HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team (16-13, 11-5 SAC) took both ends of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Coker University (17-17, 3-11 SAC) on Wednesday afternoon. The Wasps took game one by a 7-3 final before rallying for a come-from-behind 4-3 win in the nightcap. The two wins tied the Wasps for the most victories in SAC.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Emory & Henry 7, Coker 3
GAME TWO – Emory & Henry 4, Coker 3
LOCATION – Hartsville, South Carolina
VENUE – Saleeby-Stokes Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (16-13, 11-5 SAC); Coker (17-17, 3-11 SAC)
Game One – Emory & Henry 7, Coker 3
The Wasps struck first in game one as they posted two runs in the top of the first. Freshman outfielder Kylie Cundiff (Roanoke, Va.) and sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) drew back-to-back leadoff walks, junior pitcher Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) singled and junior designated player Morgan Silvis (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. Freshman second baseman Abigail Street (Glade Spring, Va.) picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice and the score stood at 2-0 after one inning.
E&H loaded the bases once more in the top of the third inning on a single from Silvis, a walk from freshman Rachel Hill (Stanardsville, Va.) and another hit-by-pitch. Senior catcher Julia Street (Glade Spring, Va.) delivered a one-out sacrifice fly to push the lead to 3-0.
The Wasps added two in the visiting half of the fifth when Hill was hit by another pitch and sophomore first baseman Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) launched a ball over the outfield fence for a two-run home run to increase the advantage to 5-0. Freshman third baseman Ashlyn Rachon (Greeneville, Tenn.) joined the hit party in the top of the sixth with a solo shot to balloon the margin out to 6-0.
The Cobras got on the board in the home half of the sixth as they loaded the bases on a single, a walk and an error before Kayla Oswell cleared the bags with a three-RBI double into the right-centerfield gap to trim their deficit to 6-3. Rachone tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single back up the middle to plate Abigail Street and run the score to its final at 7-3.
Adkins earned the win in the circle for the Wasps as she went the distance and surrendered just four hits and three runs, one of which was unearned, while fanning five batters. Hannah Fisher took the loss for Coker as she scattered three runs, three hits and four walks over two innings of work.
Game Two – Emory & Henry 4, Coker 3
Coker got the scoring underway in game two as Cameron Jackson laced an RBI single into left field in the bottom of the first to give the Cobras the early 1-0 lead. Hannah Davis followed up with an RBI hit of her own as Coker increased their advantage to 2-0. Both squads were held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Oswell added a run for Coker on an RBI single to make it 3-0.
The Emory & Henry bats would come alive in the top of the sixth inning. Rachon led off the frame with a double to left and advanced to third on a single from Cundiff. Williams slapped an RBI single into left to score Rachon and cut the deficit to 3-1. The stage was set for slugger Taylor with two runners on and one out as she left the yard for the second time of the afternoon, this time a go-ahead three-run bomb, to give the Wasps their first lead of game two at 4-3. Adkins posted two perfect innings in the circle to close out the win and the doubleheader sweep.
Adkins picked up her second win of the afternoon in the circle as she gave up nine hits and three runs while piling up eight strikeouts over seven innings. Jenae Fedewa was saddled with the loss for the Cobras after pitching a complete game, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out three batters.
Up Next
Emory & Henry makes the trip to Salisbury, North Carolina on Saturday for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Catawba College. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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