The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (31-2-1, 13-1 ODAC) split the doubleheader with conference opponent Bridgewater, winning game one 4-1 and losing 5-4 in eight innings.
Before the start of the game, the Virginia Wesleyan University Softball Program honored two more seniors: Joslyn Woodard and Lauren Bible.
Game One:
Morgan Tucker led the offense going 2-for-3 with a triple, and added one RBI, Julia Piotrowski was 2-for-3 and scored a run, and Joslyn Woodard was 2-for-3 as well and scored a run.
Lauren Bible recorded her 18th win of the year on senior day, pitching 7.0 innings, allowed four hits, one run, and had three strikeouts.
Bridgewater got on the board first in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Marlins responded in the bottom of the third inning, Virginia Wesleyan sparked a rally that would give them control of the game. Julia Piotrowsk led off with a perfectly placed bunt single, followed by Joslyn Woodard, who reached safely on an infield single to the shortstop, advancing Piotrowski to second. Alexis Hudgens then executed a textbook sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. With two on and one out, Sarah Prosser delivered a sharp single to left field, driving in Piotrowski and moving Woodard to third. Mackenzie Myers extended the lead with a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Woodard to tag up and score. The offense continued, with a Laci Campbell single up the middle and moving Prosser to second. Morgan Tucker capped off the inning with a single up the middle, advancing to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. The error proved costly as it allowed Prosser to score, making it 3–1 in favor of the Marlins.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Marlins added to their lead with another key offensive sequence. Mackenzie Myers kept things going with a single to left field. Showing her speed and heads-up base running, Myers stole second, putting herself in scoring position with only one out. Morgan Tucker stepped to the plate and came through again, launching a triple to right field, driving in Myers and extending the Marlins' lead to 4–1.
Game Two:
Mackenzie Myers led the offense going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, scored one run, and stole one base. Sarah Prosser was 1-for-3 and scored one run, and teammate Laci Campbell was 1-for-4, scored one run, and stole two bases.
Hannah Hearl recorded the loss, as she pitched 6.0 innings, allowed five hits, one run, and six strikeouts. Lauren Bible came in relief and pitched 2.0 innings, allowed six hits, four runs, and had one strikeout.
The Marlins scored first in game two, as Virginia Wesleyan's offense found its rhythm and put pressure on the Bridgewater defense in the bottom of the third inning. Mackenzie Myers led off with a solid double to left field, putting the Marlins in immediate scoring position. Laci Campbell followed with a perfectly placed bunt single, advancing Myers to third base. Capitalizing on their aggressive base running, both players executed steals, Campbell swiping second and then taking third, while Myers dashed home to score the game's first run. Morgan Tucker then stepped up and grounded out to second base, but it was enough to bring Campbell home, giving Virginia Wesleyan a 2-0 lead.
The Marlins kept the momentum going in the bottom of the fourth. Julia Piotrowski grounded out to third for the first out. Samantha Deitsch reached first base next, thanks to a throwing error by the pitcher, and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Alexis Hudgens followed with a fly out to center, failing to advance the runner. Sarah Prosser then worked a walk to extend the inning, and Mackenzie Myers delivered again with an infield single that loaded the bases. Laci Campbell put the ball in play, and a miscue by the first baseman allowed two unearned runs to score. By the end of the inning, Virginia Wesleyan had extended their lead to 4-0, capitalizing on defensive mistakes and timely hitting.
The sixth innings saw the Eagles' bats come alive as they scored three runs on four hits to cut the Marlins' lead to 4-3. In the seventh inning, Bridgewater scored again, scoring one run on two hits to tie the game at 4-4 to force extra innings.
With a runner placed on second, Bridgewater scored a run off a hit and a throwing error to take a 5-4 lead. The Marlins came up in the eighth and worked two walks to load up the bases with two outs. However, a routine ground out ended the inning to seal the win for the Eagles.
