ATHENS, W.Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (22-11) picked up a doubleheader split against Concord University (7-21) Wednesday. The Mountain Lions won game one in a pitcher's duel, 3-1, while the Wasps came back with a five-run seventh inning to take the nightcap, 8-5.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Concord 3, Emory & Henry 1
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 8, Concord 5
LOCATION – Athens, West Virginia
VENUE – CU Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (22-11); Concord (7-21, 0-8 MEC)
Game One – Concord 3, Emory & Henry 1
The Mountain Lions got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Sarah Thompson drove in a run with a groundout and Courtney Raines had a run-scoring single to right field.
The Wasps closed the gap to 2-1 in the top of the second on a home run to right-center by freshman first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.). In the third, Concord got the run back to make it a 3-1 contest as Laura Thompson hit a solo shot to right field.
Both offenses put runners aboard in the latter stages of the game but neither was able to break through as the 3-1 score held for the final.
CU's Caitlyn Bauer picked up the win, scattering one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. E&H sophomore Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) took the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits despite striking out six.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 8, Concord 5
Emory & Henry jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Taylor hit her second home run of the day. Concord responded in the bottom of the frame to make it a 2-1 game on a squeeze play by Jolie Privett.
The Wasps pushed their lead back to two runs (3-1) in the third as senior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) singled to left field, plating senior left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.). CU answered in the bottom half of the third with three runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Kylee Stacy drove in two with a single through the left side to highlight the inning. In the sixth, Concord extended its lead to 5-3 on a sacrifice fly by Thompson.
Down to their last three outs, E&H rallied in the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, Taylor drew a walk to close the gap to 5-4. On the next at bat, Mince drilled a grand slam over the left field fence to give the Wasps an 8-5 lead. The Mountain Lions were only able to get one runner aboard in the bottom of the seventh as Emory & Henry came away with the win.
Freshman MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) picked up the win, as she allowed five runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. CU's Rachael Koller suffered the loss with eight runs on six hits and six walks despite striking out 10.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns home on Saturday to take on Bluefield State College at 1:00 p.m. The doubleheader will also serve as the Wasps' annual Celebrate Differences Day in support of the Autism Achievement Center in Roanoke.
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