NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (11-1) extended its win streak to double digits Wednesday afternoon as it picked up another two wins at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Wasps defeated the Pioneers of Greenville College, 6-5, in the first game of the day and earned a 9-1 run-rule win over the Eureka College Red Devils to complete the day.
Emory & Henry 6, Greenville 5
E&H drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning with three runs. Sophomore first baseman Taylor Doss (Damascus, Va.) led off the frame with a single and was driven home on the next at bat by freshman third baseman Ragan Halsey (Hillsville, Va.), who doubled to right centerfield. Senior left fielder Cortney Halsey (Independence, Va.) and freshman catcher Jordan Chrisley (Dublin, Va.) each had a RBI in the inning.
The Wasps added another run in the bottom of the third to go up 4-0. Sophomore right fielder Hannah Bays (Abingdon, Va.) led off the inning with a single through the left side and two batters later scored as Doss singled to right centerfield.
Greenville got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth. After the Pioneers got a trio of runners to start things off and brought their first runs of the game on a single to left centerfield by Shannon Elbe. GC added another run with Shelby Cash's RBI double.
In the top of the fifth, Greenville took a 5-4 lead as Andrea Martin and Amy Sheets drove in runs on back-to-back at bats.
Emory & Henry tied things up in the bottom half of the inning. Chrisley led the Wasps off with a double to right field and senior second baseman Martha Fluharty (Halifax, N.C.) drove her home two batters later with a single to right center.
After a 1-2-3 inning in the field, the Wasps got a run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. Freshman designated player Holly Eckard (Ringgold, Va.) doubled with one out to start things off. With freshman Brittany Scott (Bluff City, Tenn.) pinch running, junior Bethany Anderson (Dublin, Va.) got a pinch-hit single to score Scott from first base for the final margin.
Doss was two-for-three in the game with a run and a RBI while Chrisley, Ragan Halsey and Cortney Halsey each had a run, a hit and a RBI each. Junior Katie Grimm (Staunton, Va.) picked up the win in the circle in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two in two innings of work. Junior Brandy Bryant (Salem, Va.) earned her first save of the year, pitching the seventh.
Sheets was three-for-three in the game for Greenville while Elbe and Mattie Fairchild had two hits apiece. Elbe drove in two runs while Fairchild scored a pair. Hannah Burger went the distance, but suffered the loss, allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts.
Emory & Henry 9, Eureka 1 (six innings)
E&H got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the first. After leading off the inning with a bunt single Chrisley found herself on third base after a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. A wild pitch brought her home. With the bases loaded Ragan Halsey was hit by a pitch to drive in the second run.
The Wasps made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth as Chrisley came around again, scoring when the left fielder dropped a fly ball hit by freshman shortstop Riley Pudney (Beech Mountain, N.C.).
After surrendering an unearned run in the top of the fifth, Emory & Henry went up 6-1 with a three run inning. Ragan Halsey doubled to left center to drive in yet another run and came home on a wild pitch. Junior Roxanne Hillman (Clintwood, Va.) flew out to centerfield, driving in Eckard.
In the bottom of the sixth, Emory & Henry got three runs to make the score 9-1 and end the game. Doss and Bays each had RBI triples to set the table while Eckard ended the game with a single through the left side, driving in Bays.
Doss was three-for-three in the game while Bays and Chrisley added two hits. Ragan Halsey drove in two more runs as well for the Wasps. Sophomore Taylor Banner (Castlewood, Va.) went the distance in the circle to improve to 5-0 on the year, allowing just two hits and one unearned run, striking out two.
Paige Ashley and Kylee Conklin had Eureka's two hits while Savanna Tapper drove in a run. Margaret Schwab took the loss, as she allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Emory & Henry will complete its slate of games in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Thursday with two more contests. The Wasps will take on Bay Path College at 11:30 a.m. and will face Baptist Bible College at 1:30 p.m.
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