The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (43-3-1, 21-1 ODAC) defeated Swarthmore 5-1 on day two of the NCAA Regional hosted by Virginia Wesleyan.
Samantha Deitsch led the Marlins offense going 2-for-2 with a double, tallied three RBI, and had one stolen base.
Morgan Tucker was 2-for-3 with a triple, and scored two runs and teammate
Alexis Hudgens was 2-for-3, scored a run, and had one stolen base.
Hannah Hearl pitched well for the complete game 7.0 innings, allowed one run, and had six strikeouts.
With the game still scoreless,
Morgan Tucker ignited the bats with a triple to left center. After a groundout,
Samantha Deitsch came in as a pinch hitter and made an immediate impact. She roped a double to left center, driving in Tucker for the first run of the game to give Virginia Wesleyan a 1–0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Marlins broke the game wide open.
Alexis Hudgens laid down a perfect bunt single and promptly stole second.
Brooke Powell drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance, and
Sarah Prosser came in to run for her. After Swarthmore had made a pitching change, Julia Piotrowsk delivered a base hit to the left and loaded the bases.
Laci Campbell followed with a clutch RBI single up the middle, scoring Hudgens. The pressure continued as Tucker reached on a fielder's choice, and although Prosser was thrown out at the plate, the Marlins weren't done.
Mackenzie Myers drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run, and Deitsch capped the inning with a two-run single to right, putting Virginia Wesleyan firmly in control with a 5–0 lead.
Swarthmore got on the board in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough. After a leadoff walk to Borza, an errant throw on a ground ball allowed Borza to come all the way around to score an unearned run. That would be all the offense Swarthmore could muster, as the Marlins closed the door to seal the 5–1 win.
