EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (7-8) grabbed a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Wheeling University (3-13) Thursday afternoon at home. The Wasps won the first game by a 10-2 margin and claimed game two, 8-0.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 10, Wheeling 2 (five innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 8, Wheeling 0 (five innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (7-8, 0-2 SAC); Wheeling (3-13, 2-0 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 10, Wheeling 2 (five innings)
The Cardinals got on the board in the top of the first as Anna Florczak singled to right field, driving in Madison Kay.
Emory & Henry immediately responded with five runs in the bottom half of the first. Senior catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.), junior first baseman Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) and sophomore shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) each tallied RBI base knocks in the frame.
In the second, the Wasps pushed their lead to 8-1, highlighted by a two-run single by freshman left fielder Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.). Another pair of runs in the bottom of the third extended the margin to 10-1.
Wheeling got one run back in the fourth as Madison George notched a bases-loaded RBI groundout but would get no closer than 10-2 as the game ended after the top of the fifth.
E&H junior MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) earned the complete-game win, scattering two runs on three hits with four walks and a strikeout. Randi Holder took the loss for Wheeling, allowing eight runs on nine hits as she was chased after just 1.2 innings of work.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 8, Wheeling 0 (five innings)
The Wasps again scored five in the first inning for an early 5-0 lead, all with two outs. Junior pitcher Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) plated Silvis with a base hit to center and three batters later, junior right fielder Grace Harper (Williamsburg, Va.) swatted a grand slam over the wall in left-center.
In the second, Emory & Henry tacked on two to press the margin to 7-0. Simpson tallied another RBI base hit while Silvis also drove in a run. E&H capped the scoring in the third when sophomore second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) plated Hill with a groundout.
Yates pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out four and walking four. WU's Ryleigh Peters took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in two-plus innings with two strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry visits Mars Hill University on Sunday for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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