HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Softball Team (2-2) picked up another split on the second day of the Railsplitter Invitational Sunday. The Wasps fell to Tiffin University (3-0) by a 10-8 margin to start the day followed by an 8-0 victory over Lees-McRae College (0-3) in five innings to complete the weekend's action.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Tiffin 10, Emory & Henry 8
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 8, Lees-McRae 0 (five innings)
LOCATION – Harrogate, Tennessee
VENUE – Dorothy Neely Softball Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-2, 0-0 SAC); Lees-McRae (0-3, 0-0 Carolinas); Tiffin (3-0, 0-0 G-MAC)
Game One – Tiffin 10, Emory & Henry 8
The Dragons struck quickly, scoring eight runs in the top of the first. Molly Koesters hit a two-run home run in the frame while Megan Mengerink plated another pair with a base knock to center.
Emory & Henry responded with two in the bottom of the inning as junior second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) hit a two-run double to centerfield. In the third, senior first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) and Street each had solo home runs to close the gap to 8-4. The fifth frame saw the Wasps tack on another run as junior shortstop Rachel Hill (Standardsville, Va.) drove in Street with a triple down the right-field line.
Tiffin made it a 9-5 contest on a RBI base hit by Koesters in the sixth but E&H answered by scoring three times in the bottom of the frame, two of whom crossed when Street smacked a double to right-center, closing the gap to 9-8.
In the seventh, the Dragons pushed the margin to 10-8 as Maci Head singled to centerfield. The Wasps were unable to put together any offense in their final at bat going down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Lexi Key earned the win in relief for Tiffin, scattering one earned run on three hits and five strikeouts over 4.2 innings pitched. Wasp junior Malorie Reeves (Galax, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs (eight unearned) on 16 hits with five strikeouts.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 8, Lees-McRae 0 (five innings)
E&H got on the board in the bottom of the first on a RBI single by sophomore third baseman Tristyn Tofano (Roanoke, Va.). The third frame saw the Wasps explode for seven runs, highlighted by a two-run single by senior pitcher Olivia Yates (Floyd, Va.) and a double to right-center by sophomore designated player Alex Graham (Thomasville, N.C.) which also plated a pair.
Yates earned the victory in the circle, pitching four scoreless innings with one hit and four strikeouts while junior Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) struck out a pair in the fifth. Hayley Lawing suffered the loss for the Bobcats, allowing seven runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns to action next Saturday in King (Tenn.) University's Big Region Preseason Invitational. The Wasps will play three games over the course of two days at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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