Sophomore pitcher Hannah Otterman struck out a career-high 13 batters in six innings in the opener, and Brittany Scites hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the nightcap as the University of Mary Washington softball team swept a doubleheader from mary Baldwin College, 8-0 in six innings and 11-0 in five, on Thursday at the Battleground. UMW improves to 8-7 on the year.
In game one, UMW scored once in the second, as Emily Nykorchuk singled and moved to third on a single by Otterman. Nykorchuk scored on a groundout by Hannah Williams. UMW added five runs in the fifth, as Erika Falvey got a one-out single, and came around to score when the throw to third on Stefannie Asselanis' double sailed wide, and Asselanis came all the way around to score on the play as well.
After Bireet Chitty walked and Brandee Adams singled, Emily Briggs singled to plate both runners and advanced all the way to third on the play. She would score on an error. In the sixth, Falvey and Asselanis singled, moving to second and third on the throw at the lead runner with no outs. Chitty singled to score Falvey, and Asselanis scored on a passed ball with the game-ending run.
Otterman, Falvey, and Asselanis each had two hits for the Eagles to lead the way offensively. Falvey and Asselanis each scored twice. Otterman struck out 13 batters, the most at UMW since Kirsten Rowell had 14 in a game in 2009 and her career high, allowing no runs on four hits with no walks issued.
The nightcap saw the Eagles score three in the first, as Chitty and Adams singled, and after a bunt, Scites hit a three-run homer to left to put UMW ahead. The Eagles scored five runs in the second, as Williams led off with a single and stole second and scored on a Hannah Pierson RBI single. With the bases loaded after a walk to Chitty and an infield single by Adams, Briggs singled to short and an error allowed two runs to score.
After an RBI groundout by Scites, Briggs scored on a wild pitch to up the lead to 8-0. In the third, Williams singled and scored on a Chitty single, and UMW added two more in the fourth. Scites singled and Alex Tenney walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Falvey grounded out to score Scites and Tenney scored on another RBI single from Williams.
Williams led UMW with three hits and two runs scored, while Chitty, Adams, and Scites each had two hits, with Scites adding four RBI. Asselanis tripled for the Eagles as well.
The Eagles will visit Eastern Mennonite University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for a doubleheader in Harrisonburg.