FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The 10th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team used elite complete game pitching performances by
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) and
Rilee Baughan (Warsaw, Va./Rappahannock) to take down Mary Washington in a mid-week doubleheader sweep 3-0 and 4-1.
The Basics:
Scores: Randolph-Macon 3, Mary Washington 0, Randolph-Macon 4, Mary Washington 1
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.//University of Mary Washington//UMW Softball Stadium
Records: Randolph-Macon (5-0-1, 0-0 ODAC), UMW (4-4, 0-0 C2C)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- The Yellow Jackets wasted no time getting the scoring started in the first game. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) would reach first base on a single, then would swipe second base for her fifth stolen base on the year. Then Junior catcher Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) would drive in Sadler with a double to left field and give RMC an early lead over the hosts.
- Early on, Junior pitcher Ellis was rolling through the UMW lineup. She struck out five of the first seven batters she faced. The Eagles would finally record their first hit with one out in the bottom of the third inning. But Ellis would retire the next two batters and get the Yellow Jackets out of the inning.
- RMC would start the fourth inning trying to expand their narrow lead as Davis would deliver again with a single to left. Freshman Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) would be called on to pinch run and made an immediate impact by stealing second base. Kylie Lamberth (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) would come to the plate with a runner in scoring position. She would deliver with a single to left, driving in Ramos and extending the Yellow Jackets lead to two.
- In the seventh inning, RMC looked to make another push for some more insurance runs. Hannah Martin (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) would pinch hit forthe Yellow Jackets and lead off the inning with a double. And after an Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) walk, RMC had two runners on and no one out. A sacrifice bunt by Sadler would then move both base runners into scoring position. Baughan would bring in the final run of the day for the Yellow Jackets with a sacrifice fly to left, as Martin crossed the plate to make it 3-0. Ellis would cap off the game in the bottom of the seventh as she posted another complete game shutout.
By the Numbers
- Ellis records her third complete game and win on the season. She fanned 11 Eagles on the day and gave up no runs.
- Davis finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and added an RBI.
- Lamberth went 1-for-2 for the Yellow Jackets with a walk and an RBI.
- Sadler and Martin recorded the only other two hits for RMC and both crossed home plate.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- Randolph-Macon got on the board first in the second game in the third inning, as Blayne Talley (Richmond, Va./Cosby) began the inning with a double into deep left field. She later scored on a Lanyon single down the third baseline to grab the Yellow Jackets an early 1-0 lead.
- The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Emily Angel singled to start the inning. Abby Fielder pinch ran and following a Randolph-Macon error, Fielder scored on a Hannah Steele infield hit to tie the game up at 1-1.
- Lanyon and Sadler both reached base with a single and a walk to create a threat to take a late lead for RMC. They both would be cashed in on a Baughan single up the middle and Bailey Hairfield (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) pinch ran to score on a Lamberth single up the middle to give the Yellow Jackets a 4-1 lead.
- The Eagles looked to create some sort of scoring threat, but Baughan finished off UMW in the final two innings to get Randolph-Macon the mid-week sweep.
By the Numbers
- Baughan recorded her first complete game of the season. The senior struck out 11 Mary Washington batters and gave up one run on three hits. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs
- Lanyon finished the game with two hits, an RBI and two stolen bases.
- Talley doubled in game two to start the scoring for the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will take on Stockton University for a home doubleheader on Mar. 14 at 2:00 p.m.
