SEGUIN, Texas – The No. 15 Emory & Henry College Softball Team (29-8) scored eight runs in the second inning on its way to a 12-0 victory against Cedar Crest College (21-5) Sunday afternoon in the Seguin Regional of the 2021 NCAA Division III Tournament. With the win, the Wasps advance for a rematch against the T-No. 2 Bulldogs of Texas Lutheran University in the Regional Championship.
The Basics
GAME NINE – #2 (No. 15) Emory & Henry 12, #6 Cedar Crest 0
LOCATION – Seguin, Texas
VENUE – Kruse Stadium - Morck Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (29-8 13-3 ODAC); Cedar Crest (21-4, 16-2 CSAC)
Game Nine – #2 (No. 15) Emory & Henry 12, #6 Cedar Crest 0
The Wasps got a pair of runners aboard in the top of the first. Rain caused the game to be suspended for 38 minutes in the bottom of the inning. Upon resumption, Cedar Crest loaded the bases with two outs, but the E&H defense held strong to get out of the inning with the score knotted, 0-0.
Emory & Henry sent 12 batters to the plate in the second to score eight runs. The Wasps loaded the bases with no outs, bringing up junior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.), who stroked a double into left center to clear the bases. Junior centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) plated Mince on the next at bat with a single through the right side.
Later in the inning, a single by senior pitcher Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.) and a throwing error on the play allowed Thomas to score. A double by sophomore catcher Dacey Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and an infield single by senior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) made it 8-0.
In the third, E&H pushed its lead to 11-0 on a three-run shot by senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) and made the score 12-0 when Jenkins drove in Braun with a sacrifice fly. The Wasps were able to go to their bench and ensure that all 20 players on the roster played in this year's regional.
Freshman right-hander Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) entered in the second inning to combine with Braun for the no-hit shutout. Adkins struck out two in the final four innings of the contest, walking none. Varner led the way offensively with a three-run home run and two runs scored while Thomas and Braun each had a pair of hits.
Cedar Crest's Skyler Bilous suffered the loss, allowing three runs on five walks in one-plus innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will face T-No. 2 Texas Lutheran in the Regional Championship at 4:20 p.m. CDT (5:20 p.m. Eastern). The Wasps must defeat the Bulldogs twice in order to reach the National Championship in Salem next weekend.
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