JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (19-16, 14-8 SAC) picked up a pair of key South Atlantic Conference road wins at Carson-Newman University (27-11, 10-8 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Wasps won by scores of 3-2 and 9-2 as they now sit in fourth place in the conference standings tied for the second-most league victories.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 3, Carson-Newman 2
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 9, Carson-Newman 2
LOCATION – Jefferson City, Tennessee
VENUE – Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (19-16, 14-8 SAC); Carson-Newman (27-11, 10-8 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 3, Carson-Newman 2
Carson-Newman opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run down the right-field line by Abbi Martin.
The Wasps responded with a pair of runs in the top half of the fourth. Senior right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) got things started with a single down the right-field line, scoring sophomore first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.). Junior designated player Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) scored via a wild pitch on the next at bat to give the Wasps a 2-1 advantage.
With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, C-N tied the contest at two apiece as Mary Vandergriff plated Kennady Warder with a fielder's choice to second base.
Emory & Henry retook the lead in the top of the sixth as freshman Katie Williams (Lafayette, Ga.) hit an infield single with runners on second and third, driving in freshman third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.). The Wasps' defense held strong in the final two innings as E&H took game one by a 3-2 score.
Junior right-hander Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) earned the win, scattering one earned run on seven hits as she struck out 10 with no walks. Syerra Rogers suffered the loss for the Lady Eagles, allowing three runs on eight hits and six walks despite striking out eight.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 9, Carson-Newman 2
E&H got on the board in the top of the first as Adkins drilled a solo home run to left-center. The Wasps made it 3-0 after three with Adkins and Silvis each driving in runs with base knocks.
In the fifth, Emory & Henry scored four times, highlighted by a two-run double by senior catcher Julia Street (Glade Spring, Va.) which plated Taylor and freshman Ashlee Foster (King William, Va.) to go up 7-0. Freshman shortstop Rachel Hill (Standardsville, Va.) and Rachon also posted RBI hits in the frame.
Carson-Newman cut into the lead in its portion of the sixth on a two-run homer to left-centerfield by Warder, making the score 7-2. The Wasps wouldn't be satisfied until they returned the margin to seven runs with Williams doubling to left field, scoring sophomore centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) and Hill for the 9-2 final margin.
Adkins grabbed her second victory of the day, permitting just two runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts. Rylee Gattis took the loss for Carson-Newman, as she saw six runs come across on eight hits and two walks with just two strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will host Southwest Virginia Community College in a pair of exhibition games on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
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