DAHLONEGA, Ga. – For the second time in as many days, the Emory & Henry University Softball Team (8-3) grabbed another pair of victories in the second day of the Gold City Classic on Saturday. Once again, the Wasps run-ruled No. 3 University of North Georgia (7-4), this time winning by a 12-4 margin and closed out the event with a 12-6 win against Emmanuel (Ga.) University (1-7).
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 12, No. 3 North Georgia 4 (six innings)
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 12, Emmanuel (Ga.) 6
LOCATION – Dahlonega, Georgia
VENUE – Lynn Cottrell Park at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-3, 0-0 SAC); Emmanuel (Ga.) (1-7, 0-0 Carolinas); North Georgia (7-4, 0-0 PBC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 12, No. 3 North Georgia 4 (six innings)
Emory & Henry got things started when sophomore third baseman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.) plated junior second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) with a double to right. The Nighthawks tied the contest in the bottom of the frame on a base knock to right-center by Natalie Ray.
The Wasps took a 6-1 lead in the third. Senior right fielder Danielle King (Spencer, Va.) had a RBI base hit to right before a bases loaded hit by pitch and three bases loaded walks gave them five runs for the inning.
The bottom of the third saw North Georgia get a pair of runs back with a RBI groundout by Ray and a sacrifice fly by Carleigh Knowles for a 6-3 score.
E&H kept the pressure on, scoring four more in the fourth. Tofano tallied her second RBI double of the day while junior shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) and junior left fielder Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) also tallied RBI base hits in the inning for a 10-3 lead.
The Nighthawks added a run in the bottom of the inning when Rylie Moody singled up the middle but the Wasps got it back on a solo home run by King in the fifth. In the sixth, Cundiff put the Wasps up by eight with a double to right for a 12-4 lead. North Georgia was unable to generate any offense in the sixth as Emory & Henry picked up it second run-rule win over the Nighthawks.
Junior Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) earned the complete game win, scattering two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts. UNG's Chloe Poss was credited with the loss, allowing three runs without recording an out.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 12, Emmanuel (Ga.) 6
E&H opened the scoring in the first when Tofano singled through the left side plating Street. The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the first on a walk by Arlie Gooden.
In the second, the Wasps retook the lead on a single to center by Cundiff. E&H notched two in the third and one in the fourth for a 5-1 advantage. Cundiff posted her second RBI single of the game in the third to highlight the two frames.
The bottom of the fourth saw Emmanuel close the gap to 5-3 as Kelsey Lester drove in a pair with a double to right-center.
E&H pushed its lead to 8-3 in the sixth with freshman first baseman Liberty Johnson (Arvonia, Va.) and fifth-year designated player Katelyn Siekerka (El Cajon, Calif.) tallying RBI doubles. Emmanuel got two runs back in the bottom of the frame highlighted by a RBI double by Lester.
In the seventh, Emory & Henry made it a 12-5 game with Tofano stroking a three-run home run. The Lions got one run back in their last chance at the plate, but would get no closer than 12-6.
Wasp sophomore Destiny Good (Staunton, Va.) earned the win, scattering one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Emmanuel's Reagan Garrett was given the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will host Concord University next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in its home opener.
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