HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (2-5, 1-1 SAC) made history on Tuesday afternoon against No. 18 Lincoln Memorial University (15-5, 1-1 SAC). The doubleheader not only marked the first league contests for E&H as a member of the South Atlantic Conference, but it was also the first time that the Wasps have beaten a ranked NCAA Division II opponent. The Lady Railsplitters took game one by an 8-1 margin, but the Wasps swarmed in the nightcap, winning by a 10-1 scoreline.
The Basics
GAME ONE – No. 18 Lincoln Memorial 8, Emory & Henry 1
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 10, No. 18 Lincoln Memorial 1
LOCATION – Harrogate, Tennessee
VENUE – Dorothy Neely Softball Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-5, 1-1 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (15-5, 1-1 SAC)
Game One – No. 18 Lincoln Memorial 8, Emory & Henry 1
The Wasps got on the board in the top of the third when senior right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) hit a solo home run to left-centerfield. LMU responded with a trio of runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 3-1. Sierra Hucklebee tied the contest with a solo shot of her own while Katy Pozzuto drew a bases-loaded walk and Madison Henry plated a third run when she hit into a fielder's choice.
In the fourth, the Lady Railsplitters added to their lead on a two-run homer by Katie Tuggle, 5-1. Lincoln Memorial capped the scoring in the sixth with Tuggle driving in another pair with a double to left-center. Tuggle capped the scoring two batters later when she crossed the plate thanks to an outfield error for the final 8-1 score.
Emma Frost earned the complete-game victory for LMU, scattering one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts across the game. E&H sophomore MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with three walks in four innings of work.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 10, Lincoln Memorial 1
E&H jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, highlighted by a RBI double down the left field line by junior pitcher Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.). The Wasps made it 4-0 through three as sophomore third baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) tagged a two-run bomb over the left field wall.
Three more runs came Emory & Henry's way in the fifth to push the margin to 7-0. Freshman shortstop Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) drove in one with a double to center followed by a two-run home run by Adkins on the next at bat.
Lincoln Memorial responded with one in the bottom of the fifth on a base knock to right by McKenzie Henry which drove in Hucklebee to make it a 7-1 contest.
E&H capped the scoring with three more in the seventh for the 10-1 scoreline. Junior first baseman Desi Norris (Sims, N.C.) drove in a pair with a double to left field while freshman designated player Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) singled up the middle for a RBI.
Adkins had a banner game, adding a complete-game gem in the circle to her two-for-three with three RBI performance at the plate. She permitted just one run on six hits and had eight strikeouts. Victory Conley took the loss for LMU, allowing two runs on four hits in just one inning.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will host Shepherd University in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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