BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (26-15) split a doubleheader with Lees-McRae College (17-23) on Monday afternoon. The Wasps claimed a 9-4 win in the opener while the Bobcats rolled with a 16-3 victory in five innings in game two.
E&H finishes the season series with LMC, 2-2, as the squads also split their contests in Emory on Wednesday, February 16.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 9, Lees-McRae 4
GAME TWO – Lees-McRae 16, Emory & Henry 3 (five innings)
LOCATION – Banner Elk, North Carolina
VENUE – LMC Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (26-15); Lees-McRae (17-23, 10-10 Carolinas)
Game One – Emory & Henry 9, Lees-McRae 4
Lees-McRae opened up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Lauren Ritchie hit a solo home run to left field. The Wasps responded to tie the game in the top of the fifth on a single up the middle by freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.). The Bobcats went back ahead, 3-1, on a base knock to centerfield by Julie Gast in the bottom of the fifth.
E&H answered again, this time going ahead 4-3 in the sixth thanks to a three-run home run by freshman designated player Reece Chasteen (Lake City, Fla.). In the seventh, Emory & Henry added five runs to take a 9-3 advantage. Freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.), Chasteen and sophomore first baseman Desi Norris (Sims, N.C.) all had RBI base knocks in the frame.
The Bobcats got one run back in the bottom of the seventh for the 9-4 final margin as Rylie Webster singled up the middle.
Sophomore right-hander Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) earned the complete-game victory for the Wasps, scattering four runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts. Jada Wilson suffered the loss for LMC, allowing four runs on 10 hits and three walks.
Game Two – Lees-McRae 16, Emory & Henry 3 (five innings)
The Bobcats started the game with a sacrifice fly by Gast in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead. In the second, they lit up the scoreboard for 12 runs on eight hits including four home runs. Webster had a grand slam to get things going in the frame while Ritchie added a three-run shot and Megan Powell and Jordyn Scott each had solo round-trippers.
Emory & Henry got on the board in the third, scoring three runs as senior pitcher/left fielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) had a RBI single down the left field line, Taylor notched a sacrifice fly and junior right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) doubled to left center.
Lees-McRae added two runs in the third and another in the fourth for the final 16-3 margin.
Powell earned the abbreviated complete-game win, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and nine strikeouts. Thomas took the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to action on Tuesday with a road series at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. First pitch for game one will be at 5:00 p.m.
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