EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (12-26, 4-16 ODAC) split its season finale Sunday afternoon with Randolph College (26-14, 9-11 ODAC) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play. The Wasps picked up the win in game one, 7-6, while the WildCats claimed a 10-2 win in the nightcap.
E&H honored its three seniors: catcher Ashley Ebersole (Maurertown, Va.), outfielder Courtney Perkinson (Chesapeake, Va.) and outfielder/designated player Veronica Blankenship (Roanoke, Va.) prior to the games.
Game One - Emory & Henry 7, Randolph 6
Emory & Henry got out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a grand slam by freshman shortstop Hannah Bays (Abingdon, Va.).
In the fourth, Randolph got two runs back thanks to a wild pitch and a single to left field by Ashton Ewers to make the score 4-2.
The Wasps extended their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by junior second baseman Martha Fluharty (Halifax, N.C.).
The WildCats tied the contest at five runs apiece in the fifth on a three-run home run by Jessica Sanabria.
E&H went up 6-5 in the sixth as Ebersole drilled a solo shot to centerfield for her 11th home run of the year and record-tying 22nd of her career.
With one runner on and two outs in the top of the seventh, Patti Vinson doubled to right center to drive in the tying run for Randolph. The Wasps were able to get the next out and went into the bottom of the seventh tied 6-6.
On the very first at bat of the bottom of the seventh, freshman first baseman Taylor Doss (Damascus, Va.) blasted a solo home run over the right centerfield wall for the walk-off win.
E&H sophomore Katie Grimm (Staunton, Va.) picked up the win in relief as she allowed just two hits and one run in three innings of work. Sophomore Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) allowed five runs on eight hits in the first four innings of the game.
Randolph's Logan Carter took the loss allowing seven runs on seven hits despite striking out eight.
Game Two - Randolph 10, Emory & Henry 2 (six innings)
Randolph took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a pair of RBI singles from Brittney Vian and Ashley Gardner.
Emory & Henry tied things up in its half of the first as Bays hit a two-run home run to left field, setting the new school record for home runs in a season at 12.
The WildCats took the lead in the top of the second as Jessica Nowak homered. Vinson plated a pair of runs in the third for Randolph with a single to left field to make the score 5-2.
In the fourth, Via had a two-run home run to straight-away centerfield for a 7-2 advantage. The WildCats made the score 10-2 in the sixth with three runs thanks to four hits and an error.
Emory & Henry was unable to score in the bottom of the sixth and the game was called after the criteria of the Eight-Run Advantage Rule were met.
Via led the WildCats at the plate, going three-for-three with four runs and four RBI. Sanabria picked up the complete game win, scattering six hits over six innings with five strikeouts.
The Wasps were paced offensively by Bays' home run and a three-for-three showing by junior left fielder Sylvia Robbins (Smithfield, Va.). Grimm took the loss to go to 1-1 on the day, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings pitched.
Emory & Henry concludes the season with a 12-26 record and a 4-16 mark in ODAC play, finishing 10th in the league. The Wasps will await the announcement of the 2013 All-ODAC Teams, which will be released in conjunction with the 2013 ODAC Tournament.
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