Senior Natasha Viafora (Stanley, Va./Page Co.) and sophomore Nicole Wade (Madison Heights, Va./Liberty Christian) shut down the Messiah College Falcons, allowing only three runs combined as the Eastern Mennonite University softball team moved to 9-2 following the sweep.

EMU won the first game 7-2 with freshman first baseman Jessica Sullivan (Midloathian, Va./Manchester) going 3-for-4 from the plate while senior Miranda White (Verona, Va./Fort Defiance) and sophomore Nicole Shelton (Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin) each drove in two runs.

Viafora pitched a complete game for EMU, scattering five hits while allowing two runs and a walk as she registered seven strike outs.

Nicole Adams was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs for Messiah.

EMU pushed a run across in the bottom of the first inning and then added five more runs in the second with Wade, Shelton (2), Sullivan, and freshman outfielder Jessica Blosser (Crimora, Va./Wilson Memorial) each adding an RBI in the inning.

Shelton finished the first game going 3-for-4 from the dish with a run scored and two RBIs while White was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs, including her first home run of the season in the sixth inning.

Senior designated player Laura Bomberger (Harrisonburg, Va./EMHS) was 2-for-4 from the plate with a run scored.

In the second game the Lady Royals were again the benefactor of another strong pitching performance as Wade went the distance, allowing only six hits and one run through seven innings as she issued three walks with seven strike outs.

Jessica Blosser scored two of the Lady Royals four runs while junior Abi Madden (Winchester, Va./John Handley) had a pinch-hit bunt single in the bottom of the sixth inning to score an insurance run for EMU.

Shelton was 1-for-3 with an RBI while sophomore Brittany Caricofe (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Jessie Climenhaga toed the circle for Messiah College and pitched the complete game for the Falcons in the loss. Nicole Rice was 1-for-2, scoring the lone run for Messiah.

The Lady Royals will now welcome in Bridgewater College on Thursday, March 13, for a twin-bill scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., on Gehman Field.