Emory & Henry Defeats Eastern Mennonite, 4-3
Second Extra Inning Win Sends Wasps to Semis
April 10, 2007  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- For the second time in as many days, Emory & Henry College (23-20) needed extra innings to move past Eastern Mennonite University (25-14) in the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Softball Championship.  The Wasps defeated the Royals 4-3 in nine innings, earning a date with Bridgewater College (35-5) in the semifinals.

EMU jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the second inning as they pushed a run across off of Emory & Henry starter Shannon Harris. The Wasps right-hander held the Lady Royals in check during the first round of the ODAC Tournament and looked to be on top of her game again until Anna Coleman connected for her second home run of the season.

The Lady Royals tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning as Nicole Shelton hit a line drive shot to centerfield that scored Hayley Shepard who had reached second on a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Shelton moved to second on a single by Miranda White and then came into score on an RBI double from pitcher Natasha Viafora.

Viafora pitched five strong innings for EMU before running into trouble in the sixth as Emory & Henry started off the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Dana Dettmar drove in the Wasps first run on a fielder's choice with EMU getting the out at second base. Robin Phelps and Tiffany Caylor then followed with back-to-back singles to tie the game at three all.  Jamie Fraysher came in relief of Viafora and got Shannon Pharis to line-out into the double play to end the inning.

The game remained tied through the first seven innings and headed into extras as both teams were unable to make the most of their scoring opportunities. Emory & Henry took charge in the ninth inning, opening the bottom half of the frame with a single by Meaghn Funk. Laken Price then reached on a fielder's choice bunt with Funk out at second and then advanced to second on a single by Reagan Clarke. Jaime Roy then singled to second base, just beating the throw  to load the bases. Ashley Fitzgibbons then lifted a fly ball to left fielder Anny Smucker who made the catch and fired an accurate throw to home plate but not in time to get Price who scored standing up to end the game.

The Wasps will square off with Bridgewater at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night for a chance to play Lynchburg in the ODAC finals.