The Emory softball team hosted and swept a doubleheader from LaGrange College on Sunday, raising its season record to 12-4 in the process. The Eagles used a strong pitching performance from senior Toko Miller to capture a 6-1 triumph in the opener before posting a 6-3 decision in the finale.
Junior Sami Feller and sophomore Natalie Arreguin each collected a pair of hits and scored once to pace the Emory attack in the first game. Senior center fielder Jenna Wilson knocked in a pair of runs while senior Cassie Baca, Feller and freshman Baylee Walls each totaled one RBI. After capitalizing on a pair of LaGrange errors and scoring twice in the first inning, the Eagles crossed the plate two more times the following frame with a single by Feller scoring Jessy McLean and a fielder's choice by Wilson pushing Feller home. Emory would then add single runs in the fifth and sixth. Meanwhile, Miller was masterful in boosting her season slate to 4-1, tossing all seven innings and surrendering just three hits while striking out four.
Both Wilson and Walls went 2-for-3 in the second contest, with Wilson scoring once and Walls recording a pair of ribbies. Holding a 1-0 lead, the Eagles struck for four runs in their half of the third. Arreguin scored first as a result of a Panther fielding miscue. A single by junior Greta Wilker allowed Baca to score while Walls came through with a two-run single that saw Wilker and Sarah Katz scamper home. The Panthers responded with three runs in the fifth to narrow their deficit, but Emory added some insurance in the sixth when Arreguin's single scored freshman Krista Colussi, who opened the frame with a double and then moved to third as a result of a Feller sacrifice. Sophomore Madison Schaefer won for the fifth time in six outings after going the first five innings, allowing six hits and striking out four. Senior Madeline Maday earned the save after tossing two shutdown frames, fanning three.
The Eagles return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 27, when they travel to Berry College resume the game that was halted back on Feb. 24 due to darkness on the Emory campus (game was in the top of the 4th inning, Emory ahead, 3-0). Once that is concluded the two teams will square in a single contest starting at approximately 7:00 pm.