VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan College Softball Team (30-5, 13-1 ODAC) remained atop the Old Dominion Athletic Conference standings with a pair of victories over Emory & Henry College (13-23, 5-9 ODAC) Saturday afternoon. The Marlins, who are ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, won by scores of 8-0 and 4-0.
Game One – No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan 8, Emory & Henry 0 (six innings)
VWC got on the board in the bottom of the first when Courtney Bogan scored on an illegal pitch. The Marlins made it 2-0 in the third when Liz Bailey singled up the middle.
In the fourth, Virginia Wesleyan scored three runs to open up a 5-0 advantage. Bailey drove in two more runs with a single down the left field line to highlight the inning. Another Marlin score in the fifth came as Taylor Galvin doubled to left centerfield.
VWC ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single by Cassetty Howerin that drove in Beth Ford for the 8-0 advantage.
Five different Marlins had multi-hit games led by Bailey's two hits and three RBI. Galvin and Blake Henderson had two hits, a run and a RBI. Mary Shipp went the distance for the shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out four.
Emory & Henry sophomore centerfielder Leah Elswick (Raven, Va.) led the way with two hits while freshman catcher Amanda Whitlow (Floyd, Va.) had the Wasps' other hit. Senior right-hander Taylor Banner (Castlewood, Va.) allowed five runs on six hits in three-plus innings of work.
Game Two – No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan 4, Emory & Henry 0
The Marlins completed the sweep with a 4-0 win in game two. VWC got on the board on a double by Howerin in the bottom of the third.
In the sixth, Virginia Wesleyan added a trio of insurance runs. Bailey drove in a run on an infield single while an error later in the inning allowed two more runs to score.
Bailey and Howerin added two hits, a run and a RBI each. In the circle, Kandis Kresinske had a no-hitter, striking out seven in the contest.
Whitlow reached base twice for the Wasps, drawing a pair of walks and stole a base. Junior Riley Pudney (Beech Mountain, N.C.) allowed one run on five hits in four innings pitched.
Emory & Henry will be back in action on Sunday when it faces off against Randolph-Macon College. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15