EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (13-12, 4-6 SAC) grabbed a pair of South Atlantic Conference victories over visiting Newberry College (16-14, 4-4 SAC) Wednesday at home. The Wasps took game one by a 6-1 margin and held on for an 11-9 victory in game two to complete the sweep.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 6, Newberry 1
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 11, Newberry 9
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (13-12, 4-6 SAC); Newberry (16-14, 4-4 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 6, Newberry 1
E&H got on the board in the bottom of the first as junior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) swatted a two-run home run to left-center. The Wasps pushed their lead to 4-0 in the second as junior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) plated a pair with a double to left.
In the top of the sixth, Newberry spoiled the shutout as YaYa Williams posted a pinch-hit single to center, driving in Cassidy Phelps.
Emory & Henry answered with two more in the bottom half of the frame when sophomore shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) drilled a two-run homer over the centerfield wall for the final 6-1 score.
Sophomore Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) earned the win in relief as she scattered one run on six hits with six strikeouts in the final 6.2 innings of the contest. Eva Crader suffered the loss for the Wolves, allowing three runs on two hits in one-plus innings of work.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 11, Newberry 9
Newberry wasted no time getting things started as they scored three in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run double down the right-field line by Kristin Griffin. Emory & Henry tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) had a RBI single to center field and stole home to account for two of the inning's runs.
Phelps put Newberry back ahead, 4-3, in the third with a double to right-center. A two-run home run by senior designated player Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) and a solo shot by Street on the next at bat propelled E&H to a 6-4 advantage after three.
The Wolves got two runs in the fourth to tie the game at six-all but Silvis came up again for the Wasps, driving in King with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame. Newberry knotted the game, 7-7, midway through the fifth when Bethany Pigg hit a solo home run to center.
In E&H's half of the fifth, four runs came across for an 11-7 lead. Taylor chopped a two-run single up the middle while Street had a sacrifice fly to right to pace the Wasps.
Newberry threatened in the seventh as Phelps scored on a wild pitch and Emily Perry drove in Griffin with a base knock to center, but the Emory & Henry defense held strong, ending the game on a double play for the 11-9 final.
Wasp junior right-hander Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) earned the victory in relief, pitching the final 3.1 innings. She allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Jayla Jackson took the loss for Newberry, permitting five runs on one hit and five walks in 2.1 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will visit the University of Virginia's College at Wise on Thursday for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.
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