VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—Freshman Candace Whittemore (Montpelier, Va. / Patrick Henry) scored the winning run in the top of the seventh and went the distance in Game 1 with five hits, one walk and six strikeouts as the Randolph-Macon softball team split with No. 5 Virginia Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets (23-7) edged the Marlins (22-5) 2-1 in Game 1 and took the Marlins to extra innings in Game 2 before dropping a 3-2 decision.

R-MC scored first in the top of the fourth frame of Game 1. Sophomore Brandi Mulvena (Farnham, Va. / Rappahannock), senior Madison Gilman (Glen Allen, Va. / Patrick Henry) and sophomore Harley Jones (Brodnax, Va. / Brunswick) each singled to load the bases with one out. Freshman Cori Spartana (Baltimore, Md. / St. Timothy's) pinch ran for Gilman at second. Sophomore Skylar Toth (Midlothian, Va. / Clover Hill) reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Spartana to third. Sophomore Hayden Fontenot (Lexington, Va. / Rockbridge) singled down the right side to bring Spartana home for the 1-0 lead.

VWC scored in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 1-1.

With two away in the seventh, Whittemore tripled to center field and scored on a single from freshman Diane McDaniel (Fauqier, Va. / Liberty) to give the Yellow Jackets the 2-1 victory.

In the nightcap, senior Sierra Ford (Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) notched her fourth home run of the season to give R-MC a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

VWC scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

In the eighth, Spartana was placed on second to start the inning and advanced to third on sacrifice bunt from junior Jen Balcom (Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan). Whittemore singled to center field to bring home Spartana to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 2-1 heading to the bottom of the frame. The Marlins added two runs in the eighth to take Game 2 by a score of 3-2.

Sophomore Nelda Bagley (Kenbridge, Va. / Central) had seven strikeouts in seven innings on the mound for the Yellow Jackets.

Randolph-Macon stays on the road for a doubleheader at Roanoke on Saturday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m.

--R-MC Sports Information--