The No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (2-0) defeated non-conference opponent N.C. Wesleyan in a doubleheader, winning game one 10-0 and game two 14-1.
Game One:
Laci Campbell led the offense going 2-for-2 with a double and a home run, scored two runs, stole two bases and registered a team-high four RBI.
Taylor Mcqueen was 1-for-2 at bat, scored a run, with two RBI, and stole two bases.
Emma Orr was 2-for-3 and scored a run.
Hannah Hearl got the win in the circle as she pitched 4.0 innings, allowed one hit, zero runs, and tallied seven strikeouts.
Savannah Ballou pitched 1.0 innings in relief, allowed one hit, zero runs, and had one strikeout.
After a scoreless first inning for both sides, the Marlins broke through in the top of the second with a four-run frame.
Emma Orr sparked the rally with a double to center field. After
Samantha Deitsch flied out,
Karley Beltran drew a walk to put two on base. A passed ball allowed both runners to move into scoring position.
Sarah Prosser then reached on an error by the shortstop, advancing to second on the play as both Beltran and Orr crossed the plate for the game's first two runs. Moments later,
Laci Campbell delivered a two-run homer to right field, scoring
Sarah Prosser and extending the lead to 4-0.
N.C. Wesleyan was retired in order in the bottom half of the inning and would not score.
Virginia Wesleyan added to its advantage in the top of the fourth. After two quick outs,
Laci Campbell worked a walk and stole second.
Taylor Mcqueen followed with a single up the middle to plate Campbell and make it 5-0. Mcqueen then stole second, and
Morgan Tucker drew a walk to continue the pressure.
Olivia Knight reached on another error by the shortstop, advancing to second on the play while Mcqueen scored and Tucker moved to third, pushing the lead to 6-0 before the inning ended.
The Marlins put the game out of reach in the fifth with four more runs. Orr singled up the middle to start the inning and was replaced by pinch runner
Riley Curtice. Deitsch followed with a single to left, moving Curtice to second.
Brianna Jones then doubled up the middle, driving in Curtice while Deitsch advanced to third to make it 7-0. After Prosser was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Campbell came through again with a double up the middle, scoring both Jones and Deitsch while Prosser advanced to third. Mcqueen capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Prosser for the 10-0 advantage.
N.C. Wesleyan threatened minimally in its final at-bat, but the Marlins secured the run-rule victory.
Game Two:
Taylor Mcqueen led the offense going 2-for-3 at bat, scored one run, and led the team with four RBI.
Morgan Tucker went 2-for-2, scored two runs, and had one RBI, and teammate
Emma Adams was 2-for-3 with a double, scored one run, and had three RBI.
Emma Adams registered the win in the circle pitching 5.0 innings, allowed four hits, one run, and tallied four strikeouts.
Virginia Wesleyan wasted little time getting on the board in the top of the first.
Sarah Prosser singled up the middle and immediately applied pressure, stealing second before moving to third on a groundout by
Laci Campbell. With two outs,
Morgan Tucker delivered a single through the left side, bringing Prosser home for the game's first run and a 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Marlins erupted in the top of the third with a 13-run outburst.
The rally began when Prosser drew a walk and stole second.
Laci Campbell followed with a single, and after a double steal put both runners in scoring position,
Taylor Mcqueen singled up the middle to drive in both, extending the lead to 3-0. M. Tucker singled to keep the inning alive, and
Olivia Knight added a single to left to load the bases.
Following a pitching change, Edams Adams singled to left field to score
Morgan Tucker and make it 4-0.
Samantha Deitsch followed with an RBI single, plating
Olivia Knight for a 5-0 advantage.
Brianna Jones then singled to shortstop to bring home Allison Pollack, who had reached on a fielder's choice, pushing the lead to 6-0.
The Marlins capitalized on an error by the second baseman as Prosser reached safely, allowing both Deitsch and Adams to score unearned runs and extend the margin to 8-0. With the bases still active, Mcqueen singled to center field to drive in two more unearned runs, scoring Prosser and Jones to make it 10-0. O. Knight added a sacrifice fly to left field to plate
Karley Beltran, stretching the lead to 11-0.
The inning continued as
Mackenzie Swanson singled to left center to score Mcqueen, and Adams capped the explosive frame with a double to center field, driving in Swanson and Tucker to give Virginia Wesleyan a commanding 14-0 lead.
N.C. Wesleyan answered with a run in the bottom of the third but did not threaten further. The Marlins were held scoreless over the final two innings, while the Battling Bishops were limited to their lone run.
