Wilson to round her way past home plate all the way from first base after her leadoff single.
GW's Clauss kept the Explorers off the base for most of the day, holding La Salle to just two baserunners all game, which came on base hits by junior Shannon Skomorucha and Paoletti.
The backend to the twin-bill was different for the Explorers.
GW picked up where it left off when it took an early 1-0 lead off McCreesh in the second inning. Julie Orlandi doubled to score Sandi Moynihan to give the Colonials the advantage.
After McCreesh set down the Colonials' order in the third and fourth innings, La Salle had an offensive explosion in its half of the fourth.
The Explorers got three of their first four batters on base, compliments of singles by freshman Megan Hodgson, Skomorucha and McCreesh helping her own cause.
Junior Tristan Musho forced in the tying run on a fielder's choice that helped bring in Hodgson after an error was charged to third baseman Lacey Cook on her throw to home plate.
La Salle jumped out to a commanding lead when junior Heather Brabazon smashed a double into left field, to send in two more runs and make it a 3-1 Explorer advantage.
Junior Breanna DiTommaso added to the damage when she knocked in Musho on her single into right field.
When the Explorers returned to the plate in the fifth inning, Hodgson gave La Salle all the insurance it would need when she led off the inning with a towering home run over the center field fence.
GW made an effort to cut into La Salle's 5-1 lead in its half of the sixth inning when Autumn Taylor hit a three-run home run to bring the Colonials within a run.
Paoletti shook off the damage and held her ground the rest of the way. With the Colonials threatening to tie the game on their final out of the ballgame-having the equalizer on third base- Paoletti made a sensational grab on a liner by her feet to end the game and any chance at a GW comeback.
The Explorers wrapped up the season winning two of their final four home games at West Campus Field.
