EMORY, VA. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (5-5, 0-0 SAC) picked up the sweep over former Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Ferrum. This marks the first between the two programs since both have moved to the NCAA Division II level.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Ferrum 4, Emory & Henry 5
GAME TWO – Ferrum 6, Emory & Henry 12
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-5, 0-0 SAC); Ferrum (0-5, 0-0 CC)
Game One – Ferrum 4, Emory & Henry 5 (Eight Innings)
E&H wasted no time welcoming their formal ODAC Rivals to Division II, Senior Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) sent a pitch over the outfield wall in the first at-bat of the game for the home team. The two former ODAC programs fought with grit in the middle innings, both pitchers settled in and runs in bunches became hard to come by after Ferrum took the lead 3-1 off of a 2 run homerun in the top of the 2nd inning. E&H responded with a solo shot from Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) in the bottom of the 3rd, and another long ball from Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) that tied things at 3 to begin the 4th.
Extra innings were needed as both programs' defenses stiffened and neither the Wasps or Panthers managed to push across any more runs. In the top of the 8th Ferrum gained the lead once more after a wild pitch allowed Zoey Snead to score putting the Panthers up 4-3. That would be all Senior Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) would allow, she forced a ground out and got the strikeout on Samantha Smith and Kelsey Marshall to end the side. The Wasps took full advantage of the opportunity they were given. Sawyer Tolley (Bedford, Va.) ripped off a double to begin the frame that put runners at the corners with no one out. Johnson reached on a fielder's choice which loaded the bases for Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.). Cundiff came through in the clutch, sending a ball to the outfield and ending the game with a 2 RBI double.
Game Two – Ferrum 6, Emory & Henry 12
Ferrum started the scoring barrage of game 2 in the top of the 2nd inning, pushing across 3 runs for the early advantage. Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) sparked the Wasps' offense in their half of the frame with a hard hot single down the left field line. Greenly Elliott (Danville, Va.) walked and Abigail Street reached on a fielder's choice that brought Rachel Hill to the plate with no space to put her. Hill made contact with a pitch that found the gap that brought in Graham, a throwing error from the Panthers allowed Elliott and Street to cross and it was a 3-3 ball game.
It didn't stay that way for long, just a couple batters later Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) singled through the right side to bring in Rachel Hill for the 4-3 advantage. The Wasps stretched their lead to 5-3 when Liberty Johnson sent another one over the fences for her second homerun of the day. Ferrum wouldn't leave quietly, taking advantage of a couple Emory & Henry errors, the Panthers pushed across 2 runs in the top of the 4th to regain the lead.
That would be as close as Ferrum would get, the Emory & Henry offense proved to be too much for the Panthers. With Cundiff and Kali Cook (Elkin, N.C.) in scoring position, Abigail Street singled to right field scoring Cundiff, Hill followed with another single that scored Cook and that set the stage for Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.). Booth blasted a 3 run homerun over the left center fence and the advantage ballooned to 10-6. Rily Cobler (Meadowview, Va.) would later score from a throwing error and Johnson would steal home for the final 2 runs to give the Wasps the sweep 12-6.
Up Next
Emory & Henry goes back on the road this weekend just across the Virginia/Tennessee line for a doubleheader against King. First pitch is set for 1PM.
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