The Virginia Wesleyan University Softball team, ranked No. 1 in the country, extended its perfect season to 38-0 with a dominant doubleheader sweep over Salisbury, winning 9-0 in game one and 12-3 in game two.
Game One - Virginia Wesleyan 9, Salisbury 0
Hannah Hearl recorded her 19th win of the season as she tossed 6.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 12. Morgan Tucker had 1 hit in 3 at-bats, including a home run, drove in 3 runs, and drew 2 walks. Taylor Mcqueen recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats, drove in 2 runs, and walked twice. Alison Pollack finished with 2 hits in 5 at-bats, including a home run, and drove in 1 run.
VWU wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Laci Campbell led off with a single and advanced to third on productive outs before Taylor Mcqueen delivered an RBI single to right field, scoring Campbell for the game's first run.
The Marlins added two more runs in the second inning through aggressive baserunning and situational hitting. Karley Beltran doubled to start the rally and scored on a throwing error after Sarah Prosser singled and advanced. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Mcqueen worked a walk to force in Prosser, extending the lead to 3-0.
After several scoreless innings, the Marlins broke the game open in the sixth. Sarah Prosser singled to begin the frame, and Laci Campbell was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Morgan Tucker, who launched a three-run home run to right-center field, scoring both runners. Two batters later, Alison Pollack followed with a solo home run to left field, capping a four-run inning and pushing the lead to 7-0.
The Marlins added two more runs in the seventh inning. Emma Orr singled and came around to score on Karley Beltran's RBI double. Later in the inning, a Salisbury error allowed another run to cross the plate, closing out the scoring at 9-0.
Game Two - Virginia Wesleyan 12, Salisbury 3
Emma Adams tallied her 18th win of the season as she pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Morgan Tucker collected 3 hits in 4 at-bats, including a triple, and drove in 3 runs. Olivia Knight had 2 hits in 4 at-bats, including a home run, and drove in 2 runs. Emma Adams also contributed offensively with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, including a home run, and drove in 3 runs.
The Marlins struck first again in the opening inning. Laci Campbell reached base, and Samantha Deitsch walked before Morgan Tucker singled to put runners in scoring position. Alison Pollack then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Deitsch for a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Emma Adams helped her own cause by blasting a solo home run to left field, doubling the Marlins' advantage to 2-0.
The game turned decisively in the third inning as Virginia Wesleyan erupted for seven runs. Morgan Tucker started the rally with a single and scored on Taylor Mcqueen's RBI double. Alison Pollack followed with a single, and Olivia Knight drove in a run with a base hit up the middle. Adams then delivered an RBI single to score another run. After a sacrifice fly by Riley Curtice plated Knight, the Marlins loaded the bases again. Samantha Deitsch singled to keep the inning alive, and Morgan Tucker capped the outburst with a three-run triple to right field, extending the lead to 9-0.
VWU added two more runs in the fourth inning. Olivia Knight led off with a solo home run to center field. Later, with the bases loaded, Samantha Deitsch drew a walk to force in Riley Curtice, pushing the lead to 11-2 after Salisbury scored twice in the bottom of the third.
The Marlins tacked on their final run in the fifth inning. Taylor Mcqueen doubled to begin the inning and eventually scored on Brianna Jones' RBI single to left-center field, making it 12-2 at the time.
Adams closed out the game in the circle, and despite a solo home run by Salisbury in the fifth, Virginia Wesleyan completed the 12-3 victory to finish the sweep.
