BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team won two of three games on Sunday, October 7 to complete its fall season. The Wasps started the day with a doubleheader split against home-standing King (Tenn.) University. E&H got the win in game one, 5-2, before dropping the second game of the twin bill, 6-3, to the Tornado. The Wasps picked up their second win of the day over Montreat College by an 8-4 in the nightcap.
In the opening game, seniors Erin Anderson (Aylett, Va.) and Amanda Whitlow (Riner, Va.) led the charge offensively. After back-to-back base hits to start the game, the duo displayed their speed with a perfect double steal to get the scoring started for the Wasps. Whitlow ended the game with four hits, a run scored, and an RBI. Anderson had two doubles with two runs scored. Junior second baseman Lyndsay Boyd (Abingdon, Va.) also tacked on a base hit and two RBI including a well-executed squeeze play to plate Anderson in the third inning. Junior pitcher Tiffany Cole (Wise, Va.) took care of business in the circle picking up the complete-game victory. Cole allowed just one earned run, five strikeouts and no walks.
In game two with the scored knotted 3-3 after seven innings, King scored three in the top of the eighth inning to pick up the win highlighted by a Sydney Bailey two-run homerun. Offensive standouts for the Wasps were freshman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) and junior Caitlyn Yates (Coeburn, Va.). Mince went three-for-four at the plate with two doubles and a run scored. Yates added two hits and scored a run. Sophomore Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) took the tough luck loss in the circle. Braun pitched all eight innings surrendering four earned runs while striking out an impressive 13 batters.
In the final game of the day, Emory & Henry scored seven runs in the third inning and cruised to an 8-4 victory. Seniors Holly Britt (Floyd, Va.) and Anderson each had RBI base hits while sophomore Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) contributed two hits and a run scored. Yates added a double and a run scored. Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) and Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) took care of the pitching duties. Derr took a no-hitter into the fifth inning on her way to earning the win. The sophomore ended the game with three earned runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Thomas was perfect in her college debut retiring all five batters she faced including a strikeout to seal the win for the Wasps.
Other highlights from the fall season included the annual fall retreat, the Emory & Henry World Series, and participating in All Sports Day for Girls. The team traveled to Camp Bays Mountain in Kingsport, Tennessee in early September for a weekend of intrasquad scrimmage games, goal setting, and team bonding. Team Henry won the sixth annual "Emory & Henry World Series" three games to one highlighted by two complete game shutouts from Braun. Emory & Henry's women department of athletics hosted its 22nd All Sports Day for Girls. Campers had the opportunity to participate in various sports throughout the afternoon, including a softball session. The clinic is a local favorite for both girls in the community and Emory & Henry's female student-athletes.
Coach Tommy Forrester had this to say about the fall season, "The team performed at a high level all fall and proved just how good we can be this season. I feel very blessed to be around such great student-athletes every single day. The women on our team have the attitude, work ethic, and maturity to go really far this season and in their lives. They make me proud to be a Wasp!"
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-Head Coach Tommy Forrester contributed to this article.