DUE WEST, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (1-2) suffered a pair of setbacks on Saturday as it concluded play in the Bearcat/Fleet Tournament. The Wasps lost an 8-0 contest in five innings to Emmanuel (Ga.) University and concluded the event with a 9-5 defeat against co-host Erskine College.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emmanuel (Ga.) 8, Emory & Henry 0 (five innings)
GAME TWO – Erskine 9, Emory & Henry 5
LOCATION – Due West, South Carolina
VENUE – Erskine Softball Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-3, 0-0 SAC); Emmanuel (Ga.) (5-8, 0-0 Carolinas); Erskine (2-9, 0-0 Carolinas)
Game One – Emmanuel (Ga.) 8, Emory & Henry 0 (five innings)
Emmanuel stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a trio of RBI base hits and a sacrifice fly by Kinsley Goolsby.
In the third, EU pressed its margin to 5-0 as Gabby Buffington tagged a solo home run. The Lions capped the scoring with a trio of scores in the fourth. Buffington tallied her third RBI of the day to highlight the frame.
Maddie Edwards earned the abbreviated shutout, allowing just two hits in five innings while striking out five. E&H sophomore right-hander Ashlee Foster (King William, Va.) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits and two strikeouts in two-plus innings pitched.
Game Two – Erskine 9, Emory & Henry 5
The Wasps took a 2-0 lead after the top of the first as senior catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) drilled a two-run home run. In the bottom of the second, Erskine responded. Brooke Patterson posted a RBI single to centerfield and Kaley Ingle added a two-run homer for a 3-2 advantage.
Emory & Henry immediately regained the advantage, tying the contest when junior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) scored on an error by the catcher and going ahead, 4-3, as senior left fielder Katelyn Siekerka (El Cajon, Calif.) poked a single through the left side.
In the fifth, E&H pressed the lead to 5-3 when junior centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) scored after King hit a sacrifice fly to the left fielder in foul territory.
The Fleet tied things up with a pair of solo home runs by Gabby Burroughs and Patterson in the bottom of the fifth. The sixth saw Erskine take the lead for good with Burroughs adding a RBI base knock and Peyton Rabon driving in three with a double to right field for the 9-5 final score.
Ingle picked up the victory, permitting four earned runs on five hits with six walks and five strikeouts. She helped her cause with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Wasp junior MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) suffered the setback, allowing eight runs on 13 hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will play four games next weekend in a "split doubleheader" format at King (Tenn.) University. The Wasps will face off against the Tornado and the Rams of Shepherd University.
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