STAUNTON, Va. – The Mary Baldwin University softball team split a doubleheader with Eastern Mennonite University on Tuesday at the MBU Softball Field.

The Fighting Squirrels fell in game one 5-4 before coming back with a 6-4 victory in the day's second contest.

In game two, the Royals got on the board first after a one-out double led to a two-out RBI single. MBU responded by plating four runs in the home half of the same inning. Marybeth Strickler singled to start the frame and moved to second on a passed ball before taking third on an errant throw. Lindsay Simmons walked and stole second base before both came around to score on a two-run single by Samantha Grimsley, 2-1. Alexis Clark stroked a two-run bomb to left field to put MBU up 4-1.

EMU got a home run of its own in the second inning, but Clark delivered again in the home part of the frame with a two-run single for a 6-3 advantage.

The score held until the sixth inning as the Royals scored twice but could not get any closer as MBU held on for the win.

Clark finished the game 2 for 3 at the plate with four RBI and a run scored while Strickler and Grimsley also had multi-hit games.

Stormy Harrison garnered her first collegiate victory after tossing 5.0+ innings and yielding three runs. Strickler entered in the sixth inning and gave up just one run on two hits with four strikeouts to pick up the save. Emily Campbell pitched her second complete game of the day allowing six runs on seven hits with six walks and five strikeouts.

In the first game of the day, EMU scored first in the opening inning on an error before the Fighting Squirrels struck for two runs in the bottom of the first. Simmons doubled home Strickler, while Simmons crossed home plate on an RBI single by Clark, 2-1.

The Royals added another run to tie the game in the third inning. The Fighting Squirrels jumped back in front in the fifth inning. Strickler reached on catcher's interference and moved to third after a Simmons walk and a sac bunt by Grimsley. Sam Breeden recorded a sac fly to score Strickler,3-2, and Daleya Scaife drove in Grimsley on an RBI single with two outs to go up 4-2.

The Royals rallied for three runs on four hits in the seventh inning to take the lead. MBU got two runners on base but were stranded as EMU held on for a 5-4 victory.

Simmons, Clark and Scaife each recorded a pair of hits, while Strickler scored twice in the loss.

Courteney Back tossed 6.1 innings in a start and gave up four runs (two earned) with four strikeouts in a no-decision. Simmons was saddled with the loss after giving up a run on two hits in 0.2 innings of relief. Campbell, who took the loss in game two, earned a complete-game victory in the opener. She allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.

The Fighting Squirrels hit the road tomorrow, March 11, as they travel to Ferrum for a nonconference doubleheader set to begin at 3 pm.

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