The University of Mary Washington softball team split its Wednesday doubleheader at Eastern Mennonite University, erupting for six runs in the sixth inning to take the opener, 7-2, and falling in the second, 6-3. The Eagles move to 10-11 on the season.
In the second inning of game one, Rachel Porchie reached on an error, advanced on a sacrifice and a wild pitch, and scored on a Caroline Bird single to put the Eagles ahead. The Royals answered with a run in the second to tie the score and one in the fifth to take the lead, setting the stage for the Eagles' big sixth.
Logan Gibson led off with a pinch single, and Porchie pinch ran, advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on a single from Courtney Shea. Bird followed with an RBI double to score Shea, and junior Hannah Bruns then responded with a two-run triple to break the game open. Maggie Mrowka plated Bruns with an RBI single.
Bird led the Eagles with two singles and a double and two RBI, while Bruns singled and tripled, and Shea and Danielle Newman each singled twice. Megan Hibbs gained the win in relief, allowing no earned runs on two hits in 3.2 innings of work, walking three and striking out two.
In game two, the Royals scored once in the second inning and twice in the third to grab a 3-0 lead. UMW cut into the deficit with two runs in the fifth, as Newman doubled and Shea walked before Madi Marsden and Bird rapped out RBI singles. EMU answered with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth before the Eagles added one in the seventh as Shea singled and Bird knocked her home with a double.
Bird's single, double, and two RBI led the offense. Juliet Truslow took the loss, allowing 12 hits and six runs in six innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Eagles will return to action on Saturday, as they visit York College of PA for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader to open the conference slate.