ASHLAND, Va. – The 10th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team used the long ball and timely hitting to go 1-0-1 with a Friday home doubleheader with WPI. The Yellow Jackets were paced by a complete game one three hitter by
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) to win 6-1 and tie game two 5-5 due to darkness.
The Basics:
Scores: Randolph-Macon 6, WPI 1, Randolph-Macon 5, WPI 5
Location: Ashland, Va.//Randolph-Macon College//Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (3-0-1, 0-0 ODAC), WPI (0-3-1, 0-0 NEWMAC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- The Yellow Jackets managed to get the first three batters on base in the bottom of the first inning. Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) stole second and got to third on a wild pitch, following her single to lead off the game. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) forced a walk to put the Engineers in a first and third situation, Sadler stole second to force the WPI catcher to make a decision. The catcher threw the ball into center field to allow Lanyon to cross home. Rilee Baughan (Warsaw, Va./Rappahannock) walked for the second consecutive Randolph-Macon batter and Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) made make WPI pay for back-to-back walks, as she cranked a three-run homer over the left center field wall to cap off a four run first inning.
- Randolph-Macon looked to score more runs in the second inning to grow the lead. Lanyon doubled to deep center field and in the next at-bat Sadler split the outfielders to score Lanyon and find herself standing on third base with an RBI triple. Davis singled up the middle later in the inning to extend the Yellow Jackets lead to 6-0 after two innings.
- The Engineers finally found their first hit of the game with two outs in the top of the third inning, as Alex Sheehan beat out a bunt down the third base line. This hit was the first recorded against pitcher Ellis this season, as her opening day no-hitter extended into 2 plus innings of her second start of the season.
- Emma Nagy was responsible for the only run to be scored the rest of the game. Her solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, was the only run to cross home since the bottom of the second inning. Ellis notched her second straight complete game to begin her 2024 campaign and guided Randolph-Macon to a 6-1 win in game one.
By the Numbers
- Ellis finished the game with her second straight complete game in as many starts this season. The junior gave up one run on five hits and struck out eleven in the game.
- Davis ended the game going 3-for-3 at the plate with a three-run homer and two singles to total four RBIs.
- Sadler went 2-for-3 in game one for the Yellow Jackets with an RBI triple, two stolen bases and a walk.
- Lanyon recorded two hits in four plate appearances in the leadoff spot for Randolph-Macon. She doubled, stole one bag and scored twice in the seven inning first game.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- The Yellow Jackets started game two with a bang, just like how they started game one. Sadler walked with one out in the bottom half of the first inning, Baughan would also make WPI pay for free passes with walks, as the senior hit her third homer of the season.
- The Engineers cut the deficit in half at 2-1, on a Callie Allison single through the right side of the infield to bring home Nagy from second.
- For the next two innings, the game started to turn into a pitchers duel, as both arms settled into the game to allow no runs to score. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) hit the third homer of the day for Randolph-Macon, as she got the Yellow Jackets back on the board in the fourth inning with a three-run bomb into left center field. The round tripper would give RMC a commanding 5-1 lead heading into the final three innings.
- WPI would not go away and started to get to Baughan in the circle for Randolph-Macon in the sixth inning. The Engineers used singles to pass the bat to the next hitter to score three runs and bring the deficit to 5-4 with an inning left to play.
- In the top of the seventh inning, WPI managed to get the tying run on base with a lead-off single from Shaina Lazarus. Ellis was called on to come in soon after to try to get the save and struckout the next two Engineer batters. Kate Gagne pinch ran for Lazarus and scored on a clutch single from Kallie Case that tied up the game 5-5.
- The Yellow Jackets threatened to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Lanyon led off with a single through the left side of the infield. WPI worked around big time chances from Randolph-Macon as darkness set in and the game was called final at 5-5 in seven innings.
By the Numbers
- Hill ended the evening with two hits in two plate appearances and recorded a three run homer.
- Baughan hit a two-run homer and six innings of work allowed five runs on nine hits, as she stuck out six.
- Madison Drew Faries (Colonial Heights, Va. Colonial Heights) doubled early in game two.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will take on #2 Salisbury University for a doubleheader on Mar. 10 at 2:00 p.m.
