EMORY, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College Softball Team (8-2, 2-0 ODAC) picked up an Old Dominion Athletic Conference sweep of Emory & Henry College (4-10, 0-2 ODAC) Sunday afternoon at Wasps Field. The Marlins prevailed 10-0 in game one and won by a 9-1 score in the nightcap.
Game One – Virginia Wesleyan 10, Emory & Henry 0 (six innings)
Virginia Wesleyan picked up a no-hit victory over Emory & Henry to begin the afternoon. VWC got on the board in the top of the second with four runs on four hits. Back-to-back RBI hits by Megan Zhand and Tori Higginbotham highlighted the frame. The Marlins would add two runs to their lead in the third on three hits.
In the top of the fourth, Higginbotham hit a home run to left centerfield to extend the lead to 7-0 for VWC. The Marlins would add three more runs in the sixth thanks in part to a two-run home run by Kristina Karagiorgis.
Karagiorgis picked up the win in the circle, pitching four innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk. Lindsey Izana and Sara Erlichman each threw an inning in relief to complete the no-hit shutout for the Marlins.
At the plate, Karagiorgis helped her cause, going three-for-four with three runs scored and two RBI while Higginbotham went three-for-four with two runs and two RBI.
Game Two – Virginia Wesleyan 9, Emory & Henry 1 (five innings)
In the second game, Emory & Henry got on the board in the bottom of the second. With a runner on and one out, freshman second baseman Jelisa McFadden (Lake City, S.C.) hit a bunt single to third base and sophomore centerfielder Cortney Halsey (Independence, Va.) walked to load the bases. Sophomore left fielder Sylvia Robbins (Smithfield, Va.) drew a walk after fouling off four straight pitches to give the Wasps their first lead of the afternoon.
Virginia Wesleyan answered in the top of the third to go up 4-1. The Marlins took advantage of four hits and two Wasp errors to score on four different plays including a triple down the right field line by Jaclyn Quinn.
In the top of the fourth VWC added four more runs to the total. A two-run home run by Season Daily made the score 8-1 in favor of the Marlins. They would add a final run in the top of the fifth on a round-tripper by Higginbotham to make the 9-1 final margin.
Karagiorgis picked up her second win of the day in the circle, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts, despite walking four batters. Izana and Erlichman pitched an inning apiece of shutout ball to bring the contest home.
Higginbotham had another three-hit game, scoring two runs and driving in another while Quinn went two-for-three with two runs and a RBI.
Emory & Henry will remain at home on Saturday when Randolph-Macon College visits for a ODAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
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