Mary Baldwin backed a pair of strong pitching performances by matching their highest offensive scoring day of the season to sweep a non-conference softball doubleheader against Southern Virginia, winning games 5-4 and 8-0 in six innings.  It was the Fighting Squirrels' first doubleheader sweep since the 2017 season.

In the opener, Victoria Lafoon surrendered only three earned runs in a 5-4 victory.  She surrendered just four hits and one walk while fanning four to pick up her second victory of the season. 

Center fielder MaryBeth Strickler totaled three of MBU's eight hits, three steals, two runs scored and an RBI in the opener.  Strickler singled and moved around to score the game-winning run on an infield ground out by catcher Sam Breeden.  Second baseman Sam Grimsley also had two hits and two runs scored for the winners.

In the nightcap, Morgan Hughes tossed a three-hit shutout for the hosts.  She allowed two walks and struck out two for MBU's first shutout victory since 2019.

Strickler was dominant at the plate in the nightcap, ripping four hits, including a triple, in four at bats.  She scored three runs, stole three more bases and knocked in two runs to lead the attack.  Her two-run single in the second inning started the offense for MBU.

Leftfielder Lindsay Simmons also added four safeties to the team's 12-hit attack.  In the two-run decisive sixth inning, Simmons smacked an RBI double, then scored when Breeden scored on an infield error.

The Fighting Squirrels (3-13) will be back in action Saturday when they host Methodist University in their first USA South Conference DH of the season.