EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (24-12, 5-5 SAC) picked up another split in South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday against Catawba College (13-17, 3-7 SAC). The Catawba Indians won the opening game by a 9-5 score with the Wasps taking game two, 11-1, in five innings.
The doubleheader also served as the inaugural Tommy Forrester Memorial Games, honoring former the former Wasp head coach in support of the Glioblastoma Foundation. Donations to the Glioblastoma Foundation are still being accepted. Anyone who wishes to donate online can do so by visiting www.GoWasps.com/CoFo.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Catawba 9, Emory & Henry 5
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 11, Catawba 1 (five innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Wasps Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (24-12, 5-5 SAC); Catawba (13-17, 3-7 SAC)
Game One – Catawba 9, Emory & Henry 5
The Catawba Indians got the scoring started in the top of the first when Kary Hales drove in Brianna Gallagher with a single through the right side. Catawba pushed the lead to 2-0 in the third on another RBI base knock by Hales.
In the fifth, Catawba added three runs to make it a 5-0 contest highlighted by a two-run single by Maddy Aliters. Another two runs went the way of the visitors in the sixth as Brianna Herring singled through the left side for a 7-0 advantage.
Catawba tacked on another two in the seventh when Rachel Pressley drove in a pair with a double to left-center to go up 9-0.
Emory & Henry's bats woke up in the bottom of the seventh with sophomore left fielder Karsen Simpson (Salisbury, N.C.) leading things off with a solo home run down the left field line. Two batters later, senior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) drilled a two-run shot of the wall in left-center. Another two batters later, the Wasps closed the gap to 9-5 as senior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) swatted a two-run homer to centerfield. E&H's offense stalled out as Catawba came away with the 9-5 win.
Kate Holland earned the win for Catawba, scattering five runs on nine hits in six-plus innings. E&H junior lefty Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs on 13 hits with four strikeouts in six innings.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 5, UVA Wise 1
The Wasps opened the scoring with two runs in the first. Taylor plated one with a sacrifice fly while freshman first baseman Hannah Booth (Longwood, Fla.) drove in another with a base knock through the left side.
In the third, Emory & Henry scored eight to push the advantage to 10-0. Junior second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) had a RBI double to get things started while Taylor (2 RBI), senior designated player Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) (2 RBI) and senior centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) (3 RBI) each launched home runs in the frame.
Catawba spoiled the shutout in the top of the fourth as Gallagher had a solo home run to left-center, making it a 10-1 contest. The Wasps got the run back in the bottom of the frame as fifth-year left fielder Katelyn Siekerka (El Cajon, Calif.) drove in junior Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) with a single to right and the final 11-1 score.
Wasp sophomore Destiny Good (Staunton, Va.) earned the abbreviated complete-game victory, scattering one run and three hits. Herring took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will be on the road on Wednesday, visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University for a SAC doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.
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