The University of Mary Washington softball team dropped their doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles lost the first game 6-5, in eight innings, and then dropped the second game 3-2. UMW slips to 15-14 overall.
In the first game, the Eagles took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Hannah Bruns led off the game with a single up the middle. Rachel Porchie was the next batter and she went deep as she hit a home run to score the first two runs.
The Battling Bishops took the lead in the bottom of the second inning as they scored three runs on three hits. UMW got a run back in the third inning as Bruns led off with another single. After advancing to second on a ground ball, Bruns stole third base. Daylah Sawyer picked up the RBI ona a fielder's choice and tied the game at 3-3.
The Eagles took back the lead in the fifth inning as again Bruns led off with a single and then stole second base. Porchie reached base on an error and then Sawyer walked to load the bases with one out. Danielle Newman came to the plate and drew a walk to bring home Bruns and take a 4-3 lead.
North Carolina Wesleyan added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game up and then added one in the sixth inning to take the lead, 5-4. After two outs were recorded in the seventh inning, Newman began the rally for the Eagles. She doubled to center field and then Juliet Truslow came in for a pinch hit appearance and knocked her home to score the game tying run.
The Battling Bishops scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a single. Bruns collected three hits and three runs in the game. Courtney Shea added two hits for the Eagles.
In the second game, the first two innings were slow as both pitchers shut down the offenses. The Eagles got on the board with two runs in the third inning. Madi Marsden led off the inning with a single to right field. Bruns then reached on an error and moved Marsden into scoring position. Maggie Mrowka picked up the RBI on a ground out to first base. Porchie then came up and singled to right field to score Bruns and put UMW ahead 2-0.
North Carolina Wesleyan responded in the bottom of that inning as they scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead. From there, both pitchers shut down the others offense and the Battling Bishops won the second game 3-2.
Marsden, Porchie, and Bruns all recorded the lone hits in the second game. Truslow pitched a complete game, allowing just two earned runs and striking out four batters.
The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday as they will travel to Frostburg State for a doubleheader.