ASHLAND, Va. – Senior Shawn Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) smacked a grand slam as the No. 2 Randolph-Macon baseball team defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 12-7 in the conclusion of Saturday's suspended game.

The Basics

Score: #2 Randolph-Macon 12, North Carolina Wesleyan 7

Site/Venue: Ashland, Va./Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park (1st 7 innings); Rocky Mount, N.C./Bauer Field (final 2 innings)

Records: R-MC 1-1, NCWC 7-2

How It Happened

• The Battling Bishops tallied a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first before the Yellow Jackets fought back. Senior Mike Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) belted a long home run to right in the third to cut the deficit in half.  
• R-MC would claim the lead an inning later. Seniors Shawn Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) and Reece Yeargain (Chester, Va./Benedictine) drew walks to start the third. Following a wild pitch, Nickles scored on a sacrifice fly to left by senior Jacob Selden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) to level the score. A single by sophomore Brooks Mazey (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) plated Yeargain, giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 edge.
• NCWC would tie the game in the top of the fifth before the home team responded in the bottom of the frame. Seniors Ben Marotske (Dumfries, Va./C.D. Hylton), Mike Nickles and Kevin Mooney (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown) drew one-out walks to fill the bases. Shawn Nickles crushed a grand slam to right to put R-MC ahead 7-3.
• Senior Ryan Duphorn (Erial, N.J./Paul VI) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an error in the sixth as the lead grew to 8-3. NCWC added a run in the seventh before play was suspended due to darkness.
• As play resumed, the Bishops posted a run in the top of the eighth before R-MC added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Grayson Bush (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) had a leadoff single, stole second, and came home on a double by sophomore Ethan Iannuzzi (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby). A double by Mike Nickles plated Iannuzzi, and Nickles would score on a homer to left by Mooney to make it 12-5. NCWC added two in the ninth to make the final 12-7.

By The Numbers

• Senior lefty Zack Radcliffe (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) earned the win for R-MC. In 3.0 innings of relief, he allowed one hit, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.
• Mike Nickles was a triple short of the cycle with three runs and two RBI.