HARRISONBURG, Va. –
Madison Drew Faries (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) led the Yellow Jackets at the plate on the day and notched the go-ahead homer in the fifth inning of game two to guide #7 Randolph-Macon softball to a sweep over Eastern Mennonite.
The Basics:
Scores: #7 Randolph-Macon 9, Eastern Mennonite 1 // #7 Randolph-Macon 4, Eastern Mennonite 3
Location: Harrisonburg, Va.//Eastern Mennonite University//Gehman Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (26-2-2, 17-1 ODAC), Eastern Mennonite (9-18, 5-13 ODAC)
How It Happened:
Game 1
- Randolph-Macon got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs to break the 0-0 game open. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) and Rilee Baughan (Rappahannock, Va./Warsaw) led of the inning with singles and Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) walked to load up the bases with one out. Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) singled up the middle to score Sadler and keep the bases loaded. Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) grounded out to second base but plated Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) that pinch ran for Baughan. Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) clutched up with two-outs and hit a double to right field that let Owens and pinch runner Bailey Hairfield (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) cross home for a Yellow Jacket 4-0 lead.
- The Lemon and Black added another run in the fifth inning on a Baughan sacrifice flyout to center field that brought home Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) for a 5-0 lead.
- Brown hit her first career home run in the top half of the sixth inning to inch the Yellow Jackets to a 6-0 lead.
- In the seventh inning, Baughan hit a three run homer to push the lead out to 9-0 for Randolph-Macon. Ellis was masterful in the circle for the Lemon and Black, giving up only a homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. She held the Royals to only three hits overall in the seven inning game to help the Yellow Jackets grab a 9-1 game one victory.
By The Numbers
- Baughan led the Yellow Jackets at the plate with two hits, four total RBIs and her 32nd home run of her career.
- Brown ended the game with three RBIs, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Owens and Ellis both tallied an RBI in their efforts at the plate.
- Faries and Sadler both ended the first game with two hits each.
- Lanyon stole two bases and had a hit in the game.
- Ellis was the winning pitcher in the circle for the Yellow Jackets in seven complete innings. The junior is now 15-0 on the season and in game one she allowed only one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
How It Happened:
Game 2
- In game two, Eastern Mennonite got on the board first on an odd play that involved a strikeout. Makayla Cyzick struck out and due to a passed ball, Samantha Hensley was able to score to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.
- The Royals did not stop there by scoring more runs, as they plated two more runs in the third inning. Brooke Morris and Hensley both led off the inning with hits to put runners in scoring position early. Destiny Jones reached first by a fielder error by the Yellow Jackets to score Morris from third base. Hensley ended the inning by crossing home on a Braxton Jones sacrifice flyout to right field, to give Eastern Mennonite a 3-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon would not go down without a fight, as they loaded-up the bases in the fourth inning with two outs. Sadler hit a single up the middle to score both Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) and Faries to cut the deficit to 3-2.
- The hits kept coming for Faries, as she launched her first career home run over the right field fence for two runs. The freshman would give the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning at 4-3.
- Ellis was called to come into the game in the sixth inning and received a rare save for Randolph-Macon as she ended the game with a double play. Randolph-Macon completed the three run comeback for a 4-3 win and sweep over Eastern Mennonite.
By The Numbers
- Faries ended the second game with two hits, including the go-ahead home run and totalled two RBIs.
- Sadler went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.
- Brown and Davis both completed a multi-hit game with two hits for Randolph-Macon.
- Hill doubled and scored for the Yellow Jackets in game two.
- Baughan got her eleventh victory of the season with a 5.2 innings pitched win in the circle. Ellis completed the final 1.1 innings to receive the save for Randolph-Macon. Baughan allowed three unearned runs on six hits and fanned seven batters. Ellis gave up one hit and got four outs for the Lemon and Black.
Things to Watch
- Lanyon extended her on-base streak to 31 straight games, dating back to last season.
- Randolph-Macon extended its win streak to sixteen in a row that dates back to March 26th in which softball tied DePauw 6-6. The last time the Yellow Jackets dropped a game was on March 19th in a split with #13 Virginia Wesleyan to begin conference play.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon softball will head on the road to Roanoke for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, April 24 for a 3 p.m. ODAC doubleheader.
