BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (17-10) made it a 4-0 weekend on Sunday, picking up a pair of lopsided wins over fellow NCAA Division II independent Bluefield State College (2-15). The Wasps won game won by a 17-2 score and claimed the sweep with a 15-0 win in game two. Both contests ended after five innings.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 17, Bluefield State 2 (five innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 15, Bluefield State 0 (five innings)
LOCATION – Bluefield, Virginia
VENUE – Graham Recreation Park
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (17-10); Bluefield State (2-15)
Game One – Emory & Henry 17, Bluefield State 2 (five innings)
The Wasps opened up a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as senior left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) drove in freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) with a sacrifice fly. BSC went ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the frame on Emma Crawford's home run to left-centerfield.
In the second, Emory & Henry seized control with six runs, highlighted by a two-run homer by freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.). Fifth-year senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) had a RBI triple to get things started while Williams and senior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) each had run-scoring doubles in the inning.
The Wasps tacked on four more runs in the third as Thomas drilled a three-run shot to center, making the score 11-2. E&H added six more in the top of the fifth including RBI doubles by Mince, junior Julia Street (Glade Spring, Va.) and freshman right fielder Grace Harper (Williamsburg, Va.) for the final 17-2 score.
Freshman Makayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) earned the complete-game win, scattering two runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Madison Thompson suffered the loss as she permitted 10 earned runs on 14 hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 15, Bluefield State 0 (five innings)
E&H again got out to a 1-0 lead in the first with Taylor driving in Varner with a base hit to center. Four runs in the third made it 5-0 as Mince and Thomas each had RBI doubles.
In the fourth, The Wasps pushed the margin to 10-0 as Varner and fifth-year third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) notched home runs to highlight the inning. E&H capped the scoring in the top of the fifth with another five markers for the 15-0 shutout. Sophomore third baseman Amy Meister (Mooresville, N.C.) had a two-run double in the inning.
Wasp freshman Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) allowed just two hits as she struck out five to earn the shutout win. BSC's Kennedy James took the loss, allowing 13 earned run on 18 hits.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will remain on the road Tuesday when it visits former ODAC rival Ferrum College at 4:00 p.m.
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