RALEIGH, North Carolina - The No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan softball team opened the 2021 season on the road with a pair of wins against the Pacers of William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. The Marlins move to 2-0 on the season while the Pacers are now 0-4. 

GAME INFORMATION
The games were the first for the Marlins of the 2021 season. 

GAME 1 - INSIDE THE SCORE
Game one began with Jessica Goldyn doubling to center field. The senior catcher advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a ground out by Danielle Stewart two batters later. The Marlins second run of the game came off a second Goldyn double in the top of the second as she sent Kayla Womack home from second base.

Both teams went scoreless in the third and fourth innings but the VWU bats awakened in the top of the fifth as the Marlins put three more runs on the board to take a 5-0 lead. Danielle Stewart hit a home run that scored Ariana Rolle in the process for runs three and four. Later in the inning Katelyn Biando singled to right field which sent Madison Glaubke home from second base. 

William Peace kept Virginia Wesleyan off the board in the top of the sixth however the visitors sealed their win in the top of the seventh after a triple by Goldyn to right field scored three with Womack, Maria Weddle, and Daja Burgee coming home and Goldyn followed shortly thereafter on a passed ball during Karlee Fretz's at-bat to give VWU the 9-0 win. 

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Jessica Goldyn with two runs on four hits in five at-bats. Goldyn's bat drove in four RBI as the senior recorded two doubles and a triple in the contest. Hanna Hull (W, 1-0) pitched all seven innings striking out 15 batters and walking seven. As a whole, the Marlins recorded 10 stolen bases, the most since March 25, 2017, when they stole 12 in a game against Randolph.

WILLIAM PEACE LEADERS
The Pacers were led by Nadia Pittman with three at-bats and three strikeouts. Makenzie Ward (L, 0-1) took the loss throwing 4.2 innings giving up five runs on eight hits.

GAME 2

INSIDE THE SCORE
The second game began with a scoreless first inning for both teams, but the Marlins found the scoreboard in the second inning on a triple from Katelyn Biando that scored Julia Sinnett from third, after the the senior reached on a double of her own. Biando reached home the following at-bat as Daja Burgee grounded out to score the RBI. 

The third inning saw two more runs scored for the Marlins as Goldyn crossed home plate following a Stewart ground out. Goldyn led off the inning on a double and advanced to third on an Ariana Rolle single. Rolle followed Goldyn home on the next at-bat as Julia Sinnett grounded out to scored the RBI. 

Virginia Wesleyan put four more runs on the board in the top of the fourth to lead 8-0 over William Peace. Biando scored from third base on a Maria Weddle single and Burgee came home on the following play while Weddle stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. After the Pacers allowed the Marlins to load the bases, Weddle and Goldyn added runs seven and eight to the board following an error by the third baseman. 

The final blow came in the top of the fifth when VWU added two more runs to push the total up to 10. Haleigh Settle and Julie Fassl scored the ninth and tenth runs, Settle off the Fassl double to left center and Fassl off a Brooke Anderson double to left center. 

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Jessica Goldyn and Katelyn Biando each with a pair of runs on a duo of hits. Danielle Stewart drove in two RBI in three at-bats. Emily Seale (W, 1-0) picked up her first collegiate win pitching four innings giving up just two hits and striking out three batters.

WILLIAM PEACE LEADERS
The Pacers were led by Reanna Braswell and Erica James with on hit each. Katherine Murphy (L, 0-2) took the loss allowing eight runs on nine hits. 

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action this Wednesday, Feb. 24, when they return to Tom & Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park for the home opener against the Avenging Angels of Meredith College for a double header. Game times are set for 1:30 and 3:30 PM and will be broadcasted for fans to follow along from home. Please note, no spectators are allowed to attend events at Virginia Wesleyan at this time.