BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (6-8) split its doubleheader with Bluefield College (6-12) Friday afternoon in non-conference action at the Graham Recreational Park. The Wasps prevailed, 12-5, in game one while the Lady Rams won the nightcap by a 6-5 score.
Game One – Emory & Henry 12, Bluefield 5
Emory & Henry exploded for six runs in the top of the first inning. After a two-run single to left field by freshman first baseman Taylor Doss (Damascus, Va.), the Wasps found the bases loaded. Freshman third baseman Hannah Bays (Abindgon, Va.) blasted a grand slam to left centerfield to make the score 6-0.
Bluefield got a run in the bottom of the third as Breanne Vencil homered to centerfield, making the score 6-1.
The Wasps pushed their lead to 8-1 in the sixth as junior centerfielder Cortney Halsey (Independence, Va.) got her first home run of the year. In the seventh, E&H added four more runs highlighted by Bays' three run shot to right centerfield.
The Lady Rams closed the gap to 12-5 with their last three outs with Morgan Stephens plating a trio of runs with her double to left center.
E&H sophomore Katie Grimm (Staunton, Va.) scattered eight hits and five runs over seven innings of work with two strikeouts to move to 4-0 with the win. Bays was two-for-four with two home runs and seven RBI while Halsey went three-for-three with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
Stephens led Bluefield at the plate with three RBI as no player had more than one hit in the game. Aline Uehara suffered the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits in four innings pitched.
Game Two – Bluefield 6, Emory & Henry 5
Emory & Henry stranded 11 runners left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings as Bluefield took game two, 6-5.
With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth, Bluefield got four runs for a 6-2 lead. A two-RBI single by Madison Fielder got things started while Jessica Dutka put the Lady Rams up by four with a two-run homer.
The Wasps got a pair of runs back in the sixth as Doss hit a two-run shot to left centerfield. E&H drew the margin to 6-5 in the top of the seventh as Halsey hit her second home run of the day, but couldn't get any closer.
Megan Meismer picked up the win in the circle despite allowing 16 hits on the day. Dukta, Stephens and Vencil each had two hits in the game, with Dukta's home run proving to be the difference-maker.
Doss went four-for-four in game two for the Wasps while sophomore shortstop Bethany Anderson (Dublin, Va.) and senior right fielder Courtney Perkinson (Cheseapeake, Va.) were three-for-four. Sophomore Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) fell to 1-5 on the year as she allowed six runs on 10 hits in five innings, despite four strikeouts.
Emory & Henry will open Old Dominion Athletic Conference play on Sunday when they travel to face the Vixens of Sweet Briar College. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
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