The University of Mary Washington softball team split its Sunday doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan College, falling in the opener, 5-3, before taking the nightcap, 7-6, in 11 innings. The Eagles move to 11-7 on the year.
In game one, the Eagles fell behind, 2-0, in the first but rallied to tie the score in the second. The Eagles loaded the bases with hits from Olivia Tatara and Hannah Williams, and a walk from Ashton Ferneyhough. Katelyn Chisholm singled to plate the first run, and Brittany Scites hit into a fielder's choice to drive home the second.
The Bishops added single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. UMW added a run in the sixth as Scites doubled and scored on a single from Alex Tenney.
Ferneyhough took the loss, allowing two earned runs in four innings, on five hits and no walks.
In the second game, the Eagles scored three in the first. Scites led off with a walk and Tenney followed with a single. After a sacrifice, Hannah hautz delivered a sacrifice fly, and Tatara then singled to score another. After a walk, Williams singled to score Tatara.
The Bishops took the lead with one in the second and three in the third. The Eagles tied the score in the fifth, as Caroline Callahan walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Emily Briggs followed with an RBI single.
UMW scored in the ninth as Scites scored Williams with a groundout, but NC Wesleyan tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Again in the tenth, UMW scored when Tatara provided an RBI groundout, but again the Bishops tied the score in the bottom of the frame.
In the eleventh, Williams sacrificed pinch runner Zoie Patrick to third, and Erin Stinson's RBI groundout plated the Eagles' seventh run. Courtney Merson then struck out a batter and induced two ground balls to close the game and gain the win.
Merson allowed no earned runs on three hits in 8.2 innings, walking two and striking out eight. Tatara, Brittney Haynes, and Williams each had two hits to lead the Eagles.
Mary Washington will return to action on Wednesday when they visit Lynchburg College at 3:00 p.m.