EMORY, Va. – The No. 8 Christopher Newport University Softball Team (4-0) earned a pair of wins at Emory & Henry College (4-4) in a battle between NCAA Division III Atlantic Region contenders Sunday afternoon. The Captains took game one by a 9-2 score and rallied twice for a 4-3 win in game two.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 8 Christopher Newport 9, Emory & Henry 2
GAME TWO – No. 8 Christopher Newport 4, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-4, 0-0 ODAC); Christopher Newport (4-0, 0-0 CAC)
Game One – No. 8 Christopher Newport 9, Emory & Henry 2
CNU got on the board with six runs in the top of the first. Grace Wild plated a pair with a single up the middle while Tara Deck tagged a bases-clearing hit to make it 6-0.
The Captains added a run on a single by Hannah Hummel in the fourth and made it 9-0 on Kaitlyn Hasty's base-knock in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, E&H pushed a pair across to spoil the shutout. Senior catcher Leanna Toler (Abingdon, Va.) drove in a run on a fielder's choice while junior third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) added a two-out RBI single for the 9-2 final margin.
Aubrey Bates earned the win for Christopher Newport, allowing just one hit in six innings with five strikeouts. E&H junior Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) suffered the loss, allowing nine runs on 11 hits, despite striking out nine.
Game Two – No. 8 Christopher Newport 4, Emory & Henry 3
The Wasps struck in the bottom of the first as junior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) tagged a single into left field. Christopher Newport tied the contest in the second on a bases loaded walk by Maddie Hool and went ahead 2-1 as Hasty homered to left.
Emory & Henry posted single runs in the fourth and fifth as junior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) drove in a run with a ground ball and Steadman lined a single to left-center, respectively.
In the top of the sixth, the Captains plated what would prove to be the game-winning runs. Kensley Hess advanced to home on a throwing error and Caitlin Abernethy plated Hool with a sacrifice fly for the 4-3 advantage. E&H got a baserunner in the bottom of the sixth but was unable to manufacture the necessary run.
CNU's Tish Webb earned the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits in five innings pitched while Gracie Vallejos got the save, striking out five over the course of the final two frames. Emory & Henry junior Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will continue its homestand on next Saturday when it hosts Meredith College. First pitch between the Wasps and Avenging Angels will be at 1:00 p.m.
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