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Softball

Marlins Topple Manhattanville to Reach Regional Final

VWU One Win Away from Super Regional Round

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan University is one win away from claiming the Virginia Beach Regional title following the nationally top-ranked and unbeaten Marlins 6-0 triumph over Manhattanville University on Friday morning at Broyles Field at TowneBank Park.

Virginia Wesleyan (47-0) has outscored their first two opponents of the Division III Softball Championship, 20-0, continuing a trend that has shown the massive disparity between the Marlins and their competition. Through 47 games, VWU has scored 463 runs and allowed just 39. The Marlins have registered 26 wins by shutout including five of their last six outings.

The Marlins will face Pfeiffer University (40-10) for the regional crown. The Falcons won twice on Friday with their backs against the wall. Saturday's first possible regional title game is slated for 1:30 p.m. ET. Should Pfeiffer become the first team to beat Virginia Wesleyan since last season's national title game, then a winner-take-all seventh game of the regional will be conducted at approximately 4:00 p.m ET for a spot in the Super Regional round.

Marlins' righty Hannah Hearl was sizzling on Friday morning in improving to 24-0 on the season. She allowed just one hit and walked on while fanning a career-high 14 Manhattanville batters. She set down the first 10 Rams she faced before allowing a single with one down in the bottom of the fourth (VWU was the away team by NCAA home team determination rules).

Jori Wilkendorf took the loss for MU, falling to 20-5 on the season. She allowed six runs on 13 hits with one walk and one punchout.

While Josie O'Leary had the lone hit for the Rams, five Marlins notched two hits. Laci Campbell went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored out of the leadoff spot, while Samantha Deitsch followed her in the two-hole with a 2-for-3 showing with a walk. Alison Pollack went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored, while Haley Sadler ripped a RBI double as part of her 2-for-4, 2-RBI day. Karley Beltran also went 2-for-4. The remaining extra-base hit went to Sarah Prosser with a run-scoring triple.