Two-out rally in seventh lifts Marlins to sweep of Bishops

Rocky Mount, NC - Virginia Wesleyan scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to erase a 5-4 deficit and steal a 7-5 win over the Battling Bishops in game two of Thursday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader at Edge Field. The win secured a two-game sweep for the Marlins, who took game one by a 5-0 score. Junior Kate Braun (pictured) led NCWC's offense with three hits, one walk, and two runs scored over the two-game set.

In the opener, VWC hurlers Brittaney Brown and Ally Eates combined for the shutout as the Bishops were limited to just four hits, three of which were infield singles. Freshman Brooke Davis (4-8) took the tough loss after allowing just five hits in the complete game effort. All five runs that the Marlins scored were unearned due to passed balls.

The second game saw Virginia Wesleyan race out to a 3-0 advantage. The Bishops, however, cut the lead to one with a two-spot in the bottom of the fourth. Braun led off the inning with a double to right-center and scored on a Whitney Moshier single to left that was followed by a Marlin throwing error. Mosher was later plated by a Meredith Mills groundout to short.

VWC added a run in the sixth, but NC Wesleyan answered with a trio of runs in their half of the frame. Carla Pridgen and Braun led off the inning with back-to-back singles, while another Marlin throwing error on a fielder's choice plated both runs and placed Moshier at third. Mills followed with a sac-fly RBI to left, giving NCWC a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh.

With a steady rain falling, Bishop starter Ashley Driver retired two of the first three batters. After an infield single and wild pitch moved runners to second and third, Driver ran the count to 3-2 on Brittany Daniels. Down to their last strike, the pay-off pitch looked to catch the outside corner of the plate but was called a ball, loading the bases and keeping VWC's hopes alive.

Leadoff hitter Kristy White proceeded to come through with a two-out, two-run single to center that deflected off the glove of a diving Braun and put the Marlins (17-9) back on top. The Bishops (7-17) would not recover en route to the 7-5 defeat.

Driver (3-8) suffered the loss, while Brown (15-5) earned her second win of the day. Offensively, Brenae Pettit led the Marlins with a 4-for-5 showing at the plate, while Braun went 2-for-3 for NCWC.

NC Wesleyan returns to USA South action this weekend when the Bishops travel to Ferrum College on Saturday and Greensboro College on Sunday. Both doubleheaders are slated for 1:00 p.m.starts.
 

Return to Softball Main