EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (31-17, 12-10 SAC) slugged its way to a pair of run-rule wins over No. 24 nationally-ranked Tusculum University (34-12, 12-10 SAC) on Senior Day Saturday afternoon. The Wasps launched 10 home runs over the two games for wins by 12-1 and 15-4 final scores. E&H honored the senior class of Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.), MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.), Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.), Danielle King (Spencer, Va.), Katelyn Siekerka (El Cajon, Calif.), Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.), Emma Anderson (King William, Va.), Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) and Grace Harper (Williamsburg, Va.) before game one.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 12, Tusculum 1 (Five Innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 15, Tusculum 4 (Six Innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (29-17, 10-10 SAC); Carson-Newman (26-16, 13-9 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 12, Tusculum 1 (Five Innings)
The Wasps got the scoring underway in the bottom of the first as Williams led off with a double, then came around to score on a two-run home run off the bat of Taylor to put E&H on top 2-0 early. The home team added to its lead in the bottom of the third when King left the yard on a solo shot to push the advantage out to 3-0.
Tusculum got a run back in the top of the fourth, but Emory & Henry had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning. Siekerka laced a one-out single down the line in right and sophomore second baseman Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.) drilled a two-run shot over the wall in left-center field to make it 5-1. The Wasps were not done as Williams and King delivered back-to-back singles to set the table for sophomore third baseman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.), who singled through the middle of the diamond and run the score out to 6-1 through four innings.
The Wasps put the finishing touches on the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth. Junior shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) led off the frame with a solo shot to left to get the ball rolling. Siekerka singled, Simpson reached on an error and King plated another run on an error to increase the E&H advantage to 8-1. Taylor was intentionally walked to load the bases and Tofano walked things off with a grand slam to give the home team the 12-1 win.
Sophomore pitcher Destiny Good (Staunton, Va.) earned the win in the circle for E&H as she threw all five innings, surrendering just one unearned run on four hits while fanning six Pioneer batters. Megan Ackerman took the loss for TU after allowing six runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings. Tofano paced the offensive attack for E&H with five RBIs while Simpson and Taylor each drove in a pair of runs.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 15, Tusculum 4 (Six Innings)
Emory & Henry jumped on the visiting Pioneers once again to begin game two of the doubleheader. Williams singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI base hit from King to get the Wasps on the board. Taylor followed with a two-run homer to give the home team an early 3-0 lead. Siekerka got in on the home run parade in the bottom of the second as she launched a solo shot of her own to balloon the lead out to 4-0.
E&H struck again in the bottom of the third. Taylor and Tofano laced back-to-back singles and freshman catcher Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) plated a run with an RBI double down the line in left. Hill drilled a three-run homer one batter later and the Wasps saw their advantage increase to 8-0 through three innings.
Tusculum would scratch back with a run in the top of the fourth, but again Emory & Henry had an answer. Taylor reached on another Tusculum error and Booth blasted a two-run shot to push the score out to 10-1. TU would not go down without a fight as they recorded two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to draw back within shouting distance at 10-4. The E&H bats continued to stay hot in the bottom of the sixth as freshman first baseman Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) doubled and touched home on another RBI single from Tofano. Booth singled and Hill was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior designated player Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) sent the senior class out in style as she crushed a walk-off grand slam into the Emory afternoon sky to walk-off the Pioneers and give the Wasps the 15-4 win.
Junior pitcher Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) picked up the win for the Wasps, scattering four runs, three earned, and 12 hits with six strikeouts over six innings in the circle. Dani Beckham was the losing pitcher as she gave up three runs on a pair of hits without recording an out. Yates had a pair of knocks and four RBIs while Booth was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs. Hill had three RBIs while Taylor drove in a pair. Siekerka, King and Tofano all contributed an RBI in the victory.
Up Next
Emory & Henry steps out of South Atlantic Conference play on Thursday, April 17 when the Wasps look to avenge a pair of early-season losses to border rival King (Tenn.) University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Bristol, Tennessee.
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