ASHLAND, Va. – Junior
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) improved her record in the circle to 11-0 in game one and was marvelous at the plate totalling five hits and five RBIs and won the game in the tenth inning for the Yellow Jackets in game two.
The Basics:
Scores: #8 Randolph-Macon 6, Bridgewater 3; #8 Randolph-Macon 5, Bridgewater 4
Location: Ashland, Va.//Randolph-Macon College//Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (18-2-2, 9-1 ODAC), Bridgewater (16-16, 9-5 ODAC)
How It Happened:
Game 1
- Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) started the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the top of the first inning. That ended quickly as Delaney Lail sent a ball over the fence to give Bridgewater an early 1-0 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets saw Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) and Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) reached on back-to-back hits. Rilee Baughan (Rappahannock, Va./Warsaw) extended her at-bat and drew a walk to load up the bases still with no outs. Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) reached on an error by the Eagles at third base to score Lanyon to tie the game up at 1-1. Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) did her job to give Randolph-Macon its first lead of the game with a sacrifice flyout to left field to bring in Sadler. Later in the inning Blayne Talley (Richmond, Va./Cosby) singled up the middle to bring home Baughan from third base to help give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead after one full inning.
- In the third inning, Owens and Talley both drew two out walks to put pressure back onto the Bridgewater defense. Ellis singled up the middle following the Talley free base to bring home Owens. Talley was the final run of the inning to score, as Ellie Herndon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) singled down the right field line to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 5-1.
- In the top of the sixth inning, Bridgewater started to get the bats going as Jazmyne Smith and Delaney Lail both led-off the inning with singles. Lexi Schaaf loaded up the bases on a fielding error by Randolph-Macon. Abby Byrum let Smith cross home plate on a sacrifice fly out to center field. Ellis escaped danger by striking out the final two batters, but the Eagles got one run closer, still down 5-2.
- The Yellow Jackets got all three batters to reach base safely to load up the bases with no outs. Sadler that singled to begin the inning crossed home on a Owens sacrifice flyout to right field. Bridgewater managed to also escape with limited damage, but Randolph-Macon got the run back to take a four run lead at 6-2.
- Bridgewater did load up the bases with the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh inning and Peyton Gregory scored on a wild pitch. Ellis retired the potential tying run at the plate with a groundout to get the 6-3 win for the Yellow Jackets.
By The Numbers
- Owens ended the day with two RBIs to lead the Yellow Jackets. The senior had two sacrifice flyouts and a walk in the game.
- Sadler was one of two batters to record a multi-hit game. The junior went 2-for-4 and scored twice for Randolph-Macon.
- Davis, Talley and Herndon all recorded an RBI in game one.
- Ellis was the winning pitcher in the circle for the Yellow Jackets in a complete game effort. The junior is now 11-0 on the season and in game one she allowed three runs on six hits and fanned eight batters. Ellis also recorded two hits in three plate appearances with an RBI.
How It Happened:
Game 2
- The Eagles got on the board first to begin game two, three out of the first four batters all recorded hits and a Schaaf single scored Smith to give BC a 1-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon added three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead 3-1. Sadler led off the inning with a double into the right field gap and later was brought home on a Baughan two run homer. Owens reset the offense with a single into left field and she scored on a Ellis single into right field.
- In the third inning, Bridgewater fought back, scoring two runs to tie the game up at 3-3. Schaaf was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and Hannah Mahan was sent in to pinch run. Mahan scored on a Byrum double into the gap and Byrum was brought home by way of a Kaelyn Ramsey single.
- Randolph-Macon had two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Yellow Jackets ended the inning with a pop out and a Lanyon lineout to center to keep the game tied at 3-3.
- Neither team could find their way to score the extra-innings runner that was placed on second base for the first two extra innings.
- Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) was sent in to pinch run for Baughan in the bottom of the tenth inning. Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./James Madison) moved Guthrie over to third with a sacrifice bunt with one out. Ellis finally ended the game with a single up the middle to secure the sweep over the Bridgewater Eagles 5-4.
By The Numbers
- Ellis ended game two going 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the tenth inning.
- Baughan notched her 30th home run of her career with a two-run bomb in the game.
- Owens went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk
- Sadler doubled as the only other extra base hit for the Yellow Jackets.
- Baughan notched her seventh win of the season, the senior threw a complete ten inning game, allowing four runs on ten hits and she struck out two.
Up Next
RMC will stay at home this week as they take on Ferrum College on Saturday, April 13, for a 1 p.m. ODAC doubleheader. This doubleheader is also the Carol Estes Park dedication game, that will take place before the first game.
