(ASHLAND, Va.) – The NFCA Leadoff Classic may have ended Sunday, but two teams who participated in it will meet on the diamond as Randolph-Macon hosts Berry on Thursday. Both teams enter nationally ranked in the most recent softball polls with the Yellow Jackets at No. 17 and the Vikings at No. 13.
The Basics
Time: 2 p.m.
Venue: Randolph-Macon Softball Field
Records: No. 17 Randolph-Macon 10-1, No. 13 Berry 10-5
Series Record: First meeting
Last Time Out – No. 17 Randolph-Macon 5-1 at NFCA Leadoff Classic – March 4-6
The Lemon and Black had a spectacular week in Georgia as they went 5-1 and won all three games against nationally ranked competition. Freshman standout Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va. / New Kent) put up astronomical numbers with 49 strikeouts in 29.2 innings of work and recorded 4-1 record with a save in the other game. She was named to the all-tournament team as a result. Rilee Baughan (Jr., Warsaw, Va. / Rappahannock) was impressive from the plate as she went 7-for-20 on the week with eight RBIs.
No. 13 Berry 4-2 at NFCA Leadoff Classic – March 4-6
The Vikings had a strong week as well and went 4-2 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with wins against current No. 2 Salisbury and No. 4 East Texas Baptist. Their two losses were against then No. 1 DePauw and current No. 8 Belhaven. Anna Jackson was named to the all-tournament team after she hit five RBIs and scored four runs.
Inside The Numbers
- Ellis has had about one of the best collegiate debuts out of anyone anywhere. So far this season she leads the NCAA in strikeouts with 80 and is second in the nation with three shutouts.
- Ellis is also first in the nation with seven wins and sixth with six complete games this season.
- Ellis is No. 13 in strikeouts per seven innings with 12.0, the most out of anyone with more than four appearances or more than 19.0 innings of work.
- Baughan is among the nation's leaders in RBIs with 15 to rank No. 13 in Division III. Kayla Davis (Fr., Powhatan, Va. / Powhatan) is also near the top with 13 to rank No. 28.
- Sami Davidson (Sr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point) currently has three sacrifice flies on the season, No. 2 in the nation. She is also one of seven players in the ODAC yet to strikeout this season.
- As a team, the Yellow Jackets have been ranked nationally in 20 out of the last 22 polls.
- The two games against Berry will be the Yellow Jackets' fourth and fifth games out of the last six against nationally ranked teams.
