HICKORY, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (17-16, 12-8 SAC) earned its third win over a nationally-ranked opponent of the season Wednesday afternoon, splitting its South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne University (30-8, 12-6 SAC). The Bears won game one by a 4-2 margin while the Wasps rallied in the nightcap for a 5-3 victory.
E&H remains in a six-way tie for the second-most wins in the SAC, three victories behind league-leading No. 16 Wingate University.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 4, Emory & Henry 2
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 5, No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 3
LOCATION – Hickory, North Carolina
VENUE – Bears Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (17-16, 12-8 SAC); Lenoir-Rhyne (30-8, 12-6 SAC)
Game One – No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 4, Emory & Henry 2
Lenoir-Rhyne broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third. With one out and a runner on third, Julia Mardigian drove in Kaylan Brown with a ground ball to the right side.
Emory & Henry responded in the top of the fourth when sophomore first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) tagged a two-run shot over the fence in left-centerfield. The Bears put up a two-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame as Cassidy Wall scored on a throwing error and Brown plated Erin Lookabill with an infield hit.
LR capped the scoring as Lora Beth Wood hit a solo home run to right field in the fifth for the final 4-2 score.
Morgan Beeler earned the win for the Bears, striking out 12 as she scattered two runs on five hits. E&H junior Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) allowed three earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts despite the loss.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 5, No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 3
LR got on the board in the bottom of the first as Katelyn Rackard scored when Talon LaClair grounded into a double play.
The Wasps tied the contest in the top of the third when junior catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) drove in sophomore centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) on a fielder's choice. Emory & Henry went ahead, 2-1, later in the frame on a double down the left field line by senior designated player Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.).
In the Bears' half of the frame, Mardigian had a RBI single to right and LaClair pushed Rackard across a second time with a groundout for a 3-2 advantage.
E&H scored three times in the sixth for the final 5-3 score. Freshman second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) drove in freshman shortstop Rachel Hill (Standardsville, Va.) to get things started. Williams added a RBI single through the left side while Taylor capped the scoring with a double to left.
Adkins earned the win in the circle, permitting three runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. LR used three different pitchers in the second contest. Faith Carrigan took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will remain on the road on Saturday when it visits Carson-Newman University for a SAC doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 1:00 p.m.
---E&H---