EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (24-13) returned to action on Wednesday with a pair of exhibition games against Southwest Virginia Community College (2-12). The Wasps earned the win in game one by an 8-0 score in six innings and notched a 3-2 come-from-behind win in the nightcap.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 8, Southwest Virginia CC 0 (six innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 3, Southwest Virginia CC 2
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (24-13); Southwest Virginia CC (2-12, 2-10 NJCAA Region X)
Game One – Emory & Henry 8, Southwest Virginia CC 0(six innings)
E&H jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Senior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) put the Wasps on the board with a two-run home run while sophomore catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) and fifth-year third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) had RBI base hits.
The Wasps pushed the margin to 5-0 in the second on a base knock by junior designated player Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) and made it 6-0 in the third when freshman right fielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) drove in a run on a groundout.
Emory & Henry ended the game in the sixth on back-to-back base hits by junior catcher Julia Street (Glade Spring, Va.) and Steadman for the 8-0 margin.
Sophomore right-hander Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) earned the win, scattering seven hits and five strikeouts over five shutout innings. Nancy Roberts suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on 12 hits and two walks over 5.2 innings.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 3, Southwest Virginia CC 2
The Eagles opened up a 2-0 lead in the first as Olivia Absher scored on a wild pitch and Roberts scored when Hailey Kirkpatrick reached on a fielder's choice.
In the bottom of the frame, Emory & Henry got on the board as senior left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Williams tied the game for the Wasps in the second when she hit a ball down the left field line and came around to score for an inside-the-park home run.
E&H went ahead in the bottom of the fourth. After Williams drew a walk, she attempted to steal second base and got in a rundown. Street took advantage of the situation and scored from third prior to Williams being tagged out for what would end up being the final 3-2 score.
Freshman Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) earned the win as she permitted two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Freshman MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) got a three-inning save, scattering two hits and two strikeouts. Roberts was again settled with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks in four innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will visit Chowan University on Friday at noon.
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