Lynchburg, Va. -- Sophie Tully and Bri Hodges each clubbed three-run home runs to help University of Lynchburg's softball team win the nightcap in a doubleheader split with Shenandoah at home Sunday afternoon. SU won the opener by a 3-2 score before Lynchburg rolled to a 10-1, 5-inning victory in Game 2.

Both pitchers were sharp early in Game 1 until Lynchburg broke through in the bottom of the third. Ruby Stewart started the Hornets' rally with a leadoff double. Carly Hudnall drew a one-out walk, and Lexi Powell legged out an infield single to load the bases. Tully then delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field to put Lynchburg in front.

The lead didn't last long. Shenandoah earned an infield single and put two aboard after a Lynchburg fielding error, and the visitors' Hannah Maltos made Lynchburg pay with a three-run home run to take the lead.

Lynchburg got runners on base in each of the final three innings but could not bring the tying run around.

The nightcap was a different story as the Hornets scored early and often. Powell drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second, and Anna Grace Terrell was hit by a pitch to put two aboard before Tully launched a three-run home run to left for an early lead. The Hornets put two more across in the first thanks to a Leah Caldwell RBI single and an SU fielding miscue for a commanding 5-0 lead after an inning of play.

The Hornets weren't done. Tully started the second-inning rally with a one-out single, and after Caroline Joy was hit by a pitch, Hodges hit Lynchburg's second three-run home run of the game to put the hosts ahead, 8-0.

Lynchburg put single runs across in the third and fourth innings to extend the lead, and Emily Charlton pitched three scoreless to earn the win for the Hornets.

Lynchburg (18-16, 8-4 ODAC) will head to crosstown rival Randolph Wednesday for another conference doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m.

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--LYN--