VIRGINIA BEACH (WAVY) — When it comes to the Virginia Wesleyan softball team, excellence is expected and complacency isn’t in the vocabulary.

“I tell them every time, you’re either going to embrace the target on your back or run from it,” said Marlins softball coach Brandon Elliott. “I hope these guys choose to embrace it.”

This season, Elliott has led his group to a 17-1 record, which most recently includes a doubleheader sweep of Randolph College. In the wins, the Marlins threw back-to-back combined no-hitters. 

“You can ask anybody, this year feels different,” said junior pitcher Emma Adams. “I don’t know how to explain it. A large group of our team are veterans, but we have a freshman class who came in and we gelled so well.”

Three of the Marlins’ wins this season have come over top-25 teams, and one of those came against defending national champions East Texas Baptist. 

“This is why you come to Virginia Wesleyan, to come play in these games,” Elliot said. “We’re going to play the best teams in the country. Maybe they beat us, but we’re going to keep challenging our kids.” 

“For us internally, we expect to win,” said junior outfielder Sarah Prosser. “We have that target on our back. To go out and prove to everyone else that we can beat the best team in the nation, it was nice.”

Now with ODAC play in full swing, the mission is to not falter, continue to dominate like they did against Randolph and make a deep run in the postseason once again.

“I’ve been through five teams, but just to see how every piece of the puzzle is clicking this year is awesome to see,” said graduate outfield/pitcher Julia Piotrowski. “It’s awesome to know we have each other’s backs and are all working for the same goal.”

Up Next: The Marlins will travel to Guilford March 29 for a double-header.