YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (16-4) earned a doubleheader split with Young Harris College (8-10) on Sunday, to take the three-game series, 2-1. The Wasps picked up a 10-5 win in the opener while the Mountain Lions salvaged one game from the weekend with a 7-5 comeback win to close the day.
E&H sees its 14-game winning streak, which ties the longest in program history (March 2-28, 2002) come to a close.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 10, Young Harris 5
GAME TWO – Young Harris 7, Emory & Henry 5
LOCATION – Young Harris Georgia
VENUE – YHC Softball Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (16-4, 0-0 SAC); Young Harris (8-10, 0-0 Carolinas)
Game One – Emory & Henry 10, Young Harris 5
E&H opened the scoring in the top of the second on a solo home run by senior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.).
The Wasps tacked on four in the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Senior left fielder Grace Harper (Williamsburg, Va.) drew a bases-loaded walk to get things started with additional runs coming around to score on a passed ball, a RBI groundout by junior third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.) and a fielding error.
YHC closed the gap to 5-2 in the bottom of the frame as Shalya Pennington plated Riley Ratzlaff with a ground out and Abby Castleberry notched an infield single.
In the top of the fifth, E&H pushed its advantage to 6-2 on a solo home run by junior second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.). The Mountain Lions got within two in their half of the fifth with Gracie Hughes and Jess Jaruszewski notching RBI base knocks.
Emory & Henry added four runs in the sixth for a 10-4 lead. Senior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, N.C.) highlighted the frame with a two-run single while senior centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) and Taylor also drove in runs. Young Harris scored one on a solo home run by Grace Young in the bottom of the seventh but would get no closer than 10-5.
Wasp sophomore Destiny Good (Staunton, Va.) earned the complete-game win, allowing five runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Young Harris' Gracie Hughes took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in three-plus innings of work.
Game Two – Young Harris 7, Emory & Henry 5
In the bottom of the second, YHC got on the board on when Gracie Hughes scored on an error. The Wasps responded to take a 4-1 lead in the third with sophomore third baseman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) swatting a two-run home run over the centerfield wall.
The Mountain Lions drew the margin to 4-3 with a pair in the third with Jaruszewski tallying a RBI double and went ahead 7-4 in the sixth as Shelby Duncan and Hughes each hit two-run home runs.
Emory & Henry got one run back in the seventh as Tofano drove in King with a groundout for a 7-5 score. The Wasps got two aboard with two outs but were unable to generate any additional offense to complete the series sweep.
Young earned the win in the circle for YHC, scattering five runs on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts over six-plus innings. Isabelle Pecorilli got the save, earning the final three outs of the contest. E&H junior Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits.
Up Next
Emory & Henry opens South Atlantic Conference play on Tuesday when it visits Lincoln Memorial University. First pitch between the Wasps and Lady Railsplitters is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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