EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (14-8, 2-0 SAC) picked up two big South Atlantic Conference victories over Lincoln Memorial to begin South Atlantic Conference play.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Lincoln Memorial 2, Emory & Henry 4
GAME TWO – Lincoln Memorial 5, Emory & Henry 7
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (14-8, 2-0 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (8-14, 0-2 SAC)
Game One – Lincoln Memorial 2, Emory & Henry 4
Game one of today's doubleheader was all about the pitching. Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) for E&H and Jasmine Kaylor for LMU kept the hitters in check for most of the contest. The Railsplitters began the scoring with a lone run in the top of the 1st inning off back to back doubles. The Wasps would respond in their half of the 2nd. Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) singled to center, and Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) reached on a fielder's choice. Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) laced a double to center field that brought home Tofano and leveled the score at 1. Immediately after, Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) said 1 run wasn't enough as she blasted a 2 run shot to left center to give the Wasps the 3-1 lead.
That's where things would stand until the bottom of the 4th. Johnson launched a solo shot to center field for her conference leading 9th of the year. The Railsplitters attempted to spoil game one for the Wasps but could only manage one run in the top of the 6th. Reeves controlled the final half inning, giving Emory & Henry their first conference win of the season.
Game Two – Lincoln Memorial 5, Emory & Henry 7
LMU started game 2 of the doubleheader on the front foot with a 2 run home run to left field in the top of the 1st. The Wasps responded in the bottom of the 2nd when Liberty Johnson continued to add to her conference leading home run total now standing at 10 for the year. E&H struggled to get any offense going in the middle innings, and LMU added a couple more runs to lead 4-1 going into the bottom of the 6th.
The Wasps figured out the Railsplitters in the bottom of the 6th, reigning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) began the rally with a double down the left field line. Booth would be pinch run for by Greenly Elliott (Danville, Va.) Liberty Johnson would begin the scoring with an RBI Single to short stop that brought home Elliott. Natalie Moore (Kingsport, Tenn.) pinch ran for Johnson, and immediately was able to advance to 3rd on a throwing error by the 3rd baseman. The Wasps then executed a favorite play of theirs as of late, the double steal, which allowed Moore to steal home and cut the lead to just one. Back to back walks from Cundiff and Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.) loaded the bases. It was the perfect storm for the Wasps, the lineup turned over and in stepped Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) to finish the job. Hill sent the first pitch she saw over the outfield fence for the Grand Slam giving the Wasps the lead 7-4.
LMU didn't go out quietly, the Railsplitters got one run closer off of a solo home run in the top of the 7th, but that would be all the Emory & Henry defense would allow, leading to a 7-5 final score.
Up Next
E&H is back in action tomorrow at Wasps Field against Lee University. First pitch is set for 1PM.
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