HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Guilford softball team conducted its first sweep of the season on Saturday, April 10th, when the Quakers posted an 11-2 victory in the first game and followed with an 8-0 win in the second game of the afternoon.

GAME 1: GUILFORD 11, EASTERN MENNONITE 2

The Quakers pounded out 17 hits in the first game, including a pair of two three-hit performances by Emma Patterson (3-4, 2 RBI, 1 run, triple) and Casey Bunting (3-4, 2 RBI, run, HR), as they claimed the opening game of the doubleheader. Teammates Ally Morales, Caitlyn Ray, Katey Griswold and Katie McNeill tallied two hits apiece for Guilford.

Guilford grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning following a two-run home run to left centerfield by Bunting. Patterson extended the lead to 3-0 in the second after a single to left field plated Grace Calus.

The second home run of the day, this time off the bat of Ray, allowed Guilford to assume the 5-0 lead. A two-run sixth by the Royals sliced the score to 5-2, but Guilford retaliated with six runs in the top of the seventh.

The first of those runs score when Morales sent a single back to the pitcher to plate Patterson from third. Griswold doubled to left to plate both Morales and Kylee Duarte for the 7-2 advantage. Calus reached on a fielder's choice that scored both Griswold and Duarte on a throwing error. Katie McNeill drove a single to right that brought home Calus as the lead ballooned to 9-2.

Kylie Richardson put the Quakers into doubles by scoring McNeill, before a single by Patterson resulted in Jessie Beck scoring. McNeill (2-3) earned the win on the mount after scattering eight hits, allowing two runs and converting six strikeouts.

GAME 2: GUILFORD 8, EASTERN MENNONITE 0

Guilford capped off a 13-hit performance in its shutout of the slate, 8-0, in the second game of the doubleheader. The combination of Grace Calus, Emma Patterson, Casey Bunting, Faith Fennell and Jessie Beck notched two hits each for the Quakers.

The first run of the game crossed the plate in the second when Caitlyn Ray delivered a double to second that brought home Taylor Ledbetter. Beck followed with a single two batters later, allowing Ray to cross the plate.

The Guilford lead moved to 3-0 in the top of the third after Casey Bunting slapped a double to left that scored Calus from third.

A four-run fifth inning pushed the Guilford advantage to 7-0. The inning bean with a bases-clearing triple to left centerfield by Patterson, bringing home Calus. Fennell delivered a single to centerfield, scoring Morales, which was followed by Beck reaching on an error that brought home Ray and Bunting in succession.

Pinch hitter Amanda Gillis sent a single up the middle in the seventh, scoring Fennell from second, as Guilford tacked on its final run of the game.

Guilford makes the quick turnaround and will now head to Bridgewater on Sunday for a doubleheader clash with Eagles. For more information on Guilford softball check out www.guilfordquakers.com.