The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (6-0) defeated Mary Baldwin 8-0 and Tufts 7-1 on day one of the Triangle Collegiate Softball Classic.
Game One:
In the circle,
Emma Orr earned the win after tossing 3.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Emma Adams closed the game with 1.1 innings of shutout relief as the Marlins limited Mary Baldwin to three hits.
After two scoreless innings, Virginia Wesleyan broke through in the bottom of the third.
Laci Campbell reached on an error and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Following a walk to
Morgan Tucker,
Olivia Knight delivered an RBI single to left center to bring Campbell home for the first run of the game.
The Marlins put the contest away in the fifth inning with a seven-run outburst. Campbell and Taylor McQueen drew walks to begin the frame before Tucker added another walk to load the bases. Knight worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and
Emma Adams followed with a two-run single to extend the lead.
Alison Pollack then drove in another run with a single through the left side.
Virginia Wesleyan continued to capitalize on the rally as
Haley Sadler reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Adams. After a wild pitch scored
Brianna Jones,
Cali Megaro capped the inning with an RBI single to left field to give the Marlins the 8-0 lead and trigger the run-rule victory.
Game Two:
Hannah Hearl delivered a complete-game effort in the circle, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Morgan Tucker led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run, scored a run, and had four RBI. Olivia Knight was 3-for-4 at bat with a home run and a double, scored a run, with one RBI. Samantha Deitsch was 2-for-4 with a home run, scored one run, and had two RBI.
The game remained scoreless through four innings before the Marlins erupted in the fifth. After a walk and a single put two runners aboard, Morgan Tucker blasted a three-run home run to left center to give Virginia Wesleyan a 3-0 lead. Olivia Knight followed immediately with a solo homer to center field, pushing the advantage to four runs.
Later in the inning, Samantha Deitsch added an RBI single to score Brianna Jones and extend the lead to 5-0.
Virginia Wesleyan continued to add insurance runs in the later innings. In the sixth, Tucker singled up the middle to drive in Laci Campbell after she reached base and stole second. Deitsch then capped the scoring in the seventh with a solo home run to left center.
Tufts scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Marlins maintained control throughout the game.
