ASHLAND, Va. –
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) tossed her second straight complete game shutout to stay perfect on the year in game one and
Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) hit the go-ahead home run in game two to lead the Yellow Jackets to a sweep over Lynchburg 7-0,5-4.
The Basics:
Scores: #7 Randolph-Macon 7, (RV) Lynchburg 0 // #7 Randolph-Macon 5, (RV) Lynchburg 4
Location: Ashland, Va.//Randolph-Macon College//Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (29-3-2, 20-2 ODAC), Lynchburg (27-11, 15-7 ODAC)
How It Happened:
Game 1
- Rilee Baughan (Warsaw, Va./Rappahannock) got the game started with a bang in the bottom of the first inning. The fifth-year student hit a two-out solo home run over the center field fence to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon benefited from Hornet mistakes in the second inning, adding three more runs from two different errors. Madison Drew Faries (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) drew a two out walk, Ellis ripped a single through the left side of the infield and Blayne Talley (Richmond, Va./Cosby) also walked to load up the bases. Lanyon reached on a fielding error by Lynchburg to allow Faries to score. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) hit a weak ground ball to third and the Hornets threw the ball away to get Ellis and Talley home. Lanyon was thrown out at home to end the inning, as the Lemon and Black took a 4-0 lead.
- In the fourth inning, Faries and Ellis opened up the inning with back-to-back singles. Talley did her job in sacrifice bunting both runners into scoring position with only one out. Lanyon singled into left field to bring home Faries and Sadler grounded out to second, but Ellis was able to score to extend the lead for Randolph-Macon to 6-0.
- Ellis was dialed in as the starting pitcher for the Yellow Jackets. The junior allowed one hit in the third inning and did not allow another hit until the Hornets had one in the sixth inning. Ellis fanned ten batters in the sixth innings of shutout softball.
- Randolph-Macon added one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Caroline Bruns (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) drew a walk to open up the inning and scored by Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) reaching first with the fourth error of the game.
By The Numbers
- Ellis was the winning pitcher in the circle for the Yellow Jackets in seven complete innings. The junior is now 17-0 on the season and in game one she tossed her eighth shutout of the season, adding 12 strikeouts to her stat sheet. She also led the Yellow Jackets at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run scored.
- Baughan ended the day with a solo home run and walked twice.
- Lanyon and Sadler accounted for the other two RBIs in the game and each recorded one hit.
- Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett), Sierra Livingston (Dagsboro, Del./Sussex Tech), Olivia Allen (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie), Maddy Bates (Alrington, Va./Bishop O'Connell), Bailey Hairfield (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) and Sarah Wilsey (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) all were honored before the game for senior day.
How It Happened:
Game 2
- In game two, Lynchburg saw the first three batters reach with singles to load up the bases with none retired in the third inning. Madison Barnes cranked a hit that flew over the center field fence for a grand slam and gave the Hornets a 4-0 lead.
- Sadler singled and Baughan walked to create a two-out threat in the bottom of the third inning. Davis hit a blistering ball off the left field fence to score Sadler and get the Yellow Jackets on the board, still trailing 4-1.
- Randolph-Macon put more pressure on the Hornets in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Sadler reached first on a throwing error by Lynchburg and moved to second on the same error. Baughan walked during the next at-bat and Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) was sent in to pinch run. Davis hit another double, this time off of the right field fence to bring home Sadler and Meharg. Davis' clutch hitting brought back the Yellow Jackets within one run at 4-3.
- Lanyon sent a two-run homer over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Randolph-Macon a 5-4 lead, going into the final inning of game two.
- Ellis was called on to come and close the door for the Yellow Jackets. The junior did just that, striking out the final Hornet to gain the save, as Randolph-Macon gained the senior day sweep over Lynchburg.
By The Numbers
- Davis ended the game with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the Yellow Jackets.
- Lanyon hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and also stole one base.
- Brown recorded two hits in three plate attempts and scored once.
- Baughan was the winning pitcher in game two, as the fifth year student notched her twelfth win of the season. She tossed six innings and gave up four runs on seven hits and fanned four.
- Ellis gained her second save of the season in the seventh inning, striking out the final hitter of the game.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will host the first weekend of the 2024 ODAC Championships and will either be the #1 or #2 seeds. Times of games haven't been announced. Stay tuned to RMCAthletics.com for updates on times and tickets for the ODAC Tournament.
