ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (0-2) got the 2023 season underway on Friday with a pair of games at the Old Coast Classic, hosted by Flagler College. The Wasps fell to the host Saints (1-2), 7-2, to open the day and dropped a 6-0 decision to Saint Leo University (7-1) in their second contest.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Flagler 7, Emory & Henry 2
GAME TWO – Saint Leo 6, Emory & Henry 0
LOCATION – St. Augustine, Florida
VENUE – Flagler Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (0-2, 0-0 SAC); Flagler (1-2, 0-0 PBC); Saint Leo (6-1, 0-0 SSC)
Game One – Flagler 7, Emory & Henry 2
E&H got on the board in the top of the first on a RBI single by senior right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.). The Saints plated a pair in the bottom of the frame when Cassidy Crump reached on an error and an Olivia Parker single down the right field line drove in another for a 2-1 lead. The Wasps tied the contest at two runs apiece in the top of the second when sophomore centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) scored on a wild pitch.
Three and a half scoreless innings saw the contest remain knotted, 2-2, going into the bottom of the sixth. Flagler then uncorked five runs to take control highlighted by back-to-back base hits by Ari Bosch and Parker. E&H went down in order in the top of the seventh as FC took the game, 7-2.
Rachel Hester earned the win in relief, pitching the final five innings while scattering no runs on five hits and three strikeouts. Junior Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) suffered the loss, permitting five earned runs on eight hits despite striking out nine and walking just one.
Game Two – Saint Leo 6, Emory & Henry 0
After a scoreless inning and a half, the Lions got on the board as Alyssa Perez stole home as part of a double steal. Bianca Polistina made it a 2-0 contest with a sacrifice fly to left later in the frame.
Saint Leo made it a 4-0 contest in the third when Polistina tallied a bases-loaded two-run single to right field. In the fifth, the Lions capped the scoring on a base knock to left by Haleigh Thomas for the 6-0 final margin.
Thomas earned the victory in the circle, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings with just three hits, and two walks while striking out 10. E&H sophomore Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry was originally scheduled to face University of West Alabama and Saint Leo on Saturday, but weather conditions are unfavorable. No official decision had been made regarding tomorrow's games at this time.
The Wasps' next chance to play will be on Sunday morning when it will face off against West Alabama in a doubleheader beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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