EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (12-8, 0-0 SAC) split with Lock Haven Sunday afternoon in a rain soaked affair. The Wasps will be back in action this Tuesday against Lincoln Memorial.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Lock Haven 11, Emory & Henry 6
GAME TWO – Lock Haven 6, Emory & Henry 11
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (12-8, 0-0 SAC); Lock Haven(5-5, 0-0 PSAC)
Game One – Lock Haven 11, Emory & Henry 6
Both programs were held scoreless in the first 2 innings. Lock Haven was the first team to breakthrough with a 2 run homerun in the top of the 3rd to take the lead 2-0. The Wasps responded in their half of the inning, Laila Rodriguez (Virginia Beach, Va.) laid down the bunt to advance Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) to third, Hill reached across home plate safely from the double steal from her and Rodriguez. E&H was held in check through the middle innings by the Bald Eagles pitcher Talia Ross, she went 6.1 innings and struck out 9 Wasps.
By the end of the top of the 7th Lock Haven's lead had ballooned to 11-1, but the Wasps would not go quietly. Greenly Elliott (Danville, Va.) started things off with a 2 run no doubter to begin the rally. A couple of batters later Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) launched a ball past the center field fence to cut the lead to 6. Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) reached on a fielder's choice that brought in Kali Cook (Elkin, N.C.) for the final run of the game for the Wasps, 11-6 would be as close as they would get.
Game Two – Lock Haven 6, Emory & Henry 11
Game 2 was much more of a back and forth affair. Much like game 1, Lock Haven started game 2 out in front off a solo home run from Blaire Balestrini. Sawyer Tolley (Bedford, Va.) responded in the Wasps half of the 1st with a 3 run shot, bringing in Hannah Booth and Rachel Hill. Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) extended the lead on her own with a long ball over the left field fence, E&H lead 4-1 after the first frame.
Lock Haven thrower Faith Persing settled in and held the Wasps in check for much of the middle innings, by the top of the 4th, the Bald Eagles led 6-4. The Wasps broke things open in the bottom of the 5th, Booth doubled to right center, Tolley singled to left, and Johnson put a ball in play to bring home pinch runner Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.). Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) singled to left field to bring home Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) and Johnson. E&H regained the lead 6-7 and never looked back. Kirsten Fitzgerald (Palmyra, Va.) shut down the remaining Bald Eagles batters, Fitzgerald finished going 4.2 and striking out 3. E&H managed 4 more insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI each from Booth and Tolley, while Johnson brought home the final 2 runs with a single to shortstop.
Up Next
Emory & Henry Softball begins South Atlantic Conference play this Tuesday, March 10th when they welcome the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters to Wasps Field.
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