SALISBURY, N.C. – The Catawba College Softball Team (19-13, 7-7 SAC) earned a doubleheader sweep over visiting Emory & Henry College (16-15, 11-7 SAC) Sunday afternoon. The Lady Catawba Indians took the victories by scores of 11-3 and 5-1.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Catawba 11, Emory & Henry 3 (six innings)
GAME TWO – Catawba 5, Emory & Henry 1
LOCATION – Salisbury, North Carolina
VENUE – Whitley Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (16-15, 11-7 SAC); Catawba (19-13, 7-7 SAC)
Game One – Catawba 11, Emory & Henry 3 (six innings)
Catawba got on the board with a solo home run by Kary Hales in the bottom of the second. The Lady Indians added a pair in the third on a Riley Tucker double to right-center to make it a 3-0 game.
After Catawba pushed the margin to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Emory & Henry responded in the top of the fifth. Freshman shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) tagged a three-run home run to left-center, closing the gap to 4-3.
In the bottom half of the fifth frame, the Lady Indians pushed five across highlighted by a two-run triple by Molly Strider, extending their advantage to 9-3. Catawba reached the necessary eight-run advantage to end the game early in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by Brianna Gallagher for the final 11-3 score.
Alexandra Baquie earned the win for Catawba, scattering three runs on five hits with six strikeouts over six innings. E&H junior Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts in five innings.
Game Two – Catawba 5, Emory & Henry 1
In the bottom of the second, Catawba scored four times to take the lead. Courtnee Carter and Christina Brendle each had RBIs while another pair of runs scored on a throwing error.
The sixth frame saw both squads tally single runs, making the final score 5-1. E&H freshman third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.) posted a solo home run down the right field line but that was answered in the bottom of the inning as Tucker plated Savanna Balderston with a base knock to right field.
Tucker earned the win, allowing just one run on eight hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Baquie returned to the circle to pick up the save, fanning one in the final 1.2 of the contest. Adkins took her second loss of the day, with four earned runs on nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
Up Next
Emory & Henry's games at Belmont Abbey, originally scheduled for Tuesday, have been cancelled due to injury concerns for the Crusaders. The Wasps will remain on the road on Friday when they visit Lees-McRae College for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.
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