VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The No. 6 Virginia Wesleyan softball team hosted the Bison of Bethany College and the Gators from Allegheny College on Saturday afternoon at Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park in Virginia Beach, VA. The Marlins defeated both opponents 9-1 in five innings over the Bison and 16-5 over the Gators in five innings as well. VWU is now 10-1 on the season while Bethany is 0-2 and Allegheny is 1-3.

GAME 1 - INSIDE THE SCORE
Game one began with a quiet first inning as neither team found a run, but VWU came to life in the bottom of the second when they scored seven runs against the Bison. The scoring fest began on a double from Karlee Fretz to centerfield that scored Kaylah Duplain and Danielle Stewart for two RBI. Kayla Womack followed with a single through the right side that scored Fretz for run number three. The final four runs came on a grand slam from third baseman Julia Sinnett that drove in Womack, Jessica Goldyn, and Maria Weddle for four RBI. 

Both teams went scoreless in the third while the Bison found their single run in the top of the fourth inning putting the score at 7-1. VWU didn't score in the bottom fourth but found the two winning runs in the bottom of the fifth to win the game 9-1. The Marlins final two runs were scored off back-to-back singles from Fretz and Womack that scored Aiyana Freeney and Madison Hudson respectively. 

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Julia Sinnett with one run on one hit and four RBI's in two at-bats. Karlee Fretz was close behind with one run on two hits and three RBI's in her two at-bats while Kayla Womack went two-of-three with a run and two RBI. Fretz (W, 2-0) earned the win throwing four innings giving up one run on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts. 

BETHANY LEADERS
The Bison were led by Tatum Barrus with one hit and an RBI in her two at-bats. Lauren Maichle scored the lone run on one hit in two at-bats. Madison Andrejcik (L, 2-0) earned the loss throwing two innings giving up seven runs on seven hits with a walk and a home run against her. 

GAME 2 - INSIDE THE SCORE
The second game saw the Marlins put eight runs on the board in the first inning to take a significant lead early in the game. The second inning was quite before the Gators scored five runs in the top of the third to pull within three runs, 8-5 of the Marlins. 

VWU added a single run in the bottom half of the third on a solo home run by Daja Burgee to left field. The Marlins then went off in the bottom of the fourth scoring seven more runs to take a 16-5 lead heading into the fifth inning. Four of the seven Marlin runs in the fourth came from a Brooke Anderson grand slam over the left-center field wall that brought home Julie Fassl, Madison Glaubke, and Jessica Goldyn. VWU got out three-of-four batters in the top of the fifth with just one hit to keep their lead of 16-5 intact securing the win in five innings. 

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Brooke Anderson with one run on one hit in one at-bat with four RBI's. Jessica Goldyn added three runs on one hit in two at-bats with two RBI's. Carla Hall threw 2.1 innings before coming out after getting hit by a ball put into play. During her time in the circle, she gave up three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Sofia Escola threw 0.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits before Hanna Hull (W, 7-0) came in to throw the final two innings during which she gave up just one hit and struck out three of the seven batters she faced. 

ALLEGHENY LEADERS
The Gators were led by Espy Zuniga with one run on one hit with two RBI's in two at-bats. Ashley Vitiello (L, 0-3) earned the loss giving up eight runs on seven hits with three walks in two innings pitched. Tori Vradenburg also threw two innings and gave up seven runs on four hits with five walks and one strikeout. 

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action tomorrow, March 8, when they face the Pride of Greensboro College at Broyles Field at TowneBank Park. Game time is set for 12:30 PM and follows the 10 AM game between the Bison and the Pride.