Junior Molly Smith limited Allegheny to one run in four innings of work, picking up her first win of the season. (photo by Wayne Gehman)

Softball Splits Series in Virginia Beach

Two more tight games left the ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø (EMU) Lady Royals with another split at the Beach Blast in Virginia Beach, Va., on Saturday, March 2, 2013.  EMU now has quality wins over Methodist and Allegheny in their tough non-conference schedule as they prepare for their home opener this week.

EMU 8, Allegheny 6
The Lady Royals picked up an impressive win over a talented Allegheny team to open day two at the Beach Blast. The women scored four in the second and four more in the fourth, then held on for the win.

In the second, (Harrisonburg, VA/Broadway) singled with one away and her teammates responded by loading the bases. (Elkton, VA/Spotswood) walked in one run, and (Crimora, VA/Fort Defiance) brought in another with an RBI groundout.  (Mt. Solon, VA/Fort Defiance) then stuck a two-run single into right field.

Hensley, Sigrist and Allman each singled with one out in the fourth to start the next rally. An error and a sacrifice fly brought in the final three runs as the women went up 8-0.

The Gators got a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, and then plated five more runs off reliever (Manassas, VA/Forest Park) in the fifth. Allegheny had a two-out rally in the seventh, but a groundball ended the game and gave EMU the win.

(Elkton, VA/Spotswood) scattered three hits over 4.0 innings of work from the circle to get the win and improve to 1-0. Smith earned the save despite giving up five runs in her 3.0 innings.

Allman had two of EMU’s six hits, going 2-3 with three RBI and a run. She also walked. Hensley went 1-3 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in another.

Washington 2, EMU 1
Washington College scored the game’s first run with two outs in the fourth. Then in the sixth, they added insurance with a leadoff homerun.

Hensley jacked a one-out homer in the bottom of the sixth to slice the lead in half. Allman had a two-out double later in the inning, and (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) had a two-out double in the seventh, but both runners were left stranded.

(Elkton, VA/Page County) allowed just five hits but took the loss to slide to 0-3.  Hensley, Allman, (Grottoes, VA/Fort Defiance) and Miller each had one of EMU’s hits.

Now 2-4 on the year, the Lady Royals return to Harrisonburg for their home opener this week. The women are scheduled to host Southern Virginia on Wednesday, although the teams are looking at possibly playing the doubleheader earlier in the week because of snow in the forecast.