VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Nationally second-ranked and top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University defeated the University of Lynchburg twice on Sunday afternoon at TownBanke Park in Virginia Beach, winning game one, 4-0, and posting a 9-1 victory in six innings in game two to collect its fifth straight and league-best 13th overall ODAC softball crown.
Virginia Wesleyan (37-5-1) has now won its 13 ODAC softball championships in 19 title game berths. Lynchburg (29-18) is .500 in league championship appearances, winning six times in 12 trips. The Marlins receive the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
GAME ONE | Box
Virginia Wesleyan lefty Hanna Hull worked a full seven frames and fanned the first four batters she faced on the way to a two-hit shutout, 4-0, over Lynchburg. She struck out eight batters for the game, improving her career total to 1,309 to leave her six punchouts shy of fifth place in Division III history. The victory marked the 127th of her career, increasing her previously established Division III career record. She is now 18-3 on the season.
After Hull struck out the side in the top of the first inning, Virginia Wesleyan tacked on two runs in the bottom of the frame. Jessica Goldyn walked and stole second with tournament MOP Madison Glaubke driving her in with a single up the middle. A muffed throw at first base helped extend the inning and moved Glaubke over to third. Karlee Fretz, pinch-hitting for Kayla Womack, singled thru the left side to plate the former ODAC Player of the Year.
Lynchburg had its best shot to score in the third inning. Ashley Hailey singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lexi Powell. Hailey would be left standing on second as Kayla Hugate grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Marlins tacked on a third run in the fourth inning. Danielle Stewart singled to lead off the inning and Fretz walked with one down to move pinch-runner Brooke Anderson to second. An error at third base loaded the bases for Julie Fassl, and the Marlins rightfielder grounded out to short to bring around Anderson.
Virginia Wesleyan's final run came in the sixth inning. Stewart led off with a double to left-center. It appeared she would be left stranded, but Daja Burgee responded with a two-out double to right-center to bring around Stewart.
Angela Sperandeo took the loss for Lynchburg. After a rocky first inning, she settled in nicely to go five innings. She gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and a strikeout. Kayley Cox worked the final inning, giving up a run on three hits.
GAME TWO | Box
Madison Glaubke went 3-for-3 with four runs scored while Danielle Stewart and Julia Sinnett drove in three runs each in Virginia Wesleyan's 9-1 win in six innings over Lynchburg to secure the conference trophy. Emily Seale worked alll six frames and allowed one unearned run on four hits without a walk and two strikeouts. She is now 18-2 on the season.
Glaubke is now the all-time leader in career games played in Division III history as she competed in games 209 and 2010 of her career on Sunday. The former ODAC Player of the Year scored the games final run to force the early completion. While not a record, not quite a NCAA record, Lynchburg shortstop Kayle Hugate participated in her 203rd career game for the Hornets.
VWU got started early for a second straight game, this time notching a trio of runs in the first inning. Jessica Goldyn tripled in front of a diving attempt by Kaleigh Hackett near the left field line. She came around to score on a wild pitch. Glaubke followed with a single to right before Sinnett hammered a double in the left-center gap to plate Glaubke. Sinnett, who moved to third on her double after the ball was bobbled at the wall, scored on Stewart's single to right as the fourth hit for the Marlins' first four batters of the game.
Virginia Wesleyan tacked on two more in the second, both with two outs. Glaubke drew a two-out walk and then came home on a single to right by Sinnett. After the Marlins third baseman/shortstop stole second, Stewart pushed her along the final 60 feet with a single to left.
Lynchburg got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Bri Hodges reached on a throwing error and was awarded second base via an interference call. Kaleigh Hackett sacrificed her to third base. After Ashley Hailey reached on an error by missed tag at first base, Lexi Powell reached on a fielder's choice to short, driving in Hodges. The Hornets were positioned to tack on at least one more run after Kayla Hugate single to again put two runners on base, but Seale got Sophie Tully to pop out to end the threat.
The Marlins put the game on a knife's edge with three more runs in the fourth inning. Arianna Rolle led off with a single back up the middle with Goldyn following with a walk and Glaubke reaching via bunt in no-woman's land between pitcher, catcher, and third base. Sinnett hit a sac fly to left to bring in Rolle. Goldyn and Glaubke pulled off a straight double-steal, with Stewart singling to short to bring in Goldyn. Another double-steal by Glaubke and Stewart put runners on second and third for Katelyn Biando. She flied to center with Glaubke tagging up to make it 8-1 Marlins thru four.
The final run came from a second sac fly by Biando in the sixth inning. Glaubke tripled down the left field line to open the frame. Two batters later, Biando flied to center to plate Glaubke with the Marlins left fielder raising her arms in celebration.
Lynchburg used three pitchers in the contest with starter Emily Charlton taking the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in a 0.2 innings. Angela Sperandeo, who worked five innings in game one, tossed three more in game two. She surrendered five runs on five hits with two walks. Hailey Farlow pitched the final two frames. She gave up one run on two hits with a walk and a punchout.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Allyson Steadman, Emory & Henry
- Anna Thomas, Emory & Henry
- Meri Bostic, Roanoke
- Jada Karnes, Roanoke
- Olivia Herman, Lynchburg
- Kayla Hugate, Lynchburg
- Angela Sperandeo, Lynchburg
- Jessica Goldyn, Virginia Wesleyan
- Hanna Hull, Virginia Wesleyan
- Madison Glaubke, Virginia Wesleyan (MOP)
- Emily Seale, Virginia Wesleyan