The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (40-0, 20-0 ODAC) rolled past Lynchburg in the regular season finale, winning game one 8-0, and game two 12-1. The ODAC is in the midst of its 50th year of operation, so it is pretty difficult to set new major records. But that is exactly what Virginia Wesleyan University softball has done. The nationally top-ranked Marlins completed the first 40-0 regular season in conference history this weekend, sweeping through its ODAC slate at 20-0 to match the league record posted by VWU's 2017 national championship winning squad. Virginia Wesleyan claims the ODAC regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming ODAC Softball Tournament.
Game 1: Virginia Wesleyan 8, Lynchburg 0
In the circle,
Hannah Hearl was nearly untouchable, tossing a one-hit shutout and striking out 12 to preserve the victory. At the plate,
Alison Pollack was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, scored two runs, and led the team with three RBI.
Samantha Deitsch went 2-for-3 in the game, scored two runs, stole three bases, and had one RBI.
Laci Campbell was 1-for-2, scored two runs, and stole three bases.
The Marlins wasted no time setting the tone, striking for three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Laci Campbell ignited the offense by reaching on a hit-by-pitch and immediately putting pressure on the defense with a stolen base.
Samantha Deitsch followed with a single through the right side that brought Campbell home for the game's first run. After another steal moved Deitsch into scoring position,
Alison Pollack delivered a clutch triple to center field, driving in Deitsch. Moments later, Pollack came home on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Virginia Wesleyan added to its lead in the third with another explosive inning. Deitsch again sparked the rally with a single and stolen base, and
Morgan Tucker doubled down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. Pollack came through again, this time with a two-run double up the middle to plate both runners.
Haley Sadler followed with an RBI single to score Pollack, stretching the advantage to 6-0.
In the fourth, the Marlins manufactured another run with aggressive baserunning. Campbell singled, then stole both second and third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Tucker.
The final run came in the sixth inning. After Tucker reached and advanced into scoring position, a series of walks loaded the bases.
Karley Beltran capped the scoring with a bases-loaded walk, forcing in Tucker for the 8-0 final.
Game 2: Virginia Wesleyan 12, Lynchburg 1
Emma Adams recorded her 19th win of the season in the circle, as she pitched 4.0 innings, allowed four hits, one run, and registered three strikeouts and teammate
Emma Orr came in relief and pitched 1.0 inning, allowed two hits, and zero runs.
Morgan Tucker led the offense in game two, going 2-for-3, with a two-run homer and a double, scored two runs, and tallied a season-high five RBI.
Samantha Deitsch had a great game at the plate going 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, scored two runs, and had two RBI.
Sarah Prosser was 2-for-3, scored a run, stole one base, and had one RBI.
Lynchburg struck first in the opening inning, but the Marlins answered immediately.
Samantha Deitsch tripled and scored on a groundout by
Morgan Tucker to even the game at 1-1.
The second inning broke things wide open.
Alison Pollack started the rally with a single, and
Olivia Knight followed with a double that turned into two runs after a defensive miscue, giving Virginia Wesleyan the lead. The Marlins kept the pressure on as
Riley Curtice and
Sarah Prosser singled to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Deitsch brought in another run, and Tucker delivered a two-run double to extend the lead.
Taylor Mcqueen added an RBI single to cap a six-run inning and make it 7-1.
Virginia Wesleyan poured it on again in the third. After a leadoff walk and a hit-by-pitch put runners aboard, Prosser singled to drive in a run. Campbell followed with a sacrifice fly, and Deitsch added an RBI double. Tucker then delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a two-run home run to push the lead to 12-1.
