Gallaudet’s Christina Elsbury Pitches for Softball, Baseball Teams

Earlier this spring, Gallaudet University’s Christina Elsbury accomplished an impressive feat.

A third-year softball player for the Bison, Elsbury decided that she wanted to play baseball, as well, and made her debut for the Gallaudet baseball squad on February 18th. She threw an inning of work and gave up three runs, but history hade been made, as Elsbury became one of just a few dozen women to play in an NCAA baseball game.

On Saturday, though, Elsbury took things to another level.

In the first game of a softball doubleheader, Elsbury threw a complete game in the circle, striking out three and taking the loss in a complete-game effort. Also batting in the 3-hole, Elsbury went 1-2 at the plate in the game with a single.

As soon as the run-rule-shortened softball game ended, Elsbury hustled to the baseball diamond, where Gallaudet’s baseball team was playing a conference game of their own.

Elsbury was called on to pitch to start the sixth inning, taking to the mound for her ninth appearance of the baseball season. In total, according to reports, the last pitch of the softball game and her first pitch in the baseball game were just some ten minutes apart.

After successfully recording the first two outs, Elsbury allowed a hit and a walk to put two runners on base before inducing a fly out to put the scoreless inning of relief officially in the books. It was her fourth scoreless outing of the baseball bullpen this season.

When the baseball game ended, what did Elsbury do? Headed right back to the softball field to play in the second game of a softball doubleheader. Starting at first base and again hitting in the 3-hole in the lineup for the second softball game of the day, Elsbury was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI single and a bases-loaded RBI walk to her credit.

“I am so honored I had the opportunity to pitch in both games today. I felt very humbled to know that I can compete in both men’s and women’s sports and show everyone that I am a competitor,” Elsbury said in a Gallaudet release. “I felt so energized and excited to make history. I hope this moment can inspire others to take the risk and join baseball or other men’s sports and break the stigma behind women in men’s sports.”