EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (13-8, 4-0 ODAC) earned its sixth straight victory and 10th in the last 13 games Tuesday afternoon with a sweep of Southern Virginia University (6-18, 0-0 CAC). The Wasps took game one by a 9-3 score and completed the day with an 11-3 "run-rule" victory in game two.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 9, Southern Virginia 3
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 11, Southern Virginia 3 (six innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (13-8, 4-0 ODAC); Southern Virginia (6-18, 0-0 CAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 9, Southern Virginia 3
Emory & Henry got out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a single through the right side by junior shortstop Leanna Toler (Abingdon, Va.) and pushed the margin to 2-0 in the second. SVU got on the board with a single to left center by Heather Terranova in the third.
The Wasps extended their advantage to 4-1 in the fourth on a RBI single by senior centerfielder Erin Anderson (Aylett, Va.) but two runs in the top of the fifth by the Knights drew the deficit to 4-3. E&H responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame on three hits and an error by Southern Virginia.
Emory & Henry capped the scoring at 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth as senior outfielder Holly Britt (Floyd, Va.) had her second run-scoring base knock in as many innings.
Junior right-hander Tiffany Cole (Wise, Va.) earned the win, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings while sophomore Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) struck out eight of the nine batters she faced in 2.2 innings of relief to earn the save. Megan Harmon suffered the loss with eight run on seven hits and nine walks.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 11, Southern Virginia 3 (six innings)
The Wasps broke open a scoreless game with a two-run homer by sophomore first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) in the bottom of the third. Two runs by SVU in the fourth tied things up but senior right fielder Madison McClanahan (Abingdon, Va.) drilled a two-run shot over the centerfield fence in the fourth to retake the lead, 4-2.
After Southern Virginia's Caitlin Barber hit a solo home run in the fifth to close the gap to 4-3, Emory & Henry's offense got in a groove, scoring three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to make it an 11-3 final score. Toler had a pair of RBI singles during the stretch while junior third baseman Courtney Herron (Roanoke, Va.) added a sacrifice fly and plated another with a single down the right field line.
Sophomore Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) picked up the win in the abbreviated game, allowing just three runs on three hits while striking out nine. Krystal Kemp took the loss for the Knights, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings pitched.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will host No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader. The games will serve as the centerpiece for the Wasps' annual Light It Up Blue Day in support of the Blue Ridge Autism & Achievement Center in Roanoke.
E&H remains at home on Sunday for a twin-billing against No. 24 Randolph-Macon College. The Wasps will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the softball program and invite all members of the Emory & Henry Softball family to join for a great afternoon of fellowship.
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