The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (41-0, 20-0 ODAC) kept its perfect season intact, using timely hitting and a powerful middle of the lineup to defeat Guilford, 7-2, in Salem.
Taylor Mcqueen led the team going 3-for-4 at bat with a homer and a double, scored three runs, and had two RBI. Sarah Prosser was 2-for-3, with an RBI. Alison Pollack was 1-for-2 with a home run, scored two runs, and had one RBI.
Hannah Hearl registered her 21st win of the season, pitched 4.0 innings, allowed four hits, allowed one earned run, and had four strikeouts. Emma Adams came in relief, pitched 3.0 innings, allowed one hit, one run, and recorded one strikeout.
The Marlins struck first in the bottom of the second inning, capitalizing on early traffic and a defensive miscue. Taylor McQueen jump started the rally with a double to left, and after Alison Pollack reached on an error that allowed McQueen to move to third, Olivia Knight brought home the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Haley Sadler followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position, and Sarah Prosser delivered with a clutch single to left, scoring Pollack to make it 2-0.
Virginia Wesleyan added to its lead in the third inning thanks to more production from the heart of the order. McQueen singled and aggressively moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Two batters later, Knight came through again, lacing a double that scored McQueen and extended the advantage to 3-0.
After Guilford got on the board in the fourth, the Marlins responded with their most decisive frame of the day in the fifth inning. Morgan Tucker led off with a single, setting the stage for McQueen, who blasted a two-run home run to left field to push the lead to 5-1. The very next batter, Pollack, followed with a solo home run of her own, going back-to-back and giving Virginia Wesleyan a commanding 6-1 cushion.
The Marlins tacked on one more run in the sixth inning with a well-executed sequence. Sarah Prosser reached to start the inning, and Laci Campbell later worked a walk. Samantha Deitsch then singled to move Campbell to third, and Tucker lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Campbell to tag and score for the team's seventh run of the contest.
Inside the circle, Hannah Hearl remained dominant, earning the win with four strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out four. Emma Adams closed out the final three innings, limiting Guilford's chances and securing the victory.
At the plate, McQueen led the charge with a three-hit, three-run performance that included a home run and two RBIs. Pollack added a home run and two runs scored, while Knight drove in a pair and Prosser contributed two hits and an RBI.
With the win, Virginia Wesleyan improves to 41-0, continuing its historic run behind a balanced offensive attack and steady pitching.
