College Softball Finals – #3 Virginia Wesleyan 3–13, Guilford 1–4 (Game two in eight innings)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia Wesleyan College’s Blake Henderson connected on a grand slam in the extra inning of game two as Guilford College dropped a Sunday afternoon Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader to Virginia Wesleyan. The Marlins narrowly claimed game one, 3-1, and escaped with the nightcap in a nine-run extra inning, 13-4.

The Marlins took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning of game one as an error drove in two runs as Virginia Wesleyan moved runners around the bases with a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice.

The Quakers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth frame as Anna Wolfe connected on a home run to left-center field for her second home run of the season.

Makayla Carver (6-2) recovered after the third inning, yielding only three hits for the remainder of the contest. She shook off runners in scoring position with two outs as she retired Elizabeth Bailey on a ground out to shortstop to end the inning. Carver took the complete-game loss in game one, fanning two and walking three. She faced no more than three batters per inning through the final three innings.

Hanna Hull (14-1) struck out six batters in the final three innings, including three in the final inning where she struck out the side. Hull struck out five of the final six batters she faced. She finished game one with 13 strike outs and three walks, claiming the complete-game win.

Blake Richardson drove in Virginia Wesleyan’s first run of game two as the Marlins’ loaded the bases and Richardson drew a walk. Courtney Lackey rallied after the RBI-walk to record three straight outs to strand the bases loaded for the Marlins.

The Quakers responded with a two-out rally, sparked by a Sabrina Moreno single. Ann Wolfe and Lackey produced a pair of RBI-doubles to claim an early lead. The Quakers responded to the Marlins’ second-inning run with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning on a Sarah Adams sacrifice fly after a Caroline Barnette lead-off double.

The Marlins reclaimed the lead one half-inning later as Jessica Lindsay connected on a two-run home run to center field with one out.

With no outs, down by one, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Shelby Helms smacked a hard bunt down the first base line that brought home Natalie Conrad from second base to tie the contest. The Marlins turned a double play and regained control to force the game into extra innings.

Henderson’s grand slam to left field in the eighth inning ballooned a nine-run rally, with eight of the nine runs coming with one out, as Virginia Wesleyan took charge in the extra frame to escape with a sweep.

The Quakers enjoy the middle of the week off before returning to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. ODAC doubleheader at Bridgewater College.