BRISTOL, TENN. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (5-7, 0-0 SAC) dropped a pair of non-conference matches to border rival King. E&H will look to right the ship this Saturday at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 2, King 5
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 5, King 6
LOCATION – Bristol, Tennessee
VENUE – King Softball Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-7,  0-0 SAC); King (10-6, 0-0 CC)

Game One – Emory & Henry 2, King 5
King was the first program on the board as one run scored on an error after the Wasps stranded one runner in the top of the 1st. The away team would even things up in the top of the 2nd with a Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.) double that would bring in Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.). The Wasps offense stalled and  King took advantage. The Tornado pushed across 2 more runs in their half of the 2nd inning  to push the lead to 3-1. Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) settled in during the middle innings allowing only one hit the stretch. That would change in the bottom of the 5th, had runners in scoring position and scored on a fielder's choice before Reeves could work out of the jam. Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) pulled the Wasps a little closer in the top of the 6th with a sacrifice fly that gave Kali Cook (Elkin, N.C.) enough time to cross home plate, the score stood at 4-2. That would be as close as E&H would get, King scored one more run in the bottom of the 6th and the Wasps left one runner on in the top of the 7th for a 5-2 final in favor of the home team. 

Game Two – Emory & Henry 5, King 6
Game 2 began as a more defensive battle. Bailey Payne (Fairview, N.C.) only allowed one hit and held King scoreless through the first two frames. That would change in the bottom of the 3rd, King had two runners in scoring position and didn't waste time with a 2 RBI single that put them in front 2-0. The Tornado pushed another run across with an RBI double in the bottom of the 4th to extend the lead to 3-0 before both teams' offenses were shut down on the 5th. Sawyer Tolley (Bedford, Va.) sparked the bats for the Wasps with a solo shot to put E&H on the board, not to be outdone Liberty Johnson homered in the very next at bat to bring the Wasps within one. 

Payne shut down the Tornado in the bottom of the 6th to set the stage for an Emory & Henry comeback bid. The Wasps took advantage of the situation and scored 3 runs in their half of the frame to take their first lead of the contest 5-3. Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) doubled to center field to bring in Natalie Moore (Kingsport, Tenn.) a couple batters later Liberty Johnson reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.), and Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) also reached on a folder's choice to score Greenly Elliott (Danville, Va.). The Tornado however would not be denied as the home team scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th to take the win in game 2 and the sweep on the day. 

Up Next
E&H stays on the road this Saturday February 28th at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wasps are set to play Mansfield and Shaw at 2:30PM and 5PM. 

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