ASHLAND, Va. – The 17th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team kicked off their 2025 campaign with a Sunday matinee with Marymount (Va.). The Yellow Jackets were paced by a perfect game by
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) in game one to earn a sweep in the double header over the Saints.
The Basics:
Scores: Randolph-Macon 8, Marymount 0, Randolph-Macon 9, Marymount 1
Location: Ashland, Va.//Randolph-Macon College//Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (2-0, 0-0 ODAC), Marymount (0-2, 0-0 AEC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- Ellis started her senior season with a bang, striking out seven of the first nine batters she faced. The Yellow Jackets had a threat to score in the bottom of the second inning. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) reached on a fielding error by the left fielder and Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) drew a walk. Randolph-Macon could not cash in and kept the game at 0-0 through three innings.
- In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) hit a one out double down the left field line. The junior later scored on a two out Ellis single up the middle to grab the lead for the Lemon and Black 1-0. Ellis would score all the way from first base on a Powell double off the left field fence to double the Randolph-Macon lead. Powell scored the third and final run of the inning with aggressive base running on a Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) hard ground ball up the middle. The three runs all scored with two outs in the inning, giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon got clutch defense from Ramos in the top half of the sixth inning, diving to catch a hard hit ball from the Saints. In the bottom half of the inning, Brown singled and Hill doubled into left center field to begin the inning. Ellis came through again at the plate and laced a double down the left field line to bring home Brown and Hill, extending the Lemon and Black lead to 5-0. Avery Shifflett (Ruckersville, Va./William Monroe) pinch ran for Ellis and crossed home on a Powell single into right field. Powell stole second and Ramos drew a walk to represent the game-winning run. Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va/Glen Allen) drove in Powell with yet another hard hit single for Randolph-Macon. Ramos ended the game on a wild pitch by Marymount, as the Lemon and Black would win the game by run rule 8-0.
- Ellis would complete a perfect game for the Yellow Jackets in six complete innings, striking out 12 batters and facing only 18 total.
By the Numbers
- Ellis finished the game with her third perfect game of her career. The senior struck out 12 opposing hitters in the six inning game. She also was elite at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
- Powell was perfect at the plate with two hits in as many plate appearances. The sophomore had a double, two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
- Meharg and Ramos both had a hit and an RBI in the game. Ramos also drew a walk and scored once in the first game.
- Brown went 2-for-3 in game one with a double and scored twice.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- The Yellow Jackets started the second game hot at the plate. Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) began the game by reaching first on an error by Marymount. Lanyon stole second and was driven in on a Meharg single through the right side of the infield, giving Randolph-Macon a 1-0 lead. Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) drove in Meharg later in the inning on a sacrifice fly out to center field to double the lead for the Lemon and Black to 2-0 after the first inning.
- In the second inning, Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) and Madison Faries (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) were both driven in on a Lanyon single up the middle to put Randolph-Macon up 4-0 after the inning.
- Marymount would get on the board for the first time on the day, starting with a Leila Hernandez triple down the right field line. She would score on a Samantha Cinotti single into right field and the Yellow Jackets would still lead 4-1 after three innings.
- In the fourth inning, Faries began with a double into left center field, stole third and was driven in on a Powell groundout. Lanyon restarted the inning with a double into the right center gap and crossed home on Meharg's first career homer over the center field fence. The long ball extended the lead for the Lemon and Black to 7-1.
- Randolph-Macon loaded up the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out. Mya Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) and Hill both singled home runs to hit the eight run rule. The Yellow Jackets would complete the sweep with a 9-1 win in game two.
By the Numbers
- Dylan McNerney (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) got the win in the circle for the Lemon and Black. The sophomore hurled 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits and struck out three batters. Katerina Brabson (Chesapeake Beach, Md./Northern) completed the final two innings and did not allow a run.
- Meharg hit her first career homer in game two in a 2-for-3 day and led the team with three RBIs.
- Lanyon ended the second game with two hits and two RBIs. The senior also scored two times.
Coaches Corner
- Head Coach Krysti Maronski-Neufeldt said this following her first wins of her career at Randolph-Macon. "It was great to finally get out there on the field and play games today. Couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, the atmosphere was awesome, and the girls showed up ready to play the way they can. Really looking forward to the journey this year with this group."
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will welcome in Southern Virginia to Carol Estes Park on Mar. 1 at 1:00 p.m.
