(COLUMBUS, Ga.) – The NFCA Leadoff Classic started off with a split for the Randolph-Macon softball team as it fell to Emory before rebounding to defeat Central (Iowa). The Yellow Jackets pounded out 12 runs on 14 hits in the second game and came from behind to win the game.

The Basics

Score: Game 1 – Randolph-Macon 3, Emory 6
Game 2 – Randolph-Macon 12, Central (Iowa) 9

Venue: South Commons Comp

Records: Randolph-Macon 6-1
Emory 3-2
Central 0-2

How It Happened (Game 1 vs. Emory)

• The Yellow Jackets took an early lead as they plated solo runs in the second and third innings. Jessica Pittman (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va. / Kempsville) provided the first run for the Lemon and Black when she doubled to left to bring in Naomi Sadler (Fr., Emporia, Va. / Brunswick) in the second. Rilee Baughan (Jr., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock) singled in Amanda Lanyon (Fr., Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian) in the following frame.
• The Eagles' bats heated up in the fourth and fifth as they took a 4-2 lead. Kayla Davis (Fr., Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) singled in Olivia Owens (So., Salisbury, Md. / James M. Bennett) to cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth, but Emory added insurance runs in the top of the seventh to set up the final score.

How It Happened (Game 2 vs. Central)

• Usually other sports have the cliché of it being a game of runs. Of course the scores in softball are literally runs, but the scoring also came in runs for the nightcap as well. R-MC opened up the game with a seven-run second only to see Central take the lead with nine runs over the next two innings.
• Consecutive doubles by Sadler, Sami Davidson (Sr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point), and Ryleigh Elliott (So., Milton, Del. / Cape Henlopen) started the outburst by the Jackets as Baughan, Sadler, Natalie Robinson (Jr., Woodbridge, Va. / Woodbridge), and Davidson all scored for a 4-0 lead.
• In the sixth, a Davis single through the left side scored Lanyon to tie the game at 9-all. The Jackets eventually took the lead for good on a double to center by Baughan.

Inside The Numbers

• Gracie Ellis (Fr., New Kent, Va. / New Kent) was the pitcher of record in both games. Although she picked up the loss in the opener, she still struck out nine batters in the process. The two-time ODAC Pitcher of the Week rebounded in a big way by entering the second game in relief and shut down the Dutch with 10 strikeouts and allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings of work to improve to 4-1 on the year.
• Ellis now has 50 strikeouts through her first five collegiate games.
• Seven different Yellow Jackets had extra base hits on the day with six different players recording a double in the second game.
• Davis finished the day a combined 5-for-8 with four RBIs. She was 3-for-5 in the game against the Dutch with three RBIs.
• Davidson finished the second game 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored.

Up Next

The Jackets will go up against two nationally ranked teams tomorrow in No. 15 St. John Fisher and No. 14 Piedmont. First pitch with the Cardinals is set for 2:30 p.m. with the game against the Lions to follow at 4:30.