The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (24-0, 8-0) defeated conference opponent Bridgewater, winning 4-2 in game one and winning 10-4 in game two.
Game One:
Hannah Hearl earned the win in the circle as she pitched 7.0 innings, allowed four hits two runs, and tallied seven strikeouts.
Taylor Mcqueen led the offense going 1-for-3 with a three run home run.
Samantha Deitsch was 2-for-4 with a double, and scored a run.
Alison Pollack was 1-for-2 with a double, and scored a run.
For five innings, the Marlins were locked in a tight pitchers' duel before the offense exploded in the sixth to take control.
Virginia Wesleyan finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, and they did it all in one decisive sequence.
Samantha Deitsch started the rally with a single, and
Morgan Tucker followed by drawing a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, setting the stage for Taylor McQueen, who launched a three-run home run to left field to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead.
The Marlins weren't done.
Alison Pollack kept the inning alive with a double down the left field line. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to third,
Haley Sadler lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Pollack home to cap the four-run inning and extend the lead to 4-0.
Bridgewater answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but that was all they would get. Behind a complete-game effort in the circle, Virginia Wesleyan shut the door the rest of the way to secure the 4-2 victory.
Game Two:
Emma Adams got the win in the circle, as she pitched 7.0 innings, allowed six hits, four runs, one earned run, and tallied five strikeouts.
Taylor Mcqueen led the offense again batting 3-for-5 with a homer, scored two runs, and tallied three RBI.
Laci Campbell was 2-for-5 with a double, scored one run, had two RBI, and stole a base.
Olivia Knight tallied three hits out of her four at bats, with a double, scored one run, and had one RBI.
Game two told a much different story, as the Marlins' offense erupted early and often in a 10-4 win to complete the sweep.
After being held scoreless through two innings, Virginia Wesleyan unleashed a massive third inning that completely flipped the game.
The rally started when Taylor McQueen reached on an error and moved into scoring position.
Alison Pollack then delivered with an RBI double to bring home the first run.
Olivia Knight followed with another RBI double, and
Emma Adams made it three straight run-scoring hits with a double of her own to push the lead to 3-0.
The hit parade continued as
Brianna Jones doubled to drive in another run. Moments later,
Sarah Prosser singled to keep traffic on the bases, and
Laci Campbell broke the game open with a two-RBI double to center, making it 6-0. Campbell would later score on a wild pitch, capping a seven-run inning and giving the Marlins full control at 7-0.
Virginia Wesleyan added insurance in the seventh inning. With two runners on, McQueen struck again—this time blasting a three-run homer to left field, scoring
Samantha Deitsch and
Morgan Tucker to extend the lead to 10-1.
