The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (12-0) took down the No. 1 team East Texas Baptist in a 6-1 win and followed that with a 10-5 victory over George Fox.
Game One:
Emma Adams did well as she had a two-run home run, going 1-for-2, Mackenzie Myers went 2-for-3 with a double, scored one run, and one RBI, and Julia Piotrowski was 2-for-3 and scored one run.
Lauren Bible pitched a gem in the circle, pitched 7.0 innings, allowed six hits, one earned run, and had two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third inning, Virginia Wesleyan exploded for a four-run rally to take control of the game. Laci Campbell started the rally with a single to right field and then stole second base. Mackenzie Myers followed with a double down the left-field line, bringing Campbell home. Morgan Tucker reached first on an error by the second baseman, allowing Myers to score. Emma Adams added to the lead with a two-run homer, driving in Tucker and making the score 4-0.
The Marlins extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs. Olivia Knight led off by walking, and Riley Curtice pinch-ran for her. Julia Piotrowski then laid down a bunt single, advancing Curtice to second. Joslyn Woodward hit a sacrifice bunt to move both Piotrowski and Curtice to advance to second and third. With runners in scoring position, Brooke Powell pinch hit for Alexis Hudgens and delivered a clutch single up the middle, driving in both Piotrowski and Curtice to make it 6-0.
The Tigers managed to score one run in the seventh to bring the score to 6-1. However, good pitching and solid defense sealed the win for the No. 6 Marlins over the No. 1 East Texas Baptist University.
Game Two:
Laci Campbell led the Marlins as she went 3-for-4 with a home run, scored three runs, had one RBI, and stole one base. Mackenzie Myers was also 3-for-4 at-bat, scored two runs, and had one RBI. and Mirandah Jenkins was 2-for-4 with an inside-the-park three-run homer, scored two runs, and recorded three RBI.
Lauren Bible came in relief to get the win as she pitched 3.0 innings, allowed three hits, two earned runs, and registered one strikeout. Hannah Hearl came in to close out the game and got her first career save, she pitched 2.0 innings and tallied two strikeouts.
Virginia Wesleyan came out strong, scoring four runs in the first inning of play. Mackenzie Myers singled down the left-field line and advanced to second on a passed ball, setting up Morgan Tucker, who doubled to left center to bring Myers home to put VWU up 1-0. Emma Adams followed with a single up the middle, driving in Tucker to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead. Mirandah Jenkins then singled to left field, advancing Adams to second. Julia Piotrowski added to the lead with a double to left center, plating both Jenkins and Adams for a 4-0 advantage.
The Bruins came out in the second and scored three runs to cut the lead to 4-3. However, VWU responded as Laci Campbell hit a solo home run in the second to increase their lead to 5-3.
Virginia Wesleyan added a run in the fourth as Campbell led off the inning with a single up the middle and stole second. Then, Mackenzie Myers singled to score Campbell from third to lead 6-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Marlins added six more runs to their total. Laci Campbell led off with a single to center field, and Myers reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop, moving Campbell to second. Followed by a single from Emma Adams to right field, bringing in Campbell and advancing Myers to third. The score stood at 7-5. Mirandah Jenkins then delivered a three-run homer, driving in Adams and Myers, stretching the lead to 10-5.
