FERRUM, Va. – The Ferrum College Softball Team (13-5) picked up a pair of non-conference wins on Wednesday evening as it defeated Emory & Henry College (5-7) by scores of 9-4and 3-1.
Game One – Ferrum 9, Emory & Henry 4
Ferrum came back from a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning as Rachel Shumaker doubled to left field, plating two for a 3-2 lead. The Panthers added four runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks in part to a three-run double by Shumaker.
After FC extended its lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth, E&H freshman third baseman Hannah Bays (Abingdon, Va.) tripled to right field, driving in two runs for the 9-4 final margin.
Kaityln Culler picked up the win in game one for Ferrum, scattering six hits and two runs over five innings while striking out four. E&H's Kaitlyn Pruitt (Abingdon, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Game Two – Ferrum 3, Emory & Henry 1
Shumaker continued her outstanding day, striking out 16 to win the second game as Ferrum completed the sweep with a 3-1 win.
Emory & Henry got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as senior catcher Ashley Ebersole (Maurertown, Va.) hit her league-leading seventh home run of the year for the Wasps' only run of the game.
The Panthers answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the second by Courtney Burner to tie the game at a run apiece.
Ferrum got two runs in the bottom of the fifth which proved to be the difference maker in the contest.
E&H sophomore Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) scattered four hits over six innings and five strikeouts despite the loss.
Emory & Henry will travel to face Bluefield College in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
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