EMORY, Va. – The No. 9 Emory & Henry College Softball Team (23-5, 13-3 ODAC) assured itself of a home series in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of University of Lynchburg (25-15, 15-5 ODAC) Sunday afternoon. The Wasps won game one by an 8-5 score and completed the sweep with a 7-2 win in the nightcap.
The contest also served as Senior Day for E&H who honored Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.), Cameron Derr (Denver, N.C.), Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.), Hannah Morrison (Lebanon, Va.), Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) prior to the start of game one.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 9 Emory & Henry 8, Lynchburg 5
GAME TWO – No. 9 Emory & Henry 7, Lynchburg 2
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (23-5, 13-3 ODAC); Lynchburg (25-15, 15-5 ODAC)
Game One – No. 9 Emory & Henry 8, Lynchburg 5
Lynchburg jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run single down the left field line by Kaleigh Hackett. The Wasps responded with three runs in the bottom of the third with three-straight RBI base knocks. Junior left fielder Nicole Cox (Cedar Falls, N.C.) and Braun had back-to-back doubles to highlight the frame.
In the fourth, Hiatt pushed E&H's lead to 5-2 with a two-run shot to left field. The Hornets bounced back with three runs in the fifth to tie the contest, 5-5. Ashley Hailey and Lexi Powell both had RBI base hits in the frame.
Emory & Henry got the go-ahead runs in the sixth as Cox knocked a two-run single to left center and Steadman made it 8-5 on a sacrifice fly, plating Cox.
Derr picked up the complete-game win in the circle, allowing two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts. Lynchburg's Emily Charlton suffered the loss, permitting five runs on seven hits in three-plus innings of work.
Game Two – No. 9 Emory & Henry 7, Lynchburg 2
E&H opened the scoring as Hiatt hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Varner in the second. The Wasps made it 2-0 in the fourth as sophomore catcher Dacey Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) plated Varner with a fielder's choice.
In the fifth, the Hornets scored twice on a double to left-center by Karle Cundiff to tie the contest, 2-2. Braun put the Wasps back ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to center.
Emory & Henry added four insurance runs in the sixth as Morrison drilled a three-run shot to center and junior centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) capped the scoring with a round-tripper down the right-field line, 7-2.
Braun grabbed her 11th complete-game victory, scattering two runs and six hits while striking out five. Kayley Cox took the loss for the Hornets, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will now await the release of the pairings for the 2021 ODAC Tournament which will come on Tuesday evening following the conclusion of the regular season. The Wasps are set to host a quarterfinal series next weekend as one of the top four seeds in the tournament.
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