No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan University Softball team (12-0) opened the Cross Bay Bash with a pair of wins, defeating the University of Rochester 9-2 in game one before topping Southern Virginia 6-2 in the nightcap to remain unbeaten on the season.
Game 1:
The Marlins finished with 14 hits in the game. Deitsch led the way with three hits and five RBIs, while Campbell scored four runs and swiped two bases. Tucker added two hits and two RBIs, and Adams chipped in two hits.
Hannah Hearl went the distance in the circle, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out seven to improve to 6-0 on the season.
Virginia Wesleyan wasted little time getting on the scoreboard and never looked back in a 9-2 victory over Rochester to open tournament play.
The Marlins struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Laci Campbell singled to begin the frame, stole second, and later came home when Morgan Tucker lined an RBI single to center to give Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.
The offense added to the advantage in the second inning. Emma Adams opened the frame with a single, and Karley Beltran followed with a base hit to put two on. After a sacrifice bunt put runners in scoring position, Samantha Deitsch delivered a two-run double to left field to plate Sarah Prosser and Beltran. Tucker then grounded out to first but drove in Campbell to extend the lead to 4-0.
Rochester cut into the lead in the third inning with a two-run single from Rowan Mulholland, but the Marlins answered immediately.
In the bottom of the fourth, Campbell singled and stole second before Deitsch came through again, lining an RBI single to left that brought Campbell home and pushed the lead to 5-2.
Virginia Wesleyan put the game away with a four-run fifth inning. Alison Pollack and Adams opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Beltran reached on an error to load the bases. Campbell was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Deitsch followed with a two-run single through the left side. Taylor McQueen added an RBI single later in the inning to cap the scoring and extend the lead to 9-2.
Game 2:
Pollack led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Tucker drove in two runs and scored twice. Knight, Sadler, and Prosser each added hits as the Marlins totaled nine in the game.
Emma Adams earned the win in the circle, tossing four strong innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Savannah Ballou and Emma Orr combined in relief before Adams returned to record the final out.
Virginia Wesleyan carried the momentum into game two, scoring early and controlling the game in a 6-2 win over Southern Virginia.
The Marlins plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Samantha Deitsch singled and stole second before Morgan Tucker drove her in with an RBI single to right. Olivia Knight followed with a single that brought Tucker home after a throwing error, and Alison Pollack added another RBI single to make it 3-0.
Virginia Wesleyan added two more runs in the second. Haley Sadler singled, and Sarah Prosser followed with a base hit to put two on. Deitsch brought home Sadler on a fielder's choice, and Tucker grounded out to second but drove in Prosser to extend the lead to 5-0.
Southern Virginia got on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI single from Sophia Badell to make it 5-1.
The Marlins answered in the fifth inning. Tucker drew a walk and eventually moved to third on a wild pitch before Pollack delivered again with an RBI single to push the lead to 6-1.
Southern Virginia added a run in the seventh on a groundout, but Virginia Wesleyan closed the door to secure the win.
Pollack led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Tucker drove in two runs and scored twice. Knight, Sadler, and Prosser each added hits as the Marlins totaled nine in the game.
Emma Adams earned the win in the circle, tossing four strong innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Savannah Ballou and Emma Orr combined in relief before Adams returned to record the final out.
