ASHLAND, Va. – The 9^th-ranked Randolph-Macon softball team hosted Roanoke on a busy Saturday on campus for an ODAC matchup. The Maroons used a comeback in game one to help push them to a sweep of the Yellow Jackets.

The Basics:

Scores: Roanoke 4, Randolph-Macon 3 (8 innings)      Roanoke 8, Randolph-Macon 0

Location: Ashland, Va./Randolph-Macon College/RMC Softball Field

Records: Randolph-Macon (23-7, 7-3 ODAC), Lynchburg (12-8, 6-2 ODAC)

How it Happened (Game 1):

• The first four batters reached base in the bottom of the first for RMC, capped off by a two-run single by Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan), giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead early.
• Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) struck out the side in the second inning and ran into her first amount of trouble in the fourth after two Roanoke hits, but stranded both runners on to keep the Maroons scoreless.
• RMC had a hit in both of the next two innings, holding a 2-0 lead. With one out in the seventh, Roanoke blasted a game-tying two-run home run to knot the score at two. RMC had a hit in the seventh but stranded the runner to send it to extras.
• Roanoke added two more in the top of the eighth, scoring the ghost runner from second on a double and then once again scoring another on a double to take a 4-2 lead to the bottom of the eighth.
• RMC would get a run in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a double by Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) but RMC couldn't capitalize further, falling in game one, 4-3.

By the Numbers (Game 1):

• The seven hits for the Yellow Jackets came from seven different player, with no players having multiple hits.
• Gracie Ellis struck out seven across eight innings of work in the circle. She also had one hit at the plate.
• Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) went 1-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Kayla Davis notched two RBI during a 1-4 game at the plate, both coming in the first inning.
• Olivia Owens had the only extra base hit for RMC in the game with an RBI double in the eighth inning.

How it Happened (Game 2):

• Roanoke carried the momentum into the first inning of game two, scoring a run in the top of the first inning after an error.
• RC added another run in the third inning after two hits led to the run. RMC got a baserunner in the bottom of the third but a double play erased the threat.
• Both teams left runners on in the fourth. RMC left two on, but couldn't capitalize to bring them home.
• Roanoke exploded in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on six hits. An RBI single, a two-RBI double, and a two-run home run extended the lead out to 8-0, forcing the Yellow Jackets to their final three outs.
• The Maroons completed the sweep by retiring the Yellow Jackets in order, winning 8-0 in five innings.

By the Numbers (Game 2):

• Olivia Owens had the lone hit for the Yellow Jackets in game two, which was a single in the fourth inning.
• RMC was making contact, but couldn't find the hits, striking out just one time in the second game.
• This marks just the third time this season that RMC has been shutout in a game this season.

Up Next:

Randolph-Macon will be back in action tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. ODAC contest against Randolph in Ashland for senior day.