ATLANTA -- Two of the nation's top-ranked softball teams collided Thursday and produced a split as No. 7 Virginia Wesleyan College and No. 15 Emory University traded decisions.

Virginia Wesleyan won the opener 9-5 in eight innings on the Eagles' field, where the host team came back strong in the second game to post a 16-6 win in five innnings.

Virginia Wesleyan (16-2) trailed 3-2 after six innings in the first game, but jumped in front 5-3 in the top of the seventh. Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove) took a base after being hit by a pitch and scored when Kayla Dost (Bristow/Nokesville Brentsville) belted a home run.

Emory (27-5) tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh with the help of a walk, a VWC error, and a single by Hannah Sendel (Greenwood Village, Col./Cherry Creek). That forced an extra inning, which was dominated by Virginia Wesleyan.  The Marlins connected for three hits in the inning, including a three-run double to left center field that scored Season Dailey (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) and Dost, who both singled, and Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring), who drew a walk to load the bases.

Emory produced a single in the bottom of the eighth, but could not produce additional hits to do any damage.

Higginbotham and Dost led a 10-hit Virginia Wesleyan offense with two hits each.  Emory recorded 11 hits, led by Ally Kersthold (San Luis Obispo, Calif./Mission College Prep) with three.

MacKenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange)started in the pitching circle for VWC and worked six innings, before Mary Shipp (Virignia Beach/First Colonial)entered and threw in one inning to pick up the win.  Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briarwoods) earned the save, facing four batters and striking out two.  Brittany File (Carmel, Calif./Carmel) absorbed the loss for Emory and dropped to 7-3 overall.

Virginia Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the second game when Kayla Malkos (Roanoke/Cave Spring)scored on a passed ball. She singled, stole second base, and moved to third on a sacrifice by Karagiorgis.

But, Emory answered with an eight-hit offense in the bottom of the inning to score 10 runs for a lead that helped the Eagles to improve their home field record to 22-2.  Kersthold produced the big hit in the inning, a three-run triple. Sendel connected for an RBI-double earlier.

Virginia Wesleyan closed the gap with a four-run second inning, highlighted by RBI hits by Malkos and Karagiorgis.  But, Emory took all four runs back in the bottom of the third, which included a two-run double by Micah Scharff (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue).  VWC continued to battle and added a run in the top of the fourth inning, but could not extend the offense to catch the Eagles.

VWC connected for six hits, led by Malkos with three. Karagiorgis pitched for the Marlins and dropped to 7-2.  Amanda Kardys (Union, N.J./Union) took the win and improved to 18-1 for the Eagles.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference competition on Sunday, March 23, played at Emory & Henry College in a twinbill beginning at noon.

--AMDG--