GREENSBORO, N.C. – After two postponements and one halted series, the No. 20 Emory & Henry College Softball Team (12-2, 2-0 ODAC) finally was able to put an Old Dominion Athletic Conference result on its record Tuesday, picking up a sweep over Guilford College (0-4, 0-4 ODAC).
The Wasps claimed game one by a 9-5 score and grabbed a run-rule 8-0 victory in the second contest. The victories were also the first in program history for E&H as a nationally-ranked team.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 20 Emory & Henry 9, Guilford 5
GAME TWO – No. 20 Emory & Henry 8, Guilford 0 (six innings)
LOCATION – Greensboro, North Carolina
VENUE – Haworth Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (12-2, 2-0 ODAC); Guilford (0-4, 0-4 ODAC)
Game One – No. 20 Emory & Henry 9, Guilford 5
Emory & Henry got on the board in the top of the first on a double to centerfield by freshman catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.), which plated senior designate player Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.).
E&H extended its lead to 5-0 midway through the second highlighted by a two-run homer to left field by sophomore right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.). Guilford made it a 5-1 contest in the bottom half of the second as Sarah Aukamp scored on a wild pitch.
A sacrifice fly by Scaggs in the third and a three-run double by junior centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) in the fifth pushed the margin to 9-1 for the Wasps. Guilford got the run needed to keep the game going in the bottom of the fifth on a double to left field by Abbie Hill. The Quakers scored three times in the sixth to close the gap to 9-5 but would get no closer.
Wasp senior right-hander Cameron Derr (Denver, N.C.) earned her seventh win of the year, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out 12 in 5.2 innings of work. Freshman Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) pitched 1.1 innings of no-hit ball in her collegiate debut to earn the save. GC's Katie McNeill suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Game Two – No. 20 Emory & Henry 8, Guilford 0 (six innings)
After five innings of scoreless softball, Emory & Henry's offense came alive in the top of the sixth. With no outs and runners on second and third, senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) reached on a fielding error which saw a pair of runs come around to score.
Scaggs, Thomas, senior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.), Braun and Silvis each had RBI in the frame highlighted by Silvis' two-run single up the middle which capped the scoring.
Up against the wall and facing an early end to the game, Guilford managed to get a runner on second with one out but the next two batters went down in order as the contest ended, 8-0, after six.
Braun earned the complete-game shutout in the circle for E&H, scattering five hits and six strikeouts over six innings of work. Guilford's Abigayle Rowell took the loss, permitting four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings pitched.
Up Next
Emory & Henry is next scheduled to host Roanoke College on Tuesday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. The doubleheader will also serve as the Wasps' annual Light It Up Blue Day in support of Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center.
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