ASHLAND, Va. – The 9^th-ranked Randolph-Macon softball team played their second double header in as many days over the weekend. The Yellow Jackets won game one in extras and held off a Randolph comeback in game two to down the WildCats and earn the sweep.

The Basics:

Scores: Randolph-Macon 2, Randolph 1 (8 innings)      Randolph-Macon 5, Randolph 4

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

Records: Randolph-Macon (25-7, 9-3 ODAC), Randolph (18-14, 6-6 ODAC)

How it Happened (Game 1):

• It was quite the pitchers duel in game one. As Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) faced the minimum through seven innings of play, striking out eight in that span. RMC got the bases loaded in the second inning, their best chance to tack on a run, but stranded all three runners in the inning, keeping the game scoreless.
• The Yellow Jackets had a hit in each of the final three innings, but couldn't get a big hit to bring them home as Ellis' dominant pitching sent the game into extra innings.
• In the eighth inning, Randolph brought in their ghost runner to score to take a 1-0 lead with the first run of the game, sending RMC to their final three outs.
• In the bottom half of the inning, Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) started on second and came in to score after an error got Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) on base. Sadler stole second, was bunted over to third by Rilee Baughan (Warsaw, Va./Rappahannock), and a squeeze bunt laid down by Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) scored Sadler, giving RMC the win, 2-1.

By the Numbers (Game 1):

• Gracie Ellis allowed just one hit over eight innings in a complete game. She allowed an unearned run in the eighth inning and struck out nine. It marks her 11^th start this season allowing one run or less.
• Amanda Lanyon and Naomi Sadler each had a hit at the top of the order. Both players scored a run in the eighth inning and Naomi Sadler picked up an RBI in the inning as well. Both players had two stolen bases in the game as well.
• Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) reached base twice, with a double and a walk.
• Jessica Pittman (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) and Cameron Hildebrand (Fincastle, Va./James River) each had a hit in the game as well. Pittman also added a walk.

How it Happened (Game 2):

• Randolph-Macon came out swinging in game two, opening the game with two runs in the first inning after a Rilee Baughan sacrifice fly and a Kayla Davis double.
• Rilee Baughan stranded the bases loaded in the second inning, and the Yellow Jackets offense rode the momentum into the bottom of the inning, as Rilee Baughan had an RBI single and Olivia Owens tripled home two more to build the lead out to 5-0.
• Randolph didn't go away, however, immediately answering with four singles in the first five batters in the third, scoring three runs to cut the deficit.
• In the fifth, Randolph added one more run to cut it to a one run game with two innings to play. They would threaten in the sixth, but Gracie Ellis relieved Rilee Baughan and slammed the door to pick up a save, helping RMC win 5-4.

By the Numbers (Game 2):

• All seven hits in the game for the Yellow Jackets came from seven different players.
• Rilee Baughan went 1-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. She also had a sacrifice fly and threw 5.2 innings in the circle.
• Olivia Owens had a big two-run triple in the second inning, which proved to be the game winning run.
• Amanda Lanyon went 1-2 at the plate with two runs scored and two stolen bases. She also had a sacrifice bunt.
• Kayla Davis reached base twice, once with an RBI double and another with a walk while also scoring a run in the game.

Up Next:

Randolph-Macon will be back in action on Wednesday in Ashland for a home double header against Eastern Mennonite at 3:00 p.m.