College Softball Finals: Guilford 7-8, Sweet Briar 0-1

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Guilford College’s pitching staff one-hit Sweet Briar College in game one of Saturday afternoon’s Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader, leading the Quakers to a sweep of the Vixens. Guilford took game one, 7-0, and the nightcap, 8-1.

Guilford (19-9, 7-3 ODAC) pitching totaled ten strikeouts in game one, led by Casey Snead’s four strikeouts in the final two innings. Snead (4-2) claimed the game one win while game one starter Rebekah Langston pitched two perfect innings. Ashley Boteler and Courtney Lackey combined to throw the middle three innings, striking out five batters.

Sweet Briar (4-18, 0-14 ODAC) mustered a run in game two after loading the bases in the top of the first inning, but could not produce any more runs when Tosha Brown struck out looking to end the inning. Guilford produced their biggest offensive rally in the second inning, where the Quakers posted five runs in an inning that the Quakers stole four bases and produced all their runs with two outs.

Rachel Howard led Quaker bats, hitting 4-for-6 with a double, home run and four RBI to increase her team-leading season total to 30. Laura Hall finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and two stolen bases while sparking the Quakers’ five-run rally in the second inning of game two. Emily VanHaneghan batted a perfect 3-for-3 in the first contest with a triple and one RBI.

Maggie Shaffer (4-3) claimed the game two win thanks a perfect fourth inning where she faced the minimum amount of batters. Casey Snead claimed her second save of the season with a three-inning effort where she struck out four batters and walked three while walking three. Snead totaled eight strikeouts in five total innings in the doubleheader. Tyler Miles struck out three of four batters faced in the third inning, walking one.

Cynthia Schuh (1-9) took the game one complete-game loss for Sweet Briar, striking out five and walking one. Molly Langford (2-5) took the game two complete-game loss, walking and striking out one while giving up eight runs with seven runs un-earned.

The Quakers return to the road Wednesday, traveling to Lynchburg College for a key 3 p.m. ODAC doubleheader.

Game 2

                            R  H E
Sweet Briar   1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  4 4
Guilford      2 5 1 0 0 0 X 8 12 0

Game 1

                            R  H E
Sweet Briar   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1 2
Guilford      1 0 0 5 0 1 X 7 12 0