EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (21-10) kept rolling along with a pair of wins against the University of Virginia's College at Wise (14-10) Sunday afternoon in a battle of Southwest Virginia programs. The Wasps posted a come-from-behind 14-11 win in game one and completed the sweep with a 10-2 "run-rule" victory.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 14, UVA Wise 11
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 10, UVA Wise 2 (six innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (21-10); UVA Wise (14-10, 6-6 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 14, UVA Wise 11
Wise opened up a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run double by Mallory McKnight. The Wasps responded in the bottom of the frame as freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) hit a RBI double to left-center for a 3-1 contest.
In the second, the Wasps scored four times to go head 5-3. Junior designated player Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) got things started with a solo home run and three more runs scored when senior left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) reached on a dropped fly ball later in the inning.
The Cavaliers retook the lead in the fourth as McKnight drove in a run with a base hit to right-center and Alexis Miles tagged a three-run home run to make it a 7-5 contest. E&H scored four times in the fourth as well to retake the advantage as sophomore catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) plated a pair with a double to left and fifth-year first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) drove in two more with a base knock to right-center for a 9-7 lead.
Emory & Henry made it a four-run advantage in the fifth with RBI base hits by Thomas and Scaggs but Wise tied the game at 11-all in the top of the sixth on a grand slam by Mady Buchanan.
The Wasps responded yet again, scoring three in the bottom of the sixth for the final 14-11 score. Senior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) drove in two with a double down the left field line and came around to score on the next at bat when Thomas doubled to right-center.
Sophomore right-hander Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) earned the win, striking out eight on the afternoon. Wise's Alivia Nolley took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in the sixth frame.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 10, UVA Wise 2 (six innings)
The Cavaliers got on the board in the first as Kara Long singled through the right side to drive in Jenna McDermott. In the bottom of the frame, E&H scored four times including a pair of sacrifice flies by Thomas and Scaggs and a two-run home run by Varner.
Wise closed the gap to 4-2 in the second on a double by Michaela Barney. The Wasps pushed ahead with three runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run single up the middle by junior catcher Dacey Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.).
Emory & Henry ran the score to 9-2 in the fourth on a two-run homer by Mince and ended the game, 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Thomas drove in freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) with a triple to right-center.
Freshman MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) picked up the win in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk in 4.2 innings while striking out two. Wise's Sydney Collins suffered the loss, with 10 runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will cross the Virginia-West Virginia border on Wednesday when it visits Concord University. First pitch between the Wasps and Mountain Lions is at 2:00 p.m.
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