FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (1-2) picked up its first win of the season Friday afternoon with a 11-5 victory over York College of Pennsylvania in the first day of the Methodist University Early Bird Invitational. The win was also the career-first for Head Coach Sara Schoenhoft, in her first season with the Wasps.
Emory & Henry got out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman right fielder Bethany Anderson (Dublin, Va.) singled to left field, plating two runs. Two batters later freshman designated player Jelisa McFadden (Lake City, S.C.) hit a RBI single to left field for the third run of the frame.
The Wasps added three more runs in the second for a 6-0 lead. Junior catcher Ashley Ebersole (Maurertown, Va.) hit a RBI single to right field and Anderson singled down the right field line to plate two more runs.
York got on the board with a five-run third inning to close the gap to 6-5. All five of the Spartans' hits in the frame were singles, three of which resulted in RBI.
E&H responded with a run in the bottom half of the third. With one out and sophomore centerfielder Cortney Halsey (Independence, Va.) on third base, sophomore pitcher Jennifer True (Utica, N.Y.) singled to left field, driving Halsey in for the 7-5 lead.
In the fourth, Emory & Henry pushed the lead to 9-5 on a two-run home run by senior shortstop Jenae Morrissey (Utica, N.Y.). The Wasps would add two more runs in the fifth to make the final score 11-5.
True picked up the win in the circle for E&H, scattering five runs on nine hits across seven innings of work. She also struck out three in the outing.
At the plate, seven Wasps had multi-hit games led by Ebersole as she went two-for-three with two runs, two RBI and a walk. Anderson was two-for-four on the day with four RBI while Morrissey went two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored.
Emory & Henry will play three contests on the final day of the tournament on Saturday as rain caused the postponement of the late games on Friday. The Wasps will face off against Greensboro College, Stevenson University, and host Methodist University. Game times are yet to be announced due to the rescheduling of the tournament.
---E&H---