GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (1-1) finally got the 2024 season started on Friday afternoon with a pair of games at the Bearcat/Fleet Tournament. The Wasps' season was delayed by two weeks due to rain.
In the first game, E&H posted a 6-3 come-from-behind win over Young Harris College (9-3). The Wasps completed the day's action against Lander University (8-1), with the host Bearcats claiming a 9-3 victory.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 6, Young Harris 3
GAME TWO – Lander 9, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION – Greenwood, South Carolina
VENUE – Doug Spears Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-1, 0-0 SAC); Young Harris (9-3, 0-0 Carolinas); Lander (8-1, 0-0 Peach Belt)
Game One – Emory & Henry 6, Young Harris 3
Emory & Henry took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as senior catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) hit a double to left-center driving in junior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.).
The Mountain Lions answered in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run by Grace Young to tie the contest at a run apiece. In the second, YHC plated a pair of runs with RBI singles from Hannah Rizzuto and Mo Johnson to go ahead, 3-1.
E&H began its comeback in the third when junior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) tagged a solo home run to right-center. The Wasps got another solo shot in the fourth, this time as sophomore shortstop Rachel Hill (Standardsville, Va.) launched one over the left field fence, making it a 3-3 contest.
After two and a half scoreless innings where Emory & Henry stranded two in the fifth and one in the sixth, the Wasps' offense came alive in the seventh. Three straight singles to start the inning set senior left fielder Katelyn Siekerka (El Cajon, Calif.) up for a RBI single through the right side. Two batters later, freshman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) collected a pinch-hit base knock to left for another score. Sophomore third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.) capped the scoring for E&H, when she was hit by a pitch with the bases still loaded for a three-run lead.
The Mountain Lions went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh as the Wasps claimed the 6-3 victory.
Wasp junior right-hander MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) earned the complete-game win, scattering two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Young Harris used three pitchers in the loss, with Emma Black receiving the decision, allowing three runs on six hits and one hit batsman in 2.2 innings of work.
Game Two – Lander 9, Emory & Henry 3
Lander jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one, highlighted by a two-run homer to right-center by Gracyn Millsaps. The Bearcats added two runs in the second for a 5-0 lead with Bella Angeli notching a RBI base hit to center.
In the fifth, Emory & Henry put up a trio of runs as King plated two with a double down the left field line and Taylor drove in King thanks to a single through the left side to make the score 5-3.
The Bearcats responded with four runs in the sixth to put some distance on the scoreboard. Emily Allen and Abbie Behe each tagged two-run shots in the frame for the final 9-3 margin.
Bailey Pattison earned the win for Lander, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. E&H sophomore Ashlee Foster (King William, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will conclude its run in the Bearcat/Fleet Tournament on Saturday, traveling to Due West, South Carolina to face off against Emmanuel (Ga.) University and tournament co-host Erskine College. The Wasps' first game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
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