SWEET BRIAR, Va. -- Offensive production remains hot for the Virginia Wesleyan College softball team.

The Marlins rolled onto the campus of Sweet Briar College on Wednesday for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader and rolled out with an impressive sweep, defeating the Vixens 10-0 and 16-1 in a pair of five inning games.

Virginia Wesleyan has posted three five-inning wins in its last four outings and has now won eight consecutive games.  The Marlins have outscored their opponents 67-7 in the last six contests.

Wednesday's sweep was fueled by a consistent hitting by the Marlins, who connected for 32 overall, including six doubles and three home runs.  VWC's offense was complemented by standout pitching performances, including a no-hitter by sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods).  She faced only 13 batters in four innings of work, striking out nine and surrendering only a walk.  Rookie Mary Shipp (Virgnia Beach/First Colonial) closed, facing just three batters and striking out one.

Karagiorgis improved to 6-2 in the pitching circle in the first game and junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) upped her record to 7-2 in the second contest.  She also tossed a no-hitter in three innings of work, facing only nine batters and striking out five. Shipp followed and pitched in one inning, striking out two of three batters she faced, before rookie Lillie Kimble (Meadows of Dan/Hillsville Carroll County) finished.  She pitched to five batters and gave up three hits and one earned run.

Virginia Wesleyan connected for 19 hits in the second game, highlighted by a 4-of-4 effort by junior Meghan Zahnd (Chesapeake/Grassfield).  She hit a three-run home run in the third inning and drove in six runs overall.  Junior Kelly Keys (Manassas/Osbourn Park) was 3-for-3, with a double, and senior Chelsea Henline (Chesapeake/Great Bridge) hit three singles. Junior Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker)and rookie Taylor Greenfield (Seattle, Wash./Bainbridge) both belted a double each.

Tessa Crawford (Yorktown/Tabb) doubled for Sweet Briar.

Virginia Wesleyan took control of the second game early, posting five runs in each of the first and second innings.  It was a different story in the opener however, as the Marlins led only 3-0 after four innings.  But, VWC exploded for a seven-run fifth inning that capped the game.

That seven-run surge was highlighted by eight hits, including a three-run home run from juniorLindsay Inzana (Chesapeake/Grassfield).  It was her second home run of the contest.  She also belted a solo shot in the third.

Virginia Wesleyan recorded 13 hits in the game, led by a 3-for-3 showing by Inzana, who drove in five runs overall.  Keys added a double and two singles and rookie Kayla Malkos (Roanoke/Cave Spring) and Henline connected for a double each.

The Marlins compete again on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24 in back-to-back ODAC doubleheaders.  VWC hosts the Hornets of Shenandoah University on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., and the Wasps of Emory & Henry College on Sunday, starting at 12 p.m.

--AMDG--