The EMU softball women ran into a buzz saw on Tuesday, hosting Virginia Wesleyan University.  The Marlins, who recently moved into the top spot in the national pool, put up 16 runs in the first game before shutting EMU out in the nightcap, earning an ODAC sweep.

Eastern Mennonite hits the road on Thursday, playing a rescheduled doubleheader at Shenandoah University. Game time in Winchester is 3:00pm.

Virginia Wesleyan 16, EMU 1 – 5 inn.
The Marlins scored in every at-bat of the opener, including a seven-spot in the top of the fourth.

Eastern Mennonite scored their only run in the bottom of that frame when Sierra Lantz (Broadway, Va./Broadway) led off with a double and came around to score when Elizabeth Horn (Dover, Del./Polytech) followed with her own two-bagger. Korenn Paige (Winchester, Va./Sherando) notched the women's only other hit.

Katelin Martin (Goochland, Va./Goochland) started and pitched into the fourth inning. Emily Campbell (Broadway, Va./Broadway) finished up in the circle. The 16 runs were the most the Royals had given up this season.

Virginia Wesleyan 10, EMU 0 – 5 inn.
The nightcap started with back-to-back home runs as the visitors plated five runs in the first inning.

Paige got EMU's first hit in the fourth inning. Martin, Emily Davis (King George, Va./Fredericksburg Christian) and Horn each had singles with two outs in the fifth, but the Royals failed to touch home for just the fifth time this season.

Martin started pitching in the game and again took the loss, with Campbell finishing up.

Senior Recognition
In between games, the Royals honored Cassidey Chrisman (Staunton, Va./Riverheads). She was the team's lone senior last spring but wasn't able to be celebrated at a home game before the season was cancelled. Chrisman graduated this past December. She played in 85 games as a corner infielder, finishing with a .300 batting average and 44 RBIs despite missing her sophomore season with an injury.