In a weekend characterized by five straight losses and offensive struggles, the Georgetown softball team was unable to win even behind junior pitcher London Diller’s first career no-hitter in a full-game performance against Boston College. On the weekend, the Hoyas were outscored 16-1 in its five games to open the season. 

The Hoyas (0-5, 0-0 Big East) played two games on opening day of the Florida Gulf Coast University Kickoff Classic, losing 3-0 to the University of Connecticut (3-2, 0-0 AAC) before falling 4-0 to the University of Delaware (4-1, 0-0 CAA) on Friday, Feb. 7. 

Against UConn, the Blue and Gray offense struggled to support its pitching efforts, tallying three hits and suffering 12 strikeouts. Diller started the game for the Hoyas and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts on the day. After giving up two hits and two runs, Diller was relieved by senior pitcher Katie Vannicola in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Vannicola allowed one run in one inning pitched, followed by senior pitcher Casey Kozak who came in and closed out the game with two strikeouts and no hits. 

The game went scoreless into the bottom of the fourth, when UConn hit a single to score its player on first base following a fielding error by Georgetown’s senior right fielder Ciara Sullivan. The Hoyas faired worse in the fifth inning, as UConn scored two runs off a double into center field.

Despite a single from sophomore infielder Kiki Besnard followed by a single up the middle from senior first baseman Noelle Holiday in the top of the sixth, the Hoyas were unable to score any runs, dropping the game 3-0 after leaving five runners on base on the day. 

Sophomore pitcher Cassie Henning started off the Hoyas’ game against the Delaware Blue Hens, going for six innings. Henning recorded two strikeouts and allowed six hits, with the Blue Hens scoring four runs. Kozak relieved Hennings in the final inning and held the Blue Hens to four runs, not allowing any hits. 

The second game of the day did not prove more successful for the Hoyas, despite six players managing hits compared to three in the earlier game. 

Georgetown saw a promising opportunity in the bottom of the third, as senior outfielder Alexa Dolby and junior outfielder Macy Cartwright stood on second and third with two outs. The momentum for the Hoyas, however, was halted by a fly out to right field by Besnard and the Hoyas would go on to leave six players on base in the game. 

With one run in the top of the first and three runs in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of triples and a Georgetown error, Delaware pulled off the 4-0 shutout. 

Saturday, Feb. 8 started off better for the Hoyas, as they gained an early 1-0 lead in their first game against Long Island University (2-3, 0-0 Northeast Conference). Cartwright scored on two sacrifice plays, one being a bunt from Besnard and the other a fly from Holiday to record the Hoyas’ only run for the day. LIU went on to score three runs off a home run, ultimately coming away with the 3-1 victory. 

Saturday’s second game furthered Georgetown’s troubles as the FGCU Eagles (4-1, 0-0 ASUN) quickly earned a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and advanced the score to 4-0 by the bottom of the second. 

The bottom of the sixth saw the Eagles score their fifth run, extending the lead to the final score of 5-0. Sophomore infielder Mae Forshey and freshman catcher Nora Campo led the way for the Hoyas with a hit apiece, accounting for the two Georgetown hits in the game. 

Henning started off on the mound, pitching the first inning before being relieved by Vannicola, who would go for four innings before Kozak came in to finish. 

The third day of competition saw the Hoyas’ best game of the weekend against Boston College (2-3, 0-0 ACC), with Diller recording the first no-hitter of her career after pitching the whole game. She struck out eight, tying her career best, and walked three. 

The strong performances of both Diller and the Eagles’ starting pitcher Susannah Anderson kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. The Eagles managed to get two players on base due to a fielding error by Georgetown and a walk by Diller. 

A sacrifice bunt advanced those runners to second and third base. A ball grounded out to shortstop allowed their runner on third to make it home, giving the Eagles the 1-0 lead. The Hoyas were unable to record any hits, ultimately losing their final game and finishing the weekend 0-5. 

Georgetown will look to improve its record as the team travels to South Carolina next weekend to compete in the Winthrop Tournament. The Hoyas’ first of five games will be on Friday at 10 a.m. against Boston University.