EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (4-2) got the home portion of its season started with a pair of wins over Salem (N.C.) College Saturday afternoon. The Wasps took the opening contest by a 3-2 score before earning a 9-1 "run-rule" victory in the nightcap.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 3, Salem (N.C.) 2
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 9, Salem (N.C.) 1 (five innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-2, 0-0 ODAC); Salem (N.C.) (0-4, 0-0 USA South)
Game One – Emory & Henry 3, Salem (N.C.) 2
E&H got on the board in the bottom of the third as junior designated player Alex Braun (Cornelius, N.C.) plated junior first baseman/left fielder Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) with a double to right-centerfield.
Salem responded with single runs in the fourth and fifth, getting their first score on a throwing error and making it 2-1 when Miranda Barker singled through the right side to plate Madison Burch.
The Wasps answered immediately as senior first baseman/catcher Alex Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) tagged her third home run of the year over the left field fence for a 3-2 lead.
Junior right-hander Cameron Derr (Cornelius, N.C.) earned the complete-game win, allowing two unearned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts. Miranda Barker of Salem suffered the loss, permitting three runs on eight hits and five walks.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 9, Salem (N.C.) 1 (five innings)
The Spirits went ahead in the top of the first as Amanda Dacunto singled into the left field gap to drive in Barker. Emory & Henry tied the contest, 1-1, when junior third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) drilled a single up the middle in the bottom of the first.
E&H scored twice in the third on a two-run shot to left-center by Varner, making the score 3-1. Five runs in the fourth for the Wasps made it an 8-1 game, highlighted by a three-run blast to centerfield by senior shortstop Leanna Toler (Abingdon, Va.).
Emory & Henry ended the game, 9-1, in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore left fielder Nicole Cox (Franklinville, N.C.) singled up the middle to drive in sophomore centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.) from second base.
Braun switched roles for game two, earning the win as she allowed just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Madison Thomas took the loss for the Spirits, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will remain at home on Sunday when it hosts No. 8 Christopher Newport University in a doubleheader. First pitch between the Wasps and Captains is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
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