VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's 29-team Beach Blast tournament was canceled due to poor field conditions at Princess Anne Park, but there was softball played at Marlins Field on Saturday.

No. 9-ranked Virginia Wesleyan improved to 8-0 with a pair of victories, highlighted by a 6-3 decision over No. 18  Rowan University in the first game.  The Marlins closed the afternoon with a 7-1 win over Western Connecticut State University.

Rowan scored first in the opener, but outscored the Profs 5-0 over the next four innings to open up a 6-1 lead, helped by a three-run fifth.  Sophomore Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove) singled to center field to score Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods), who reached base on a fielder's choice earlier.  Kayla Dost (Bristow/Nokesville Brentsille) came through with the big hit, a double to center field, sending home Bogan and Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville).  Galvin walked earlier.

Rowan (1-1) rallied in the top of the seventh however, scoring twice on a double from Jennifer Arcella (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley).  Her hit scored Damariz Mercado (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield), who struck out but reached base on a wild pitch, and Shilah Snead (Malaga, N.J./Delsea) who singled before her.  But, a strike out and ground out ended the threat and the game.

Senior MacKenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) improved to 4-0 in the pitching circle, striking out two batters, walking one and allowing five hits and one earned run in 4.2 innings. Sophomore Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) entered the game in the fifth and faced the final 13 batters en route to picking up her second save of the season.  She struck out three, walked two and surrendered three hits and one earned run.

Lindsey Inzana (Chesapeake/Grassfield) and Dost hit a double each to highlight VWC's nine-hit output.  Snead belted three hits for Rowan, including a home run to lead off the game.

Karagiorgis pitched for Virginia Wesleyan against Western Connecticut State's Warriors and improved to 4-0.  She worked a complete game, striking out seven and scattering four hits.  She did not give up an earned run.

Virginia Wesleyan led 3-1 into the sixth inning when the Marlins scored four times to pull away. The Marlins connected for four hits in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double from senior Season Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox). 

Bogan led a 10-hit VWC offense with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate.  She also stole three bases. Dailey finished with two hits.

Erin Biskup (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spachenkill) led WCSU with two hits and three stolen bases.

Alle Sabith (Meriden, Conn./Maloney) took the pitching loss, working a complete game.  She walked four batters and gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to Marlins Field on  Sunday, March 2 to take on Eastern Connecticut State University at 12 p.m. and New York's Oneonta State University at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--