Eastern Mennonite University athletes took dual pitching honors this week. Freshman Kelsi Martin (Buena Vista, Va./Parry McCluer) has been picked as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for softball. Bailey Hall (Daleville, Va./James River) earned similar honors for his pitching performance in Sunday’s doubleheader against Emory & Henry.
Martin handcuffed Roanoke for an 8-inning 1-hitter on Saturday, picking up the shutout complete game as the Royals won 2-0 in eight innings. The lefty retired the first 13 batters she faced before a one-out single in the 5th. She then retired the next 11 Maroons, with that lone single stopping her from recording a perfect game. Martin added 1.2 innings of relief in the nightcap, totaling 9.2 innings without an earned run on the day. She is 6-0 with a 1.54 ERA on the season.
This is the second time this spring that an EMU softball player has been named the ODAC Pitcher of the Week, joining Sydney Reath (Williamsburg, Va./Mercersburg Academy) from two weeks ago. The Eastern Mennonite pitching staff has a combined ERA of 1.33 this season.
The Royals are 13-5 on the season heading into Tuesday’s showdown with rival Bridgewater College. First pitch of the twinbill in Bridgewater is at 3 p.m.
Hall went the distance in a nine-inning gem to help the Royals defeat Emory & Henry, 4-1. Hall scattered eight hits during his full shift on the hill, giving up one run without a walk. He fanned four batters and at one point retired 17-of-18 batters after allowing the Wasps lone run in the fourth inning. Hall’s effort was even more impressive coming directly after a game one where EHC had scored 16 runs on 21 hits.
His nine-inning complete game is a first for an EMU hurler since current pitching coach Adam Posey did it as a senior in 2014. Hall is now 3-2 on the season with a 3.82 earned run average.
Eastern Mennonite won 2-of-3 conference games last week and is 11-11 on the season and 2-5 in the ODAC. The Royals head to No. 16 Shenandoah University on Tuesday, playing a single game at 4 p.m. The men return to Harrisonburg for homes game on Wednesdady and Thursday.