GREENSBORO, N.C. - Today marked a very important day for Guilford's softball team, sweeping conference foe Eastern Mennonite University in a crucial afternoon doubleheader, the last at Haworth Field this season. These double-digit scoring wins guaranteed Guilford a spot in the upcoming ODAC Tournament, coming out ahead 11-3 and 11-6.
With today's wins, this marks back-to-back years of playing in the ODAC Tournament since 2019. Guilford's record improves to 18-20, and in conference play it is leveled out at 10-10. For the opposing Royals, their record drops to 11-20 and 5-15 in conference play.
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) threw for all of game one, ending after five innings due to the run-rule. Taking the pitching win, her record increases to 9-5. Upon her time in the diamond, EMU snagged three runs, two of which were earned, and Gray struck out one.
11 runs were scored throughout, two of which were credited to
Kassidy Lancos (Irvine Calif.), and the rest spread throughout the roster. A massive eight-run fifth inning allowed the Quakers to claim a sweet victory.
Guilford's up and coming pitcher,
Taylor Mitchell (St. Albans, Vt.) was yet again starting on the mound in game two. She threw for a total of five innings and claimed the pitching win, her record becoming 1-0. Upon her watch, the Royals scored six runs and walked five times. Additionally, Mitchell struck out two. For just two innings,
Morgan Kinney (Browns Summit, N.C.) took up the mitt to finish the game.
The second contest had a huge opening for the Quakers, snagging three runs in each of the first three innings. Even with this advantage, the game went a full seven innings, but the margin was too great for the Royals to dream of a comeback. This deemed yet another Quaker victory of the day, 11-6.
GAME 1
EMU opened up the first inning, first batter up, with a home run. This definitely made the crowd question how this game was to unfold with a start like that. In the third inning, the Royals tagged on another run, making the score 2-0. Bottom of the third, Guilford finally got on the board due to Lancos. The shortstop hit a double to left center followed by a single by
Grace Calus (Creedmoor, N.C.) that resulted in Lancos booking it for home, 2-1.
The Quakers tagged on three runs in the fourth inning.
Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) started off the frame at bat, quickly getting on first, and then making it home due to a throwing error by EMU. The other two runs were scored by
Alli Clemens (Cocoa, Fla.) and
Faith Fennell (Buena Park, Calif.), both of which were made in part possible by utilizing sacrifice bunts. The score now stood at 4-2.
Top of the fifth frame, the Royals hit yet another homer, now catching up 4-3. This hope for the Royals was short-lived as the Quakers completely dominated the fifth inning, scoring seven runs, putting an end to the game. Upon a single to center field by Kinney, both pinch runners,
Nicole Gumula (Wellington, Fla.) and
Kylee Duarte (Corona, Calif.) made it home, though both runs unearned due to an error at the start of the frame. With an abundance of subs being made, the next two runs were credited to
Torrie Randel (Kit Carson, Colo.) and
Makenley Mitchell (Clemmons, N.C.) who were pinch running for Clemens and Kinney, respectively.
The end of the fifth inning couldn't have been set up more perfectly with Lancos at first base,
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) at second, and
Emma Patterson (Mocksville, N.C.) at third. Calus ended the game with a triple to right field, en route to all base runners making it home, a final score of 11-3.
GAME 2
Coming out from the dugouts, the Quakers and Royals meant business. Starting just the same as the first contest, EMU's first in their lineup started with a homer. The Royals then tagged on one more run before handing over the bat, in which both Lancos, Calus, and Johnson made it home, 3-2.
EMU achieved one run in the second frame, Guilford again tallied three. Stoner singled to center field, resulting in Patterson advancing to third, and Mitchell sending it home. What followed was ruled a pass ball by the umpire, resulting in Patterson and Mitchell advancing one more base, another run for the Quakers. Eventually, due to a double towards right center by Johnson, Stoner also made it home, 6-3.
Heading to the bottom of the third inning, Fennell batted first, Mitchell batted second, and Patterson batted third. The latter singled and made it to third on an error by EMU's pitcher, but this did bring home both Fennell and Mitchell. After this, Stoner hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, which brought home Patterson. All runs scored this inning were unearned, Quakers up comfortably, 9-3.
A quick one, two, three for Duarte at the bottom of the fifth as she added one more run to Guilford's board. The pinch hitter first reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second.
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) up to bat, hit a single to left center, bringing home Duarte, 10-3.
The sixth became a three run inning for the Royals. However, the Quakers still added one more run for good measure credited to Gumula who was again pinch running for Clemens. The score stood at 11-6 and became final when the Royals were unable to close the margin in the seventh.
The Quakers will put this sweep in their back pocket for the time being as they look ahead to their last doubleheader match of the regular season. It will take place on the road at Moyer Sports Complex, taking on the opposing Roanoke College Maroons. The matches will take place on Saturday, April 27, start times at 1 and 3 p.m.
