Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg's softball team opened conference play with a split against the Virginia Wesleyan Sunday afternoon.

The 16th-ranked Hornets dropped Game 1 of the double-header 5-0 but closed the series with a 6-3 victory over the sixth-ranked Marlins.

Karle Cundiff led the way for the Hornets going 3-for-5 on the day driving in three runs in Game 2. Emily Charlton pitched a complete game only allowing four hits for her third win on the season.

Virginia Wesleyan opened the scoring early and plated one in the top of the 1st inning. From there, the Marlins scored two runs in the 5th and 7th innings, respectively. The Marlins were led in Game 1 by Autumn Boothe who went 2-for-4. Boothe also drove in four runs for the visitors. The Marlins earned their NCAA-best ninth shutout on the season after Emily Seale went the distance.

Game 2, however, was a different story for the Hornets at the plate. After loading the bases, Carly Hudnall stepped into the box with two outs and put pressure on the Marlin defense by putting the ball in play on the left side of the infield which resulted in the opening run of the game crossing the plate for the Hornets. Immediately after, Cundiff singled up the middle to score another run for the No. 16 team in the country.

Lynchburg held the 2-0 advantage until the bottom of the 3rd when Cundiff hit a fly ball into right field that dropped just in front of the outstretched glove of the Marlins right fielder. Two runs scored on the play the lead to 4-0.

However, the visitors fought back, scoring two runs in the 4th and one in the 6th to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Hornets responded in the bottom half by scoring two insurance runs off the bat of Bri Hodges to extend their lead back up to 6-3.

Charlton allowed only four hits and struck out five as she earned her third complete game of the season. The junior pitcher struck out the final batter of the game to earn the Hornets their first conference win of the 2023 season. 

Lynchburg (11-7) will welcome Marymount to Moon Field on Tuesday, March 28th for a double-header beginning at 2:30 pm.

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--LYN--