EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (17-9, 3-1 SAC) forced a sweep of the Wingate Bulldogs to remain tied atop the South Atlantic Conference standings with a 3-1 record. The Wasps fell in Game 1 but bounced back and defeated the Bulldogs in Game 2. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Wingate 5, Emory & Henry 0
GAME TWO – Wingate 4, Emory & Henry 5
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (17-9,  3-1 SAC); Wingate (15-9, 2-2 SAC) 

Game One – Wingate 5, Emory & Henry 0

It was all Wingate in Game 1 of the doubleheader, the Bulldogs scored runs in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings. The lone bright spot for the Wasps came in the bottom of the 5th inning when Sawyer Tolley (Bedford, Va.) doubled to left center. That would be all of the offense the E&H could muster in Game 1 leading to a 5-0 Wingate win. 

Game Two – Wingate 4, Emory & Henry 5
It was the tale of two games today at Wasps Field. E&H equaled their hitting total from Game 1 in the first frame of Game 2 when Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) doubled to right field, the Wasps offense would stall. Their next opportunity came 2 innings later in the bottom of the 3rd. After a Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) walk, Laila Rodriguez (Virginia Beach, Va.) belted a double to center field, setting the stage for Hannah Booth. Booth swung on the first pitch she saw and sent the ball over the right field fence for a 3 run home run, her 6th of the year,  to put the Wasps ahead. Wingate got a little closer in the top of the 4th. The Bulldogs scored on a throwing error to cut the lead to 2. 

Emory & Henry added to their lead in the bottom of the 4th frame. Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) singled to left, then immediately stole second base putting herself in scoring position. Hill doubled to right center and the runners changed places sending Cundiff home for the fourth run of the game. A batter later Rodriguez and Hill would switch places on the base paths with an RBI double of her own to give the Wasps just enough runs to outlast the Bulldogs. 

Wingate mounted a furious comeback in the top of the 6th scoring 3 runs and pulling to within 1 of the tie. Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) remained ice cold in the circle forcing the final 3 outs of the contest to come away with the 5-4 victory in Game 2. 

Up Next
The Wasps return to the field on the road at Mars Hill this Wednesday, March 18th. First pitch is scheduled for 1PM and 3PM.  

---E&H---