No. 18 Emory Softball Tops Emory & Henry, 7-3, Friday In NCAA Division III Tournament

Leanna Toler fields a ball at shortstop.
-photo courtesy of Joe Matthews

DEMOREST, Ga. – The No. 18 Emory University Softball Team (31-10) scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth on its way to a 7-3 win over Emory & Henry College (26-17) in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament Friday afternoon.

The Basics
FINAL SCORE No. 18 Emory 7, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION
– Demorest, Georgia
VENUE – Walker Athletic Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (26-17); Emory (31-10)

How It Happened
The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first when Greta Wilker grounded into a fielder's choice, driving in Jenna Wilson. EU pushed the margin to 2-0 in the third as Wilson scored her second run of the day on a wild pitch.

Emory & Henry made it 2-1 in the fourth when sophomore third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) drove in junior shortstop Leanna Toler (Abingdon, Va.) with a fielder's choice.

In the bottom of the frame, Emory responded with four runs to break the game open 6-1. Jessy McLean and Wilson both had RBI base hits while Cassie Baca highlighted the frame with a two-run triple.

The Wasps bounced back with a pair of runs in the fifth as Toler plated a pair on a base hit to right-centerfield, closing the gap to 6-3. The Eagles answered with the final run of the game in the sixth when Wilker plated Baca with a base knock to right.

EU's Madison Schaefer picked up the win, allowing one earned run on four hits across five innings of work. Toko Miller picked up the save, pitching the final two innings in shutout fashion. Emory & Henry sophomore Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) suffered the loss, permitting five runs on three hits and four walks in three-plus innings.

Up Next
Emory & Henry is scheduled to face Transylvania University in an elimination game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for North Georgia for Saturday and any decision to alter game times will be made by 11:00 a.m., Saturday.

---E&H---