For immediate release - 3/21/2015 - #352

Hornet Softball Splits with #11 Virginia Wesleyan

LYNCHBURG, VA - The Lynchburg College softball team split an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader Saturday with 11th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan College, dropping the first game 7-6 and winning the second 5-2.

A Hornet rally in the opener wasn't enough to close the gap as Virginia Wesleyan hung on for the win. The Marlins scored four runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 7-3, but LC closed to 7-6 with three in the bottom of the sixth frame. Nicole Riley's hit a two-run double in the inning, but the Hornets left two runners stranded. LC got the tying run on base in the seventh but couldn't even the score.

Senior Jessi Hall reached base safely in all four of her plate appearances, going 3-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Amber Ingram belted a two-run home run and Olivia Donahue went 2-3. Taylor Galvin went 2-3 with a double, a home run, two runs and four RBI for the Marlins.

Virginia Wesleyan scored two runs in the top of the first of the nightcap, but the LC bullpen spun 6 2/3 of scoreless relief. Hope Johnson threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed just three hits and one walk to earn the win, and Conner English threw 1 2/3 effective innings to close the game out and pick up her second save of the season.

LC pushed across three runs in the fourth to go ahead 3-2, scoring on a fielder's choice, a groundout and a throwing error. Danielle Powell brought home two runs in the fifth with a two out single and the score remained 5-2 the rest of the way.Hall had two of Lynchburg's four hits in the second game. Galvin and Blake Hender each homered for VWC (12-4/2-2 ODAC). 

Lynchburg (13-6/5-1 ODAC hosts Ferrum College Sunday at 2 p.m. for a non-conference doubleheader.

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