(ASHLAND, Va.) – In a battle between two nationally ranked teams, No. 17 Randolph-Macon got the better of No. 13 Berry in softball action on Thursday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets continued their impressive start to the season with a pair of one-run wins over the Vikings.

The Basics

Score: No. 17 Randolph-Macon 4, No. 13 Berry 3 (Game 1)
No. 17 Randolph-Macon 2, No. 13 Berry 1 (Game 2)

Venue: R-MC Softball Field

Records: No. 17 Randolph-Macon 12-1, No. 13 Berry 10-7

How It Happened (Game 1)

• The Yellow Jackets opened up the scoring in the second inning as Jessica Pittman (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va. / Kempsville) hit a two-out double that hugged the left field line to bring in Sami Davidson (Sr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point). Davidson had some wheels on her as she scored all the way from first and slid in just to beat the tag for the 1-0 lead in the second.
• One inning later the Lemon and Black extended their lead on a very similar play as Olivia Owens (So., Salisbury, Md. / James M. Bennett) hit a two-bagger down the left field line to score Amanda Lanyon (Fr., Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian) who opened up the frame with a single and a stolen base. Owens eventually moved to third on ground out and scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
• Lanyon provided another run thanks to solid base running in the bottom of the fifth. She led off the frame with a single before stealing second a second time and moved to third on a ground out. Kayla Davis (Fr., Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) followed up with a ground out to third which allowed Lanyon to score.
• The aforementioned run proved costly as Berry rallied in the sixth. A double by Anna Jackson put the Vikings on the board before a Paige Bennett single scored two more, but the visitors couldn't get any closer.

How It Happened (Game 2)

• A pitchers' duel broke out in the nightcap with Rilee Baughan (Jr., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock) getting the job done from both the circle and the plate for the Yellow Jackets. She opened the scoring with her third home run of the season with a solo shot to left center for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
• Berry was able to tie the game two innings later on back-to-back doubles. Bennett provided the first and scored on Abbey Gamble's extra base hit, but was stranded as Baughan retired the next two batters.
• Clutch base running gave the Jackets the lead once again in the fifth inning. Davidson led off with a double to right before Arianna Prymak (Fr., Woodbridge, Va. / Woodbridge) came in to pinch run. A sacrifice bunt by Ryleigh Elliott (So., Milton, Del. / Cape Henlopen) moved her to third before a perfectly place bunt by Pittman allowed Prymak to score on the squeeze play.
• With the lead once again, Baughan went to work and struck out three of the final six outs. She also picked up some stellar defense in the top of the seventh as Lanyon robbed an extra base hit with a diving catch to retire Sydney Moroney who led off the inning.

Inside The Numbers

• Baughan had perhaps her best game of the season in the circle as she struck out a career-best nine batters in the complete game win to improve to 4-0. She helped her own cause as she went 3-for-3 and was a triple short of the cycle.
• On the day Baughan was 4-for-6. She has hit safely in all but one game this year and has six extra base hits.
• In getting the win, Baughan handed Berry ace Hannah Gore her first loss of the season dropping her to 6-1.
• Gracie Ellis (Fr., New Kent, Va. / New Kent) recorded the win in the opener as she improved to 8-1 in her seventh complete game. She struck out three to bring her total to 83 punch outs on the season.
• Lanyon's offense was a key in the opener as she went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
• The Yellow Jackets have defeated ranked opponents in five of their last six games. Dating back to last season, R-MC has won its last seven games against nationally ranked teams.

Up Next

More top-ranked competition awaits the Yellow Jackets this weekend as they are scheduled to host No. 21 Gettysburg on Saturday. First pitch with the Bullets is currently set for 12 p.m.