(FREDERICKSBURG, Va.) – The No. 22 Randolph-Macon softball team had an excellent start to the weekend with a sweep of Mary Washington Friday afternoon. The Jackets used a big fourth inning to take charge in the opener before holding off a late rally by the Eagles in the second game.

The Basics

Score: Game 1- Randolph-Macon 7, Mary Washington 4
Game 2 – Randolph-Macon 3, Mary Washington 2

Venue: UMW Softball Stadium

Records: R-MC 6-3-1, UMW 12-13

How It Happened (Game 1):

• After Mary Washington took an early lead with a run in the first, Randolph-Macon exploded in the fourth and batted around the order with a six-run barrage. Five errors aided in the offense as all six were unearned runs.
• Pinch running for Erin Doyle (Sr., Moseley, Va. / Cosby) who reached on a single, Bailey Hairfield (Fr., Chesterfield, Va. / Cosby) was the first to cross home plate as she took advantage on an error by the Eagles defense to make the score 1-1. Another error allowed Olivia Allen (Fr., Dinwiddie, Va. / Dinwiddie) to score on the next play after Shelby Hill (Sr., Mechanicsville, Va. / St. Margaret's) stole second base.
• Hill eventually scored after Jessica Pittman (So., Virginia Beach, Va. / Kempsville) reached safely on another defensive miscue. Pittman later scored on a passed ball. The final two runs of the frame came in when Olivia Owens (Fr., Salisbury, Va. / James M. Bennett) and Sami Davidson (Sr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point) scored on an error by the short stop.
• The Jackets scored again in the fifth when Maddie Stone (Sr., Glen Allen, Va. / Glen Allen) singled to center. Cameron Hildebrand (So., Fincastle, Va. / James River) scored from second on the play to make the score 7-2.
• Mary Washington added another pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Ali Celiberti (Sr., Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) came in to pitch in relief and pick up her first save of the year.

Inside The Numbers (Game 1):

• Madie Rhoads (Sr., Portsmouth, Va. / Nansemond River) recorded a career-best 12 strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. It's the second time this season she's reached double-digits in K's, and sixth time overall in her career. Her previous best was 11 which she reached twice during her freshman year at Eastern Mennonite and Roanoke.
• Both Stone and Doyle had multiple hit games for the Jackets.

How It Happened (Game 1):

• It didn't take long for the Jackets to score in the nightcap. Celiberti helped her own cause as the starting pitcher with a two-out double to left and later scored on a single to right by Rilee Baughan (So., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock).
• Two innings later the Jackets added two more runs. Stone scored on a wild pitch after she reached originally on a single and moved over via sacrifice and a passed ball. Doyle provided the second run on a solo home run, her first of the season.
• Mary Washington rallied in the seventh and scored its only two runs with two outs, but Celiberti was able to make the last batter pop up to second for the victory.

Inside The Numbers (Game 1):

• The Jackets got multiple hit games out of the eight and nine hitters as both Kamryn Steinruck (Sr., Glen Allen, Va. / Glen Allen) and Hildebrand went 2-for-3 in the nightcap. Doyle joined them in also going 2-for-3.
• Doyle has been on a tear in her last three games, all wins, going 6-for-10 with a home run, three doubles, two walks with two RBI and a run scored.

Up Next

The Jackets return to Ashland to start an eight-game home stand. The first of four opponents will visit Tuesday when Eastern Mennonite visits for a twin bill scheduled to start at 3 p.m.