EMORY, Va. – The Emory & College Softball Team (8-0) made a perfect 4-0 weekend with a pair of non-conference wins over Meredith College (0-4) Sunday afternoon at home. The Wasps took game one by an 11-9 score and earned a 10-1 "run-rule" victory to close the day. All 19 players who suited up for E&H saw action during the doubleheader.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 11, Meredith 9
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 10, Meredith 1 (five innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-0, 0-0 ODAC); Meredith (0-4, 0-0 USA South)
Game One – Emory & Henry 11, Meredith 9
MC got the game started with a run in the top of the first. E&H answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame including a leadoff home run by junior centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.). Senior designated player Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.) and freshman catcher Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) hit back-to-back RBI doubles later in the frame.
With two outs and a runner on third in the top of the second, Sarah Manis hit a triple to centerfield, plating Savannah Talley to make the score 4-2. The Wasps pushed the lead to 6-2 at the end of two as senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) and Braun drilled back-to-back doubles.
The Avenging Angels got one back in the third but sophomore right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) responded with her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left field, making the score 7-3. A trio of unearned runs for Meredith in the fourth closed the gap to 7-6 but Emory & Henry notched four in the bottom of the fifth to push the margin to 11-6. Scaggs highlighted the frame with her two-run double to centerfield.
MC got the bases loaded with one out in the top of the seventh. A pinch-hit walk by Laura Tobin made the score 11-7. On the next at bat Manis hit a single to left field to drive in another run. A run-down situation found two of the Angels' runners on third base and the Wasps' defense worked their way through the play to grab the final out of the game and the 11-9 win.
Senior pitcher Cameron Derr (Denver, N.C.) earned the win, scattering nine runs on nine hits and six walks while striking out seven. Sarah Gundlach took the loss, allowing four runs as she was chased from the circle before recording an out.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 10, Meredith 1(five innings)
Emory & Henry jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first as Varner drove in Braun with a triple to right field and senior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) plated a pair with a bases-loaded double down the left field line.
A three-run homer by Varner in the second pushed the lead to 6-0 and the Wasps made it 10-0 after three. Hiatt highlighted the scoring in the third with a two-run shot to right-center, her first collegiate round-tripper.
In the top of the fourth, Meredith got a run back as Rachel Johnson doubled to left-center, driving in Madi Hamilton for the 10-1 final score.
Braun grabbed the win, allowing just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts, carrying a perfect game into the fourth inning. Danielle Hunt allowed eight runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two in two-plus innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will host No. 3 Christopher Newport University and No. 12 Transylvania University next Saturday and Sunday in a pair of split-doubleheaders. Saturday's action begins at 10:00 a.m., with E&H taking on Transy. The Wasps will face CNU at 12:30 p.m., while the Captains and the Pioneers will close out Saturday's action at 3:00 p.m.
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