ASHLAND, Va. - The 17th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team swept #23 Tufts on Wednesday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets had a comeback walk off victory in extra innings in game one.
The Basics:
Score: #17 Randolph-Macon 3, #23 Tufts 2 // #17 Randolph-Macon 4, #23 Tufts 3
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Randolph-Macon College // Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (16-2, 2-0 ODAC), Tufts (4-8, 0-0 NESCAC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- Randolph-Macon had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Powell stole second and moved over to third on a Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) ground out, standing on third with one out. Tufts worked out of a jam with two straight ground outs to strand Powell on third base and keep the score tied at 0-0.
- The Jumbos saw Lauryn Horita reach base with two outs by way of a fielding error in the sixth inning. Horita would score on a Heaven Oliva single down the left field line to push Tufts into the lead 1-0.
- In the bottom of the seventh inning, Hill led off the inning reaching first by an error by the Jumbos second baseman. Hill moved over to third base with two outs in the inning. Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) battled through an eight pitch at bat and singled through the right side of the infield, Hill crossed home and tied up the game at 1-1.
- Tufts started with Emma Tonies placed on second base to start extra innings in the eighth inning. Tonies moved over to third on a passed ball with nobody out in the inning. Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) struck out the next two Jumbo batters to need one out to get out of the jam. Kaitlyn Perucci hit a single into right center field to bring home Tonies, giving Tufts the lead back at 2-1.
- Randolph-Macon started with Hannah Martin (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) on second base in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kiley Lamberth (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) moved Martin to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Ellie Herndon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) was sent in to pinch hit and singled into right field to score Martin and tie up the game at 2-2, still with one out. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) pinch ran and Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) singled into right center field to move Sadler over to third base as the winning run. Sadler would race home on a wild pitch and score to win the game for the Yellow Jackets by a score of 3-2.
Inside the Numbers:
- Ellis ended the game as the winning pitcher and would record her ninth win of the season. The senior threw eight complete innings, allowing two unearned runs on four total hits. Ellis ended the game with eight strikeouts overall.
- Ramos and Herndon recorded both RBIs for the Lemon and Black in the game.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- Tufts started the top of the fourth inning with a Perucci double and Cat Kawabe reaching on an error by the Yellow Jackets. The Jumbos had runners on second and third with no outs in the inning. Randolph-Macon stepped up on defense and cut down both Perucci and Kawabe at home to keep Tufts off the board and the score at 0-0. The Jumbos got hot at the plate with two outs, recording back-to-back singles by Keriann Slayton and Emma Wingate and scored Heaven Oliva and Haley Leimbach that reached on two fielder's choices. The clutch hitting sent the Jumbos into the lead 2-0.
- The Lemon and Black received back-to-back one out doubles by Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) and Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), the Guthrie double scored Boswell and cut the deficit to 2-1. Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) recorded the third straight hit with a single to put runners on the corners with one out. Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) pinch ran and stole second, putting both runners into scoring position. Riley Koscinski (Chesterfield, Va./Manchester) pinch hit and singled down the right field line to score both Guthrie and Meharg, giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 lead. Sadler had the fifth consecutive hit for the Lemon and Black with a double to score Ramos that pinch ran. The hit parade in the bottom half of the inning gave Randolph-Macon a 4-2 lead.
- Tufts added a run in the top of the sixth inning to pull within one run. Wingate singled up the middle to drive in Leimbach.
- Ellis returned to the circle in the top of the seventh inning with one out. The senior retired the final two batters to end the game and gain the save, as the Yellow Jackets took home the sweep 4-3.
Inside the Numbers:
- Guthrie received the win in game two, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits.
- Kailey Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va./Colonial) pitched a scoreless 0.2 innings and struck out one.
- Ellis notched her second save of the season and retired the final two batters of the game.
- Koscinski led the Yellow Jackets with two RBIs in the second game. Guthrie and Sadler each also notched an assist.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will start a six game road trip at Ferrum on March 22 at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
