HARRISONBURG, Virginia – The Bobcats bats came alive after another strong outing from Jessica Mullins as the Bobcats (22-6) picked up a 7-0 win over the Dukes (16-9).
Ciara Trahan got things going for the Bobcats in the first inning by picking up a single after Hannah Earls grounded out. Sara Vanderford would double next to bring her home and give the Bobcats a one-run lead.
Mullins walked the first batter she faced in the bottom of the first inning but went on to retire the next three batters to keep the Bobcats lead after one inning.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Bobcats would strike again. After a Vanderford groundout, Anna Jones hit a double to give the Bobcats their first baserunner of the inning. Karmyn Bass then lined out and Piper Randolph hit a single down the first base line to drive in Jones. Randolph would advance to second on the throw. JJ Smith then hit a two-run homerun to center field to push the lead to four.
The Dukes went down in order in the bottom of the third inning and the Bobcats would add on to their lead in the top of the fourth. Megan Kelnar and Earls were walked to start the inning and Vanderford wasted no time bringing them home when she hit a home run to left field to earn her fourth RBI of the game. The Dukes went down in order in the bottom of the fourth and the Bobcats led 7-0 after four innings of play.
The Bobcats had runners in scoring position again in the top of the fifth inning but failed to bring them home as an opportunity to get a run rule win slipped away.
Karsen Pierce entered the game to pitch for the Bobcats to start the fifth inning. The Dukes would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Bobcats lead. Abbie Campbell and Lexi Rogers were walked to start the inning and then Carsen Sanders struck out. Jasmine Hall would single to left field to move Fulton (pinch running for Campbell) to third and Edwards (pinch running for Rogers) to second and loaded up the bases in the process. Bella Henzler would then hit a single to bring home Fulton and give the Dukes their first score of the game. Reed Butler then hit a sac fly that drove in Edwards and cut the deficit to five. The Bobcats led 7-2 after five innings.
After a scoreless top half of the inning for the Bobcats, the Dukes would score again in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Maddy Azua entered the game for the Bobcats to pitch and on her third pitch of the game she gave up a solo homerun to Hallie Hall to cut the Bobcats lead to four. The Bobcats led 7-3 after six innings of play and this would prove to be the final score.
The Bobcats and Dukes play their final game of the series tomorrow at 10am (CT) and it will be broadcast on ESPN+ (Subscription required).
Game Notes
•Jessica Mullins improved to 13-2 on the season and finished with 3 strikeouts, allowed 3 hits and no earned runs in 4.2 innings. Mullins left the game after the fourth inning but returned to the game in the seventh inning to record the last two outs of the game.
•Karsen Pierce pitched the fifth inning and recorded 1 strikeout, allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs in her lone inning of work. Maddy Azua entered the game at the start of the bottom of the sixth and recorded 0 strikeouts, allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 1.1 innings pitched.
•Sara Vanderford led the way offensively with 2 hits (1 double), 4 RBI’s and a home run. JJ Smith had 1 hit, 2 RBI’s and a home run while Piper Randolph had 2 hits and an RBI. Anna Jones had 3 hits (1 double), Katarina Zarate had 2 hits and Hannah Earls and Ciara Trahan added a hit each. Another solid team effort in the win.
•Sara Vanderford hit a 3-run homerun in the top of the fourth to give her 34 in her career. She is now 5 homeruns away from tying Ariel Ortiz for the all-time leader.
•Vanderford recorded 4 RBI’s today and put her at 161 RBI’s for her career. She is now 3 RBI’s away from tying Ariel Ortiz for the all-time leader.
•The Bobcats improved to 18-1 in games where they score first this season, and they are now 20-0 when they score at least 3 or more runs.
•The Bobcats picked up the series win with the win today and improved to 2-0 in conference play.
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