(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) – Randolph-Macon softball nearly split with Virginia Wesleyan in a marquee matchup between a pair of nationally ranked teams, but darkness put those hopes to sleep and forced a Game 2 draw. The No. 22 Yellow Jackets, who were playing in their first games of the year, held leads in both games against the No. 3 Marlins, but the hosts answered each time they went down.

The Basics

Scores:

Game 1: No. 22 Randolph-Macon 1, No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan 5
Game 2: No. 22 Randolph-Macon 5, No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan 5 (8 innings)

Location / Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. / Broyles Field at TowneBank Park

Records: Randolph-Macon 0-1-1, Virginia Wesleyan 11-1-1

How It Happened – Game One

• Ali Celiberti (Sr., Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) provided the first score of the day with an RBI single to bring in center in Maddie Stone (Sr., Glen Allen, Va. / Glen Allen) the opening frame. Stone initially walked and advanced to second on another base on balls.
• Small ball helped the Marlins equalize in the bottom of the inning as Jessica Goldyn led off with a walk, swiped a pair of bases, and scored on a sacrifice.
• From there defense was the name of the game for the next three innings. Virginia Wesleyan eventually broke through and plated a trio in the fifth and added an insurance run in the sixth to set up the 5-1 final.

Inside The Numbers – Game One

• Madie Rhoads (Sr., Portsmouth, Va. / Nansemond River) took the loss, but started the game in impressive fashion. Despite the initial run, she was able to punch out five of the first eight batters.
• After the first inning, the Jackets' opportunities were few and far between as they were limited to two hits the rest of the way.

How It Happened – Game Two

• The Yellow Jackets came back from a 4-0 deficit with three runs in the fourth and another in the sixth to force extra frames. A bases-loaded double by Rilee Baughan (So., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock) sparked the rally as her shot to center allowed Bailey Hairfield (Fr., Chesterfield, Va. / Cosby) and Olivia Allen (Fr., Dinwiddie, Va. / Dinwiddie) to come home. Sami Davidson (Sr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point), who advanced to third on the aforementioned double, scored on an infield error during the next at-bat.
• Baughan scored the go-ahead run in the sixth on a sac fly by Natalie Robinson (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park).
• The Jackets looked poised for the nightcap upset as Doyle scored on an error by the right fielder after Celiberti singled to right, but the Marlins answered in the bottom of the eighth with a sac fly.
• The game was called final as a result of darkness after the eighth inning.

Inside The Numbers – Game Two

• Baughan went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored to lead the Jackets bats.
• Celiberti was strong in the circle as she went the distance with five strikeouts. Errors hurt, however, as only one of the five runs were earned.

Up Next: The Jackets have a little bit of a break before hosting Southern Virginia next Saturday, March 20, at 1 p.m. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.