SWEET BRIAR, Va. - The Sweet Briar College softball team (2-4, 0-0 ODAC) dropped both games in today's doubleheader against the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops (2-3-1, 0-0 USA South). The Vixens fell 6-0 in game one and 10-5 in game two.
Game One
After five scoreless innings and a pitchers' duel, the Battling Bishops were able to plate two runs to make the score 2-0.
The seventh inning saw North Carolina Wesleyan plate an additional four runs to make the score 6-0. In the bottom of the seventh, Sweet Briar tried to rally as sophomore
Abi Sawyers (Matthews, N.C.) singled to left and advanced all the way to third on an error in left field. The Vixens continued to battled, but were unable to close the gap.
Game Two
In the bottom of the first Sweet Briar immediately capitalized when both junior
Jordan Martin (Wilmington, N.C.) and senior
Kaylie Hudson (Lynchburg, Va.) singled to put two on with none out. Sawyers lifted a sacrifice fly to center that brought home both Hudson and Martin on the play for a 2–0 Vixen lead.
The Battling Bishops answered quickly in the top of the second to put N.C. Wesleyan in front 3–2.
In the third, the Vixens then reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning. After Martin was hit by a pitchand Hudson reached on a error, putting two on. Junior
Ambyre Taylor (Arrington, Va.) followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Martin and moving Hudson to second to tie the game 3–3, and later in the frame Sawyers reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second as Hudson stole home, giving Sweet Briar a 4–3 advantage.
The fourth saw North Carolina Wesleyan pull even again to make the score 4-4. In the bottom of the inning, Sweet Briar mounted another threat when sophomore
Emily Cottingham (Chesterfield, Va.) singled and stole second, followed by Martin being hit by a pitch. The Vixens were unable to capitalize and the inning ended with the score still locked at 4–4.
In the top of the fifth the Battling Bishops were able to plate five runs making the score 9-5.
The seventh inning saw Sweet Briar mount one final push. Martin started the inning with an infield single to third. Hudson reached first on a fielder's choice. Hudson promptly stole second, and Taylor lined a single to the outfield to score Hudson and trim the deficit to 10–5 before the end of the game.
Highlights
- Today marks the first match up between these two teams in Sweet Briar's history.
- First-year Pepper Maranto (Jetersville, Va.) made her pitching debut.
What's Next
The Vixens will remain home to face Marymount University on March 1st.
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vixenathletics.com, to stay up-to-date on all Vixens sports and access live video coverage from the
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