EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (15-10, 4-2 ODAC) bounced back on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Randolph-Macon College (14-9, 4-6 ODAC). The Wasps took game one by a 12-4 score in five innings and completed the sweep with a 14-7 victory.
It was the Wasps' first series sweep over the Yellow Jackets since March 6, 2007 when E&H won by scores of 1-0 and 6-4. Game one's "run-rule" victory was the first for E&H over RMC since March 5, 2006, a 9-1 victory.
Emory & Henry also celebrated its 25th year of softball on Sunday with an alumni breakfast, special events for alumnae and a ceremonial first pitch thrown out by Dr. Rebecca Mumpower '98, caught by Jo Repass Brewer, '98.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 12, Randolph-Macon 4 (five innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 14, Randolph-Macon 7
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (15-10, 6-2 ODAC); Randolph-Macon (14-9, 4-6 ODAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 12, Randolph-Macon 4 (five innings)
Emory & Henry jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first and pushed the margin to 3-0 in the second on a squeeze play by senior catcher Amanda Whitlow (Riner, Va.). The Wasps doubled the lead, 6-0, in the third highlighted by a two-run triple by freshman left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.).
RMC got on the board on an infield single by Candace Whittemore in the fourth but E&H responded in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run by junior shortstop Leanna Toler (Abingdon, Va.) and a two-run shot by junior third baseman Courtney Herron (Roanoke, Va.) to go up 9-1.
Shelby Hill brought the Yellow Jackets back from the brink with a three-run homer to center in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 9-4, but the Wasps swarmed again in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore designated player Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) plated a pair with a single through the left side and Herron came up big for the second time in the game with a base hit up the middle to end the game, 12-4.
Sophomore Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) earned the victory, allowing three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Whittemore suffered the loss, permitting six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 14, Randolph-Macon 7
Game two saw early scoring from both teams with Whittemore leading things off with a RBI single to right field in the first. E&H senior centerfielder Erin Anderson (Aylett, Va.) tagged her first collegiate home run to left center to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
RMC retook the lead, 6-2, with a run in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth but the Wasps put together a six-run fourth frame highlighted by Toler's grand slam for an 8-6 lead. After the Jackets scored once in the fifth, Emory & Henry tacked on five more runs including a pair of two-run singles from Steadman and sophomore first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.). A final run in the bottom of the sixth made it a 14-7 margin.
E&H junior right-hander Tiffany Cole (Wise, Va.) earned the win in relief, going 4.2 innings and scattering three runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Madie Rhoads took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will conclude its eight-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts Ferrum College in ODAC action. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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