WINCHESTER, Va. – The Sweet Briar College softball team (13-23) concluded the 2023 season today by splitting a doubleheader contest against the Shenandoah University Hornets (14-24, 8-12 ODAC). The Vixens took the first game 4-3 before falling in the second by a score of 5-2.
Game One
After a scoreless first inning, the home team got on the board first in the bottom of the second thanks to a sacrifice fly.
The Vixens' first run of the game would come in the top of the sixth when first-year
Victoria Tew (Hope Mills, N.C.) put a ball into play that would allow for fellow first-year
Kaylie Hudson (Lynchburg, Va.) to cross home plate.
The follow-up single from first-year
Lauren Jamerson (Buckingham, Va.) would send first-year
Anna Smith (Rocky Mount, Va.) home for the 2-1 lead.
However, Shenandoah would immediately tie the game up at two thanks to a home run.
Heads-up base running and a successful stolen second base from Smith in the top of the eighth would allow for first-year
Jasmine Mooney (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) to come home to help Sweet Briar regain the lead.
An infield hit from to send Smith home would give the Vixens a much-needed insurance run as the Hornets closed out the game with a run of their own to bring the final score to 4-3.
First-year
Grace Pisenti (Madison Heights, Va.) got the win for Sweet Briar at the mound after pitching all eight innings. The Virginia native faced 31 batters, struck out two and forced 17 flyouts and five groundouts.
At the plate, Tew led the team with two RBIs while Smith totaled two runs scored.
Game Two
Both teams once again took some time to warm up the bats in game two with the first run coming at the hands of Shenandoah in the bottom of the third inning.
The Hornets would tack on an additional run in the fifth before the Vixens could tally two of their own in the sixth.
A double from first-year
Kaydin Williams (Richlands, N.C.) to center field would score Tew while fellow first-year
Melanie Rees (Partlow, Va.) earned a single to send Williams across home plate to tie the game up at two.
The home team would close out the sixth inning with three runs of their own to earn the 5-2 victory.
Pisenti got the start for the Vixens in game two as well and faced 15 batters through 3.1 innings pitched. Pisenti struck out one and forced seven flyouts and two groundouts.
Coming into the game in relief, first-year
Alyssa O'Quinn (Powhatan, Va.) saw 13 batters through 2.2 innings and forced two flyouts and four groundouts.
Both Rees and Williams recorded one RBI while Williams totaled two hits to lead the team.
Highlights
- Today's game one victory marks the first ever win for Sweet Briar against Shenandoah in program history.
- With a .456 batting average, Hudson closes out the season ranked 70th in the nation.
What's Next
The Vixens will now set their sights on the 2024 season.
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