MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (25-14) got the final stretch of its season started on Friday with a pair of games at Chowan University (9-30). The Wasps won game one by a 10-3 score with the Hawks taking the nightcap, 8-3.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 10, Chowan 3
GAME TWO – Chowan 8, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION – Murfreesboro, North Carolina
VENUE – CU Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (25-14); Chowan (9-30, 3-13 Carolinas)
Game One – Emory & Henry 10, Chowan 3
E&H surged out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a three-run home run by senior left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.). The Wasps made it a 5-0 lead after four thanks to RBI base hits by senior second baseman Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) and Thomas.
In the fifth, Chowan closed the gap to 5-3 as Jesse Gentry tagged a three-run shot over the left field fence.
Emory & Henry responded with a three-run sixth, highlighted by junior right fielder Emily Scaggs' (Riner, Va.) two-RBI double and an infield single by sophomore catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.).
The Wasps capped the scoring in the seventh as fifth-year first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) and Mince each drilled solo home runs for the final 10-3 score.
Sophomore Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) earned the complete-game victory, scattering three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Ina Womack took the loss for the Hawks, allowing five runs on eight hits with three walks despite striking out seven in four innings of work.
Game Two – Chowan 8, Emory & Henry 3
The Wasps opened up a 2-0 lead as freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) and Varner each had run-scoring base hits to left.
In the bottom of the first, Chowan responded to tie things up on singles by Kaitlin Brunelli and Haleigh Reid. The Hawks went ahead, 5-2, after two, highlighted by Meredith Morgan's two-run double.
A pair of runs in the third and an additional score in the fourth made it an 8-2 CU advantage. Emory & Henry got one run back in the top of the sixth when freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) drove in junior Julia Street (Glade Spring, Va.) with a ground ball. The Wasps would not get any closer as the Hawks came away with the 8-3 win.
Megan Vincent won the game for Chowan, as she permitted three runs on 11 hits with eight strikeouts. E&H freshman MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks in 1.2 innings pitched.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will continue its eight-game road trip to close the year at Lees-McRae College on Monday at 1:00 p.m.
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