The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (45-0, 20-0 ODAC) secured its 17th ODAC Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Bridgewater College 12-2 in five innings in game two of the ODAC Championship series at Broyles Field. The victory capped off a perfect conference tournament run for the Marlins, who improved to 45-0 on the season.
Inside the circle, Emma Adams earned the championship-clinching win after tossing all five innings. The senior allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out three to improve to 21-0 on the season.
Alison Pollack finished the day 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI, while Morgan Tucker went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI of her own. Taylor McQueen was 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run.
Bridgewater struck first in the opening inning with an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead, but the Marlins wasted little time responding.
In the bottom of the first, Morgan Tucker started the rally with a single to right-center before Taylor McQueen followed with a base hit through the left side. With two runners aboard, Alison Pollack launched a three-run homer over the left field fence, quickly flipping the scoreboard in Virginia Wesleyan's favor at 3-1.
The Marlins kept the pressure on in the second inning with four more runs. Riley Curtice drew a leadoff walk and Sarah Prosser followed with another free pass to put two on with nobody out. Laci Campbell then ripped a double down the left field line to plate Curtice while moving Prosser to third. Samantha Deitsch added an RBI groundout to score Prosser and extend the lead to 5-1. Two batters later, Tucker crushed a two-run home run to center field, bringing Campbell home and pushing the advantage to 7-1.
Bridgewater answered with a run in the third inning, trimming the deficit to 7-2, but the Marlins immediately countered in the home half.
Curtice singled to begin the inning and Prosser followed with a hit of her own. After Campbell reached on a fielder's choice, Deitsch reached safely on a defensive miscue that loaded the bases. Tucker delivered again, lining a two-run single up the middle to bring home Campbell and Prosser as Virginia Wesleyan extended its lead to 9-2.
The offense finished the scoring in the fourth inning with another three-run frame. Pollack led off the inning with her second home run of the game, this time a solo shot to center field. Olivia Knight followed with a single before Emma Adams doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Curtice then drove in a run with a single while also advancing into scoring position on an outfield error. Moments later, Prosser lined an RBI single through the left side to plate another run and make it 12-2.
The ODAC title marks the 17th conference championship in program history for Virginia Wesleyan and sends the Marlins into the NCAA Tournament still unbeaten at 45-0.
2026 Softball ODAC All-Tournament Team:
Most Outstanding Player: #25 Morgan Tucker
Virginia Wesleyan:
#21 Taylor McQueen
#23 Alison Pollack
#27 Hannah Hearl
#36 Emma Adams
Bridgewater:
#8 McKenna Mueller
#12 Caroline Malendra
#18 Mackenzie Cauthorn
Averett:
Mackenzie Newcomb
Guilford:
Kalissa Williams
Lynchburg:
Georgia Thompson
Randolph-Macon:
Mya Davis
Roanoke:
Baylee Compton
Shenandoah:
Brenna Westwood
