The Emory softball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts a pair of doubleheaders against South Region opponents.  On Friday (Mar. 17), the Eagles entertain Lynchburg College starting at 2:00 pm before taking on Centre College on Sunday starting at noon.  On Saturday, Lynchburg and Centre will square off in a twinbill beginning at noon.

The 18^th-ranked Eagles sport a won-lost ledger of 10-6.  Emory last played the weekend of Mar. 4-5 when it dropped three of four games to then-No. 13 Christopher Newport.  Senior Taylor Forte led the squad's hitting attack with a .583 hitting effort, going seven-of-12 at the plate while scoring a team-high four runs. Senior Amy Wray hit .400 (6 of 15) and topped the Eagles with four RBIs.  Senior pitcher Brittany File earned the team's lone win against the Captains, and closed out the series by tossing 18 2/3 and fanning 18 batters.

Through 16 games Emory has registered a team batting average of .316 and has collected 10 or more hits in six contests.  The Eagles have totaled a total of 31 extra-base hits, 22 doubles, two triples and seven home runs.  Freshman Jessy McLean has socked three round trippers, good for 28^th place among all D-III players (through Mar. 12).  A starter in 15 outings, McLean has a team-best 13 RBIs and has a slugging percentage of .744.  Forte checks in at .367 with team highs in 17 hits (47 at-bats) and 14 runs scored.  File stands 6-2 in the circle with an ERA of a 1.99 over 63 1/3 frames of action.  She has whiffed 79 batters and her average of 8.7 strikeouts per seven innings ranks 39^th in the D-III ranks.  

Guided by 19^th-year head coach Dawn Simmons, No. 25-ranked Lynchburg comes to town on a hot streak with wins in its last nine games that has boosted its record to 14-2.  On Monday, the Hornets came away with a sweep of a doubleheader against Salisbury, capturing the first game by a 7-3 margin before registering a 6-4 decision in the finale.  LC is averaging 7.1 runs while surrendering just two runs per outing.  As a team, the Hornets are hitting at a .344 clip compared to the opposition's .194.  Freshman shortstop Kelly Hugate sets the pace offensively, hitting .490 with 25 hits in 51 plate appearances.   Rookie Stephanie Hogan (4-0, 1.47 ERA) and junior Conner English (5-2, 1.65 ERA) have been solid in the circle.

Centre College, led by third-year head coach Ashley Taylor, brings a 9-7 slate into the weekend.  The Colonels are in the midst of a six-game winning streak and are coming off a sweep of a double dip against Manchester last Sunday, landing a 12-2 victory in the first game followed by a 7-1 verdict in the nightcap. Centre is hitting .293 as a team while its opposition shows a .256 effort at the plate. Freshman Sarah Aubuchon ranks as the Colonels' top hitter, compiling a .364 mark with 16 safeties in 44 at-bats.  In addition. Aubuchon has knocked in a team-high 17 runs.  In the pitching department Erika Brewer and Elysse Petrie each have totaled three wins, combining for 78 innings pitched and 44 strikeouts.