GREENSBORO, N.C.– The Guilford College softball team (18-21-1, 8-12 ODAC) is back in the dance for the first time since the 2024 season, looking for their first conference crown in program history in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament, first battling No. 1 nationally-ranked and top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University (40-0, 20-0 ODAC) in a double-elimination tournament within their pod on field one at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.

The Quakers are scorching at the right moment offensively, winning five of their last eight contests to sneak into the tournament with an 18-21-1 overall record and 8-12 in conference play. This has come from Guilford rattling victories over Roanoke and Eastern Mennonite, winning three straight. After the Quakers fantastic conclusion of the regular season, head coach Charissa Duncan '10 knows the importance of their challenge that awaits against the nationally recognized Marlins, who are undefeated in regular season play with a 40-0 overall record, 20-0 in ODAC action.

"Our goal going into the year is to make it to the ODAC tournament. This is a big moment for us as a program. We have nine seniors, and they did not want to go out without having an opportunity to earn a conference title for our program. Having a large group of underclassmen is important for us as we lay the foundation for the future, allowing them to compete at a higher level during the conference tournament."
 
"Taking down the number one team in the tournament and the nation would be huge for us heading into the weekend. We discussed the 2018 softball team, who went into the tournament as the eighth seed, beating VWU, 5-1, with their production from that year being similar to their season numbers from this year. Playing hard all seven innings will be essential for us with momentum heading into the next contest against either Lynchburg and Roanoke, which will put us in a good position throughout the remainder of the tournament."

Guilford struggled to find their footing in the mid-April clash against the Marlins, falling in both contests 10-1 and 9-1. Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) and Nicole Drew (Raleigh, N.C.) recorded the lone hits of the opener, before firing back in game two with Nicole Gumula (Wellington, Fla.) logging two knocks with Savannah Newton (Concord, N.C.) and Riley Murrish (Albeine, Texas) each sending base hits off Virginia Wesleyan's stellar defense. Pitching helped control Virginia Wesleyan towards two dominating wins against the Quakers. Hannah Hearl and Emma Adams both tossed 4.0 controlling innings, allowing only two hits and striking out four in their respective contests. The Marlins' offense is known for getting around the bases quickly, with a conference-high on-base percentage of .497. Morgan Tucker commanded the dish offensively, bashing for extra bases in a 3-for-6 combined slash line with a triple in the opener and a home run during the rubber match. Samantha Deitsch marked out her outing with a four-hit performance throughout the doubleheader, collecting three RBIs and a stolen base.

Guilford's bats were alive and well throughout game one against the Hornets in late April, with Savannah Newton (Concord, N.C.), Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.), and Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) each firing on all cylinders with two hits. In a back-and-forth opener, Williams launched a long home run into center, bringing Guilford back to a one-run deficit against Lynchburg. Kate Charlton would escape with the win, collecting a complete game of 7.0 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on nine hits, and one walk. The Quakers pitching had a challenge in festering Lynchburg's offensive production. Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) tossed 2.2 frames, surrendering six earned runs on eight hits and one walk. Emma Parnell (Troy, N.C.) helped keep Guilford in the game from her relief appearance, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing two earned runs off two hits, four walks, while striking out four. The Quakers would be on the losing end of game one, falling 8-7 to Lynchburg. The Hornets played strongly towards Guilford's defensive strategy, with six Lynchburg bats bashing for two hits throughout the doubleheader. Helen Maddux steered the day towards the Hornets' favor, collecting four combined hits in both contests, a three-hit outing in game two, with two combined doubles and stolen bases. In the rubber match, Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) drew the start for the Quakers in the circle, attempting to keep Guilford in the game with her 7.0 innings of work, allowing seven runs, six earned, off a battering 11 hits, one walk, and striking out three. McKenzie Booth was superb for Lynchburg in her outing against the Quakers, pitching a complete game of 7.0 innings, only surrendering two hits and one walk, while striking out one in the process towards a 7-0 result in favor of the Hornets.

In an offensive thriller to wrap Guilford's road clashes, the Quakers combined for a season-high 28 hits in their doubleheader split against Roanoke. Game one was back and forth offensively, driven by the dominance that Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) showed at the dish off her 5-for-5 outing with five RBIs. Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) and Kaley Mitchell (Lake Waccamaw, N.C.) each added to Guilford's ten-run tally off two-hit displays at the plate, with each swiping a bag in the process. The Maroons matched Guilford's success offensively with Riley Shupe and Hailey Vaughan each recording three knocks in the opener. After a shaky start from Parnell, Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) maintained ground for the Quakers while pitching in relief, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs off a battering 14 hits, while punching out four. Baylee Compton could not escape the fourth for Roanoke in 3.2 frames, surrendering six runs, one earned, off eight hits, one walk, and striking out three. Camryn Perkins closed things out in 3.1 innings of work, faltering slightly with four runs allowed off six hits, one walk, and one strikeout for the 11-10 bonanza in favor of the Maroons during the opener. Roanoke's game two arms would fluster, benefiting the Guilford's favor off Grace Clary's 2.2 innings of work, allowing five runs, two earned, off nine hits. Claire Warden helped escape the Maroons out of a jam in 4.1 frames, dropping one earned run off five hits. Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) collected another complete outing to her name in 7.0 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, off 12 hits, one walk, and striking out three. Guilford would ultimately claw back in the rubber match, with six Quakers' batters logging two-hit performances, with Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) dishing out two runs while Kaylee Harris (Mooresville, N.C.), Nicole Drew (Raleigh, N.C.), and Kaley Mitchell (Lake Waccamaw, N.C.) sending home two runners each to drive Guilford back to a 6-5 victory.

First pitch between the Quakers and the Marlins is set for 5:00 PM on field one at the Moyer Sports Complex on Friday, May 1st. Guilford will battle against the winner/loser of (5) Roanoke College and (4) University of Lynchburg in the double-elimination tournament on Saturday, May 2nd, with the game time to be announced.

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