LYNCHBURG, Va. -- A 19-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt for the No. 24 Virginia Wesleyan College softball team on Sunday as the Marlins dropped an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader to No. 18 Lynchburg College.

The Hornets posted a 6-1 win in the first game and eked out a 3-2 decision in the second game.  While Lynchburg improves to 22-5 overall and to 7-1 in the ODAC, Virginia Wesleyan falls to 27-6 and 11-2.

Virginia Wesleyan actually outhit the Hornets 13-11 in the two games, but for one of the few times this season could not come up with the big hits to produce big scoring innings.  The Marlins never scored more than one run in any inning of either game.

The Hornets took control of the opening game with a four-run fourth inning thanks to a grand slam by senior Cassie Phillips. She scored Danielle Poweel and Michaela Munday, who both singled, and Amber Ingram, who draw a walk.

Phillips also blasted a solo home run in the sixth.

VWC connected for five hits, led by sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) with a triple and Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) with a double. Junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) lost for only the third time in 14 outings. She struck out six batters, walked one and gave up five hits and five earned runs.

Hope Johnson pitched for Lynchburg and improved to 10-1.  She struck out three and gave up five hits and one earned run.

Lynchburg opened up a 3-0 lead in the second contest before Virginia Wesleyan posted solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings to close the gap.  The comeback ended there however, as the Marlins managed only two baserunners in the final two innings.

Karagiorgis took the loss in the pitching circle, dropping to 11-3.  She struck out three batters, walked two and gave up five hits and three earned runs.  Four pitchers shared time in the circle for Lynchburg, combining to give up eight hits, four walks and produce just one strikeout.

Karagiorgis led VWC hitting with a double and a single.  Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) belted two singles.  Ingram led Lynchburg with a pair of singles.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, April 13, in the annual Strike Out Cancer Day doubleheader.  The Marlins will host the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University beginning at 1 p.m.

--AMDG--