COLUMBUS, Georgia - The No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan softball team closed out the 2022 NFCA Leadoff Classic with a pair of wins over Central College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

GAME 1 INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 5 - Central 4
Record: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 8-3 | Central 1-4
Location: Columbus, GA

INSIDE THE SCORE
Virginia Wesleyan started the game off with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Caitlin Myers doubled to left field to score Arianna Rolle for the first run and a sac fly by Karlee Fretz scored Myers for the second run. 

VWU added another run in the top of the second as Maria Weddle crossed home plate on a Rolle at-bat. Central found their first run and pulled within two runs, 3-1, off a bunt single.

A homer by Myers put VWU up 4-1 in the top of the fifth and later in the same inning, a single to center field by Madison Hudson scored Mikaya Himes. 

Central in the bottom of the sixth came back to trail by one, 5-4, but the Marlins held off Dutch to win 5-4.

GAME 2 INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 1 - MIT 0
Record: No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan 9-3 | MIT 1-5
Location: Columbus, GA

INSIDE THE SCORE
The second game of the day for the Marlins was a low scoring game with just one run scored in the contest. VWU, after holding the Engineers to three-up, three-down in the top of the first, scored a run in the bottom half of the inning as Caitlin Myers came home on an error during a Karlee Fretz at-bat. 

VWU had opportunities to score more runners as six runners were left on base, including three in the bottom of the sixth, but now more Marlins crossed the plate. 

Virginia Wesleyan managed to hold off MIT through all seven innings to claim the 1-0 win to conclude the 2022 NFCA Leadoff Classic.

UP NEXT
The Marlins return to action next weekend when they cohost the Cross Bay Bash with Christopher Newport University. VWU will host a pair of neutral site games Friday, March 11, at 10 AM and 12:30 PM. Virginia Wesleyan will take to the field on Saturday, March 12, at 12:30 and 3 PM after a neutral site game at 10 AM. Action concludes on Sunday, with another triple header of a neutral game at 10 AM, and the Marlins playing at 12:30 and 3 PM.