VIRGINIA BEACH -- It took MacKenzie Creech about one inning to show what she could do in the pitchers' circle.
The Virginia Wesleyan College rookie gave up a single, double and one run in the first inning to Averett University's Cougars on Sunday, and then buckled down. Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) struck out the next seven consecutive batters, and 10 overall in the non-conference game at Marlins Field, helping VWC to a 5-3 opening season victory.
In the second game, the outstanding pitching continued for the Marlins, as sophomore Chrissy Crawford (Norfolk, Va./Granby), who struck out 100 batters and compiled an 8-1 record last year, pitched another complete game. She struck out two and scattered five hits and four walks as the Marlins posted a 7-1 win for the sweep.
Outstanding hitting backed the pitching performances as Virginia Wesleyan (2-0) outhit Averett 21-8 overall. Rookie Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) hit 4-for-6 in the two games, belting a home run in the first game and a triple in the second contest. She recorded five runs batted in.
VWC connected for 10 hits overall in the opener, led by Chelsea Henline (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge), Brenae Pettit (Onancock, Va./Nandua) and rookie Megan Bell-Hill (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby), all with two hits each.
Averett (2-4) managed only three hits, led by Lauren Daniel (Halifax, Va./Halifax County) with a double. Nicole Defilippo (Forest, Va./Brookville) pitched all six innings for the Cougars and struck out two batters, while walking none.
VWC took a 2-1 lead in the second inning off Shannon's home run, which scored Bell-Hill who singled in front of her. The Marlins opened up a 5-1 lead heading into the seventh when Averett came up with two runs to close the gap.
The Marlins struck for four runs in the first inning in the second game and extended their lead to 6-0 after two innings. VWC connected for five hits in the opening inning, highlighted by a double from Jaclyn Quinn (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) and Shannon's triple.
Morgan Stephens (Culpeper, Va./Highland) emerged as the leading hitter for VWC with a 3-for-3 showing, including a double. Brianna Bertovich (Richmond, Va./Monacan) and Shannon belted two hits each for the Marlins.
Heather Carnes (Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook) homered in the fourth to score the lone run for Averett. Jenna Rudder (Danville, Va./Tunstall) led the team with two hits. Three pitchers shared time in the circle for AU, starting with Molly Nanney (Danville, Va./Tunstall). Dannielle Emerson (Dry Fork, Va./Chatham) and Delifilippo came in later.
Virginia Wesleyan will compete again on Tuesday, Mar. 1, in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference twinbill at 2 p.m. at Sweet Briar College.
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