EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team moved to 3-1 on the year with a pair of run-rule wins over Southern Virginia University (0-2). The Wasps took both games by a 9-0 score, as play was stopped midway through the fifth inning. All 21 players on the Wasps' roster were able to see action on the afternoon, most of them playing in both games.
Game One – Emory & Henry 9, Southern Virginia 0 (five innings)
Emory & Henry got on the board quickly with five runs in the bottom of the first. The frame featured five hits and was highlighted by sophomore first baseman Taylor Doss' (Damascus, Va.) two-run double down the left field line. Freshman designated player Holly Eckard (Ringgold, Va.) singled up the middle on the next at bat and found herself on third base after a throwing error that allowed two more runs to score.
The Wasps added four more runs in the third inning. With one run in and one out senior right fielder Sylvia Robbins (Smithfield, Va.) hit a three-run home run to centerfield to put E&H up 9-0.
Southern Virginia had six outs remaining in which to score at least two runs, but could only manage a pair of base runners in the fourth. After the top of the fifth, the criteria of the Eight-Run Advantage Rule had been met and the game was ended.
Robbins led the way for the Wasps as she went two-for-three with three RBI and a run scored while Doss added two runs and two RBI. Junior right-hander Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) moved to 1-1 on the year, striking out seven in four innings with just three hits. Junior Katie Grimm (Staunton, Va.) struck out two in an inning of relief.
SVU was led at the plate by Kelsey Bair, who was two-for-two in the game. Sara Harmon suffered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in two innings pitched. Jamie Pinkston gave up two hits and four walks in two innings pitched to allow four more runs.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 9, Southern Virginia 0 (five innings)
The Wasps started off game two a bit more slowly with one run in the bottom of the first. After sophomore right fielder Hannah Bays (Abingdon, Va.) and senior second baseman Martha Fluharty (Halifax, N.C.) drew back-to-back two-out walks, Doss doubled down the left field line to drive in Bays.
In the second, Emory & Henry got seven runs to make the score 8-0. The Wasps only managed two hits in the frame, but took advantage of two errors, two walks and a hit batsman as they sent 12 batters to the plate. Bays clubbed a grand slam to centerfield midway through the inning and Fluharty made it back-to-back homers, tagging one over the fence in centerfield.
E&H added another run in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, a wild pitch moved the runners up 60 feet and sophomore shortstop Alyssa Clark (Hiltons, Va.) came across the plate. It seemed as if the Wasps were in for another big inning, but they left the bases loaded to go along with their 9-0 advantage.
The Knights found themselves in the same situation as in game one and the result was not much different. Runners got into scoring position in both frames, but SVU was unable to string together enough offense to send them home.
Bays was two-for-two in the nightcap with four RBI and two runs scored. Fluharty and Doss each had a RBI-base hit and a run scored while eight walks were issued by the Southern Virginia pitching staff. Sophomore Taylor Banner (Castlewood, Va.) picked up her second win of the season, striking out six with just two hits and one walk in four innings. Junior Roxanne Hillman (Clintwood, Va.) struck out one in her inning of relief.
Emory & Henry will hit the road for a non-conference doubleheader against North Carolina Wesleyan College on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
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