NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (11-10, 6-4 SAC) picked up another split in South Atlantic Conference action Tuesday afternoon, facing off against Newberry College (17-12, 5-5 SAC). The Wolves rallied to take a 6-3 win in game one while the Wasps claimed the nightcap by a 9-3 margin.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Newberry 6, Emory & Henry 3
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 9, Newberry 3
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (11-10, 6-4 SAC); Newberry (17-12, 5-5 SAC)
Game One – Newberry 6, Emory & Henry 3
Emory & Henry got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. With two outs and runners on second and third, junior designated player Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) hit a rocket at the first baseman which caromed off her glove and allowed freshman third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.) to reach home.
The Wasps scored twice in the fourth to press the lead to 3-0. Rachon got on the other end of the situation, plating freshman second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) with a base knock. Two batters later, sophomore centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) hit an infield single to drive in sophomore first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.).
Newberrry's bats came alive in the fifth for six runs. Hailey Hill got things started with a bases-loaded groundout that plated Vanessa Wilson. Leah Evans then drove in a run with a single through the left side and another came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Molly Mattas provided the highlight of the contest with a three-run home run to right-center for the 6-0 final margin.
Alexandrea Sullivan earned the win in relief, throwing the final 3.2 innings as she allowed no runs on two hits and one strikeout. E&H junior Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) suffered the loss, permitting six runs on five hits and four walks and four strikeouts.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 9, Newberry 3
Newberry took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Mattas drove in Melanie Carr with a double. E&H went ahead, 2-1, in the top of the second thanks to a double by Abigail Street and a sacrifice fly by Taylor. The Wolves knotted the contest at two runs apiece in the bottom the frame on a base knock through the left side by Hill.
In the third, the Wasps plated a trio of runs for a 5-2 advantage. Adkins slapped a double down the left field line to get things started, driving in freshman left fielder Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.). A RBI groundout by freshman shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) and an infield single by Abigail Street provided the other two scoring opportunities in the frame.
Emory & Henry added three more runs in the fourth to press the margin to 8-2. Silvis and Hill each had RBI base hits in the frame as the Wasps added another run on an error by the Wolves. Avery Adkins gave E&H another insurance run in the top of the fifth, singling to right field and driving in Rachon for a 9-2 score. Newberry capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth on a single down the left field line by Vanessa Wilson, but would get no closer than 9-3.
Adkins bounced back to earn the win in game two, scattering two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Olivia Chestnut was settled with the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns home on Saturday to host the University of Virginia's College at Wise in a SAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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