VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- The No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team shut out Berry College, 4-0, in the first game of the NCAA Division III Super Regional Friday afternoon at Marlin Park. With the loss, the Marlins improve to 49-2 on the year and clip Berry's win streak at 15.
The Marlins came right out of the gates swinging, plating a run in the opening frame. With two outs, Cassetty Howerin earned a base-on-balls. The senior would then make it all the way around the diamond as freshman Katelyn Biando bounced a double off the left field fence.
Virginia Wesleyan would pick back up in the third inning, still up the one run. Beth Ford and Kiersten Richardson led the side off with back-to-back singles and were moved forward a base on a sacrifice bunt from Madison Glaubke. That brought up Howerin, who was recently named to the NFCA Top-10 Players in Division III List. The senior proved why she made that list as she belted a ball clear over the left field fence to give the Marlins the 4-0 lead.
With runs coming in the defense had to play a solid game and they did just that. Hanna Hull dominated the pitcher's mound letting up just a single hit the entire contest. The sophomore struck out nine on the day and eclipsed the 300 strikeout mark for the second-straight season.
Jessica Lindsay also pinched in on the defensive end, using a perfect through to catch a Viking runner stealing in the final frame.
Softball will return to action tomorrow as the squad will square off against Berry College with a ticket to Oklahoma City, Okla. on the line. The tilt will start at 2 p.m. with the "if necessary" game going directly afterwards. Be sure to check at vwuathletics.com and on twitter (@vwu_marlins) for any weather updates that may induce schedule changes.
--- This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan University sports information department. ---
www.vwuathletics.com