The top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University softball team mounted a late rally in the seventh inning, but Rowan University held on for a 3-2 victory over the Marlins in game one of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament on Thursday morning in Salem.
Virginia Wesleyan moved to 50-1 on the season while Rowan improved to 43-9.
The Profs struck first in the opening inning. After a one-out single and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position, Kate Evick delivered an RBI single down the left field line to give Rowan a 1-0 lead.
The Marlins threatened in the fourth inning when Samantha Deitsch worked a walk and stole second base with two outs, but Rowan escaped the frame to maintain the one-run advantage.
Virginia Wesleyan starter Hannah Hearl kept the deficit at one through four innings, working around traffic in multiple frames and striking out four batters.
Rowan added to its lead in the fifth inning. The Profs had a leadoff walk and from there were able to score two runs on two hits, with error to increase their lead to 3-0.
The Marlins were held scoreless through six innings before mounting a final push in the bottom of the seventh.
Morgan Tucker started the rally with a single up the middle before Taylor McQueen followed with a double to center field, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Alison Pollack then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Tucker and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Moments later, Olivia Knight delivered another clutch hit for the Marlins, singling into right center to score McQueen and trim the Rowan lead to 3-2. With the tying run aboard, Rowan recorded the final two outs to secure the victory.
McQueen led Virginia Wesleyan offensively with a double and a run scored while Tucker finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Knight drove in a run on her seventh-inning single, and Pollack added an RBI sacrifice fly.
Hearl suffered her first loss of the season after allowing one earned run and striking out four over four innings. Emma Adams tossed the final three innings in relief, allowing two runs, one earned.
Virginia Wesleyan will continue play in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament with an elimination game on Friday, with a game time set for 1:30 p.m.
