• 5 NCAA Championships Appearances
  • 16 NCAA Tournament Appearances
  • 12 UAA Championships
  • 15 Seasons Of 30 Or More Wins
  • 14 All-Americans
  • 6 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

Turnquest's Two Homers Powers Emory Softball To NCAA Win Over Berry College

Turnquest's Two Homers Powers Emory Softball To NCAA Win Over Berry College

Sophomore Janelle Turnquest hit two home runs and junior pitcher Brittany File came through with another stellar effort in leading the No. 9-ranked Emory softball team to a key win over Berry College on Saturday at the NCAA Mount Berry Regional.  The Eagles remained undefeated in the double-elimination competition and raised their overall record to 42-4 following a 5-2 win over the No. 4-ranked Vikings, who slipped to 1-1 in Regional action and 37-7 overall.

Berry, playing as the visiting team, scored a run in the top of the first before seeing the Eagles bounce back with a three-run frame after the first two batters were retired.  After a walk to senior catcher Melody Carter, Turnquest delivered a two-run homer.  The Eagles kept the rally going with back-to-back singles by sophomore Ashley Powers and junior designated hitter Amy Wray.  Freshman Lana Herrmann then plated Powers with a single to center field.  The Vikings countered with a run in the top of the second, and Emory maintained its one-run lead until the bottom of the fifth when Turnquest homered to left field with Taylor Forte on base, her 11th round tripper of the campaign, to extend the Eagles' margin to 5-2. Turnquest's blast followed a clutch effort by File, who escaped a runners on third and second with no outs jam, and then a bases-loaded with one out situation in the top half of the inning. 

File went the distance and raised her won-lost ledger to 32-2, allowing eight hits and fanning 12, the 13th time this year and the seventh in her past eight appearances that she had struck out 10 or more opposing batters. 

Emory will play against either Birmingham Southern or Berry on Sunday at noon, and if it wins that contest it will advance to next weekend's Super Regionals. If the Eagles lose the noon game, then they will play again at 2:30.

NOTES – Turnquest's 11 homer this year ties for fifth on the program's seasonal ladder … Career-wise, Turnquest has 14 round trippers to her credit, tying Kim Bandy (2006-09) for fourth-place all-time at Emory ….Emory has hit 47 homers this year, tying the 2014 squad for the No. 1 mark on the program's seasonal chart … Ashley Powers now has a 17-game hitting streak.