HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Senior Tori Higginbotham and sophomore Kayla Dost and Kayla Malkos combined for 14 hits Saturday to lead a consistent offense for Virginia Wesleyan College's softball team in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).

The No. 13 ranked Marlins banged out 27 hits overall while VWC pitching, and defense, limited the host Royals to just six, including one in a 14-0 victory in the second game.  Junior Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) picked up her 15th victory of the season in that game, striking out two, walking one, and allow just one hit in three innings. 

Karagiorgis also took the win in the first game, an 8-3 win for the Marlins.  She pitched five innings, striking out six and allowing four hits and two earned runs, before sophomore Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) to pitch the final two innings.  She fanned four, gave up a walk, and allowed one hit.  Karagioris increased her season strikeout total to 94.

Virginia Wesleyan's hitting was highlighted by a three-run homer by Dost (Bristow/Nokesville Brentsville) and a grand slam by Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker), both in the second contest.  Dost's shot took place in the third inning, scoring Higginbotham, who led off with a single, and Kayla Malkos (Roanoke/Cave Spring) who drew a walk.  It was part of a seven-hit, seven run inning that ended a scoreless game.

Higginbotham connected for her grand slam with two outs in the fourth inning.  She knocked it into left field, sending in Brittney Jackson (Aylett/King William), Liz Bailey (Chesapeake/Greenbrier Christian), and Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville).  Jackson reached base earlier on a fielder's choice, Bailey walked, and Galvin singled.  The Marlins belted out six hits in the inning and scored seven runs.

Higginbotham finished the game hitting 6-for-10, driving in seven runs overall.  Malkos hit 5-for-7, and Dost and Season Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox) recorded three hits each.

EMU (12-15-1, 5-6-1 ODAC) led 2-1 after two innings in the first game, but VWC (27-5, 12-2 ODAC) tied the game with a run in the third and took the lead at 4-2 after a two-run fourth. Megan Zahnd (Chesapeake/Grassfield) doubled in the inning and Higginbotham and Malkos both singled.

After the Royals pulled with a 4-3 score with a run in the fifth, Virginia Wesleyan pulled away for good with a four-run sixth inning. The Marlins connected for five singles in the inning.

Malkos led hitting in the opner with a 4-for-5 showing, followed by Higginbotham at 3-for-4. Angelia Miller (Bridgewater/Turner Ashby) led EMU with two hits, including a home run. Jordan Aylor (Madison/Madison County) also homered. 

Nicolette Cuevas (Suffolk/King's Fork) produced the only hit for EMU in the second game, a single in the third inning.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Sunday, April 13, in an ODAC doubleheader at Bridgewater College beginning at 1 p.m.

--AMDG--