For immediate release – 4/10/2011 - #335
Hornet Softball Splits with Va. Wesleyan

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College softball team split an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader Sunday afternoon with visiting Virginia Wesleyan College, as the Marlins took game one 5-3 and LC won the nightcap 4-0.

Virginia Wesleyan scored twice in the first on a Jaclyn Quinn double and a sacrifice fly. Rachel Gallagher homered for LC in the second and the score remained 2-1 until the Marlins added a run in the top of the fifth. The Hornet scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at three all, taking advantage of two VWC errors. The Marlins plated two runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Season Dailey and Paige Pritchett, and LC went down 1-2-3 in its half of the frame. VWC's Tori Higginbotham and Quinn each had two base-hits and right-hander MacKenzie Creech scattered seven hits and struck out seven to earn the complete-game victory. Katie Bruce allowed nine hits and five earned runs for LC while striking out three in seven innings.

The Hornet offense struck early in the second game, scoring the only four runs of the contest in the first inning. Melanie Tenney walked to lead off the inning and would eventually score on a Gallagher single. Taylor Walker took a bases-loaded free pass to drive in the second run and Amanda Parker singled to center field to drive in two more Hornets. Sophomore Cassie Phillips was dominant in the circle for Lynchburg, allowing just two hits and two walks for the complete-game shutout victory. Tenney made two outstanding plays in center field to rob Virginia Wesleyan of hits in the late innings. Creech pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and two walks and Dailey had both Marlin hits.

Lynchburg (20-16/8-10 ODAC) hosts Christopher Newport University in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m.

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