GREENBSORO, N.C. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's softball Marlins opened the Old Dominion Athletic Conference portion of its schedule on Saturday with a sweep of the Guilford College Quakers, 8-0 and 6-1.

Sophomore pitcher Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) recorded the pitching win in the shutout, improving to 5-2 on the season.  She struck out three batters, walked four and scattered six hits. 

In the second game junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) was the winning pitcher for the Marlins, improving her record to 6-2.  She faced 27 batters, fanned six and gave up six hits and one earned run.

Virginia Wesleyan (14-4, 2-0) trailed only once in the doubleheader, and that was at the start of the second game.  Guilford (9-5, 0-4) took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning when Cynthia Hayes (Seagrove, N.C./Southwestern Randolph) belted a home run.

But, Virginia Wesleyan got that run back, and more, in the top of the third inning when junior Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) homered to center field.  She drove in rookie Hali Goad (Richmond/Louisa County) who led off the inning by reaching base when she was hit by a pitch.

The Marlins pulled away with a three-run fifth inning, helped by four hits, including a Karagiorgis double.  The inning included a walk, a batter hit by a pitch, a wild pitch and two stolen bases.

Virginia Wesleyan outhit the Quakers 8-6, led by junior Season Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox) and rookie Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove) with two hits each.

Morgan Myers (Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland) started in the pitching circle for Guilford.  She pitched 4.1 innings before giving way to Calli Pastor (Newburg, Pa./Big Spring).  They struck out one batter each.

Casey Snead (Ellerbe, N.C./Richmond Senior) was the starting pitcher for the Quakers in the opener, working 2.2 innings.  Maggie Shaffer (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) finished.  The duo combined to strike out seven batters, five by Shaffer.

Allie Nicholson (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) and Hayes led Guilford hitting with two each.  Junior Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring), Dailey and Karagiorgis connected for a double each for VWC.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition Wednesday, March 20, playing in an ODAC doubleheader at Sweet Briar College beginning at 3 p.m.

--AMDG--