SEGUIN, Texas – Cameron Derr (Denver, N.C.) tossed a complete game, one-hitter to lead #2 Emory & Henry College to a 4-0 shutout victory over #5 Bridgewater State University in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament Seguin Regional hosted by Texas Lutheran University at Ed Kruse Stadium in Seguin, Texas.
Derr (13-3), who did not give up a hit through the first four innings, worked around seven walks and a hit by pitch as she struck out 12.
Hailey Mince (Trinity, N.C.) went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI to pace the Wasps' six-hit attack.
Bridgewater State was the first to threaten as the Bears loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning on walks to Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.), Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) and Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.). Derr, who struck out the side in the frame, ended the threat with the strikeout.
The Wasps pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third inning as they strung together three hits and two walks in the frame. Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.), who led off the inning with a base hit, scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.) added an RBI infield single, while Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly.
The Wasps capitalized on a dropped fly ball to open the home half of the fourth. Following an out, Mince ripped a single up the middle to bring home Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) from second and make it a 4-0 game.
Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) flaired a single into right field with two outs in the top of the fifth to break up the no-hit bid for the Bears.
Bridgewater left nine runners on base for the game including runners in scoring position in the first, fifth and sixth innings.
Reichert (14-8) went the distance in the circle for the Bears in the setback as she allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over six innings with a pair of walks.
Ruprecht went 1-for-4 and Sharon walked twice in four plate appearances to highlight the BSU offense.
The Wasps (27-7) will take on #4 Emmanuel College in game six of the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 PM (CDT). Emmanuel edged #3 Christopher Newport University in the opening round, 3-2.
The Bears (17-10-1), who are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2014, will take on #6 Cedar Crest College in an elimination game today at approximately 6:45 PM (CDT). Cedar Crest dropped a 21-3 decision in five innings to top seed Texas Lutheran.