SALEM, Virginia - The No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan University Softball Marlins defeated the Bulldogs of No. 4 Texas Lutheran University 4-2 in game one in the best of three series of the 2021 NCAA Softball Championship on Monday, May 31, hosted by the ODAC and the City of Salem at Moyer Park in Salem, VA. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 4 - No. 4 Texas Lutheran 2
Record: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 45-5-1 - No. 4 Texas Lutheran 35-5
Location: Moyer Park  |  Salem, VA

INSIDE THE SCORE
The Marlins found the scoreboard first as Madison Glaubke, who reached on a triple to center field, came home during a Julia Sinnett bunt for the first run of the game. Danielle Stewart reached base after being hit by pitch and a batter later Karlee Fretz came to the plate and crushed a pitch over the left field wall for a three RBI homerun giving VWU a 4-0 lead.

TLU responded in the top of the second adding a pair of runs off a two RBI homerun over the same section of fence putting the score at 4-2. 

Following the two-run inning for the Bulldogs, neither team found a score the remainder of the game despite the Marlins leaving the bases loaded in both the bottom of the second and fifth innings. Both team played strong defense but the Marlins came out on top in the end en route to the 4-2 victory. 

KEY STATS

• Karlee Fretz had a big hit in the bottom of the first inning that flew over the left field wall to score Julia Sinnett and Danielle Stewart. 
• Hanna Hull (W: 22-3) threw all seven innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out seven and walking two. 

UP NEXT
The No. 2 Marlins will play tomorrow at 11 AM against the No. 4 Bulldogs of Texas Lutheran at Moyer Park in Salem, VA, in game two of the best of three series for the National Champion title.