The Virginia Wesleyan University opened NCAA Super Regional play in dominant fashion, defeating Case Western Reserve University 10-0 in five innings at home behind a historic perfect game performance from Hannah Hearl. The sophomore right-hander retired all 15 batters she faced while striking out nine to improve to 26-0 on the season as the Marlins moved to a perfect 49-0 overall.
Tucker and McQueen each finished with two RBIs while Sadler added two hits and an RBI. Virginia Wesleyan totaled 11 hits in the victory and drew seven walks offensively.
The Marlins wasted no time offensively, jumping ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Laci Campbell drew a leadoff walk before Samantha Deitsch followed with a single up the middle. Moments later, Morgan Tucker ripped an RBI single into left-center field to plate Campbell for the game's first run. After Tucker advanced into scoring position, Deitsch came home on a wild pitch to give Virginia Wesleyan an early 2-0 advantage.
Hearl immediately settled into command in the circle, striking out five of the first six Spartans she faced and allowing no offensive momentum throughout the contest.
Virginia Wesleyan broke the game open in the second inning with a five-run frame. Sarah Prosser started the rally with a walk before Campbell singled and stole second to place two runners in scoring position. Deitsch then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Prosser and extend the lead to 3-0. Tucker followed with an RBI double down the right-field line, bringing home Campbell before Taylor McQueen lined an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-0.
The Marlins continued to pressure the Spartan defense on the bases. After McQueen stole second and later advanced to third on a wild pitch, she stole home to cap another run in spectacular fashion. Olivia Knight later moved into scoring position and came around on an RBI double to right-center from Haley Sadler, giving the Marlins a commanding 7-0 lead after two innings.
Virginia Wesleyan added another run in the third inning when Tucker drew a walk and McQueen delivered again, blasting an RBI double to right-center to push the advantage to 8-0.
The Marlins finished the scoring in the fourth inning. Alison Pollack singled to begin the inning before Sadler added another base hit to put two runners aboard. Pinch hitter Emma Adams lined an RBI single into left-center field to score pinch runner Cali Megaro and make it 9-0. One batter later, pinch hitter Riley Curtice delivered another RBI single to left field, plating pinch runner Courtney Cole for the game-ending 10th run.
Hearl sealed the perfect game in the top of the fifth inning, retiring the final three Spartans in order to complete one of the most dominant postseason pitching performances in program history.
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