EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (18-8) returned home to start a six-game homestand on Sunday, splitting with Fairmont State University (6-6). The Wasps won the opener by an 8-5 score but the Falcons bounced back to take the nightcap, 12-7.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 8, Fairmont State 5
GAME TWO – Fairmont State 12, Emory & Henry 7
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (18-8, 1-3 SAC); Fairmont State (6-6, 0-0 MEC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 8, Fairmont State 5
FSU got on the board in the top of the first as Liz Waszkiewicz drove in Emma Paul with a base knock to centerfield. The Wasps responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame as freshman catcher Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) had a single through the left side and senior right fielder Grace Harper (Williamsburg, Va.) drew a bases-loaded walk.
Emory & Henry made it a 3-1 contest in the second on a sacrifice fly by Booth and pushed the margin to 5-1 after three as freshman shortstop Sawyer Tolley (Bedford, Va.) plated a pair with a double to left-center. E&H continued to push the margin in the fourth, when sophomore Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) singled up the middle to drive in one for a 6-1 lead.
Fairmont State got a pair back in its half of the fifth on a double to left-center by Abbie Keilholz and a single to left by Bre Marietta. E&H reclaimed the five-run lead (8-3) in the sixth on a two-run home run by senior designated player Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.). In the top of the seventh, the Falcons scored two on a single by Marietta for the final 8-5 score.
E&H junior lefty Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) earned the complete-game win, allowing five runs on 10 hit with six strikeouts. Caitlin Morey took the loss for FSU, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in two-plus innings of work
Game Two – Fairmont State 12, Emory & Henry 7
Emory & Henry scored in the bottom of the first as senior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, N.C.) drove in senior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) with a groundout. Fairmont State answered with four runs in the second as Alyssa McCormick hit a two-run home run and Grace Sobeck added a solo shot to highlight the frame.
In the third, the Falcons put three more on the board for a 7-1 lead with Alexa Andrews and Keilholz providing RBI hits. E&H got a pair back in the bottom of the frame as sophomore third baseman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) drove in a run with a single and freshman catcher Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) drew a bases-loaded walk.
FSU extended its lead to 10-3 with three runs in the fourth as McCormick and Andrews provided hits. The Wasps scored single runs in the fourth and fifth as King tagged a solo home run to left and Booth doubled down the left field line.
A two-run home run by Andrews in the sixth pushed the lead back to seven at 12-5 before King notched her second round-tripper of the game in the sixth and senior centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) drove in junior Emma Anderson (King William, Va.) in the seventh with a ground ball for the final 12-7 score.
Delaney Haller went 5.2 innings on the way to the win, allowing six runs on 11 hits with four walks. Wasp senior MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) suffered the loss with four runs on three hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will play border rival King (Tenn.) University on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.
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