AMHERST, Va. --- The No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team held off a late rally from the Husson Eagles to win 3-2 on day two of the 2022 NCAA Softball Championship Tournament.

THE BASICS

• Score: No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan 3 - Husson 2
• Record: No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan 35-11 | Husson 27-10
• Location: Amherst Softball Field | Amherst, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team scored in the opening two innings despite the Eagles getting a pair of runners on in the bottom of the second and the Marlins leaving one on the bags in the top of the second.
• VWU made some noise in the top of the third inning as pinch hitter Krissy D'Arco reached first on a fielding error by the third baseman to get things started. Halee Hawkins ground out to the third baseman on a sacrifice bunt to advance D'Arco to scoring position. Ariana Rolle came to the plate and hit a hard single up the middle putting runners on the corners, and both runners advanced a base on a passed ball with D'Arco scoring the first run of the game.
• Husson tried to even the score in the bottom of the third as they got two runners on the base paths, but the Marlin defense got the third out to leave the two Eagles stranded.
• Junior catcher Caitlin Myers led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to right center field putting VWU up 2-0. After Karlee Fretz reached first on a hit by pitch, Jaya Diggs-Hagwood advanced to second on a sac bunt by Mackenzie Myers. Madison Hudson hit a pop up to the second baseman that advanced Diggs-Hagwood to third and she went home on a throwing error by the second baseman to score run number three. Husson held Virginia Wesleyan the remainder of the inning after Haleigh Settle doubled to left center and Spencer Rupinta walked, leaving two Marlins on the bases.
• The next two at-bats for each team were pretty quiet with neither team scoring, but Husson broke the shutout with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within one of Virginia Wesleyan, 3-2. The inning closed with a big play from Ariana Rolle as she threw down the game tying run at home plate after fielding a hit that made's its way into center field.
• The Marlins went back to the dugout in order in the top of the seventh in their last chance to added any runs to their total. In the bottom half of the inning, Sofia Eskola came in to relieve Emily Seale, who had thrown 107 pitches in the first six innings, to close the game. The Eagles started the inning off with a single and the base runner advanced to second on a wild pitch. After walking a batter to put Eagles at frst and second, the Marlins recorded a pair of outs on an infield fly and a fielders choice force out to end the game and record the win.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Caitlin Myers hit her fifth home run of the season. 
• Sophomore pitcher Emily Seale threw six innings in the circle giving up two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking five. 
• Sofia Eskola came in to close the game in the bottom of seventh inning and held the Eagles scoreless recording her first save of the season.

UP NEXT

The Marlins return to the field tomorrow at 12 PM to play the winner of the Husson/Amherst game. Fans can follow along with the game by VIDEO or LIVE STATS.