Eastern Mennonite University battled back from early deficits in both games to record 7-6 and 5-3 victories over Shenandoah University in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon in Harrisonburg, Va.

In the first game, SU (9-17) scored one run in the second and four in the fourth to grab a 5-0 lead. The lead stood until the bottom of the sixth inning when Shenandoah freshman shortstop Jessica Bollinger committed back-to-back errors with one out. Two batters later, senior second baseman Erin Partee smacked a three-run triple to right center to ignite the EMU (12-11) rally.

The Lady Royals tied the game on an RBI single by junior first baseman Kristin Lapp and grabbed the lead on an RBI double by freshman designated player Amber Sharp. Sophomore left fielder Tessa Grubb capped the inning with a run-scoring single to put EMU up 7-5. Shenandoah added one run in the seventh but with the potential tying run on third base, designated player Tarrah Armstrong grounded out to the short stop.

Freshman Mandy Morris earned the victory for EMU to improve to 4-2. She allowed six unearned runs in seven innings. Freshman Catelyn Renninger allowed seven unearned runs in six innings for the Hornets and fell to 3-5. Grubb, freshman catcher Miranda White, and Sharp each had two hits for EMU while freshman Kristin Windle was 2-for-4 for SU.

In the second game, the Lady Royals once again faced an early deficit when the Hornets scored twice in the second inning and once in the third inning. However, EMU responded with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. Sophomore Sabrina Tusing doubled in the fourth and later scored off a single by White. Partee followed with an RBI single. In the fifth inning, Grubb hit an RBI double. Two batters later, Tusing smacked a two-run double.

Freshman Natasha Viafora was strong in relief for EMU, allowing no runs on one hit in four innings with 10 strikeouts. She improved to 4-1 on the season. Tusing was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI for the Lady Royals.

Freshman Tana Bartek allowed five runs, four earned, in six innings and fell to 2-7 on the season for the Hornets. She allowed five hits and struck out six. Shenandoah had just four hits in the game, including a solo home run by Bartek.

EMU is back at home again on Wednesday with a 2:30 p.m. non-conference doubleheader against Messiah College.


Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score