SWEET BRIAR, Va. - The 18th – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets saw
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) toss her fourth no-hitter of the season in game two of a doubleheader sweep over Sweet Briar.
The Basics:
Score: #18 Randolph-Macon 10, Sweet Briar 0 // #18 Randolph-Macon 5, Sweet Briar 0
Venue: Sweet Briar, Va. // Sweet Briar College // Softball Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (30-6, 15-3 ODAC), Sweet Briar (16-20, 3-15 ODAC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) walked, Reagan Hill (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) singled and Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) walked to load up the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) reached first on a fielder's choice, Sweet Briar tried to throw home but a throwing error by the Vixens allowed Lanyon and Hill to score. Blayne Talley hit a rocket up the middle to plate Davis and Boswell for the Yellow Jackets third and fourth runs of the inning. Talley capped off the inning by crossing home on a Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) sacrifice flyout to give Randolph-Macon a 5-0 lead.
- In the second inning, Powell led off with a single into right field. Hill and Davis both reached on fielder's choice plays by Sweet Briar, but zero outs were recorded by the Vixen defense. Boswell came up with the bases loaded and scored Powell on a sacrifice fly out to center field. Talley singled to reload the bases with a single, but Sweet Briar recorded two straight outs at home to keep the Randolph-Macon lead at 6-0.
- The Lemon and Black added two more runs in the third inning to increase their lead to 8-0. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) and Powell singled to put pressure on the Vixens defense. Sadler scored on a wild pitch and Powell crossed home on a ground out by Hill.
- In the top of the fifth inning, the Yellow Jackets benefited from two more Sweet Briar errors to cash in two more runs, having Lanyon and Powell both score. The Lemon and Black would push their lead to 10-0 with three outs to get to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
- Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) pitched the final two innings and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with three straight outs, securing the 10-0 game one win for the Yellow Jackets.
Inside the Numbers:
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing three complete shutout innings to get her 17th victory of the season. The senior allowed only one hit and struck out five. Guthrie was sent in to finish the final two innings, allowing only one walk to the final seven batters.
- Talley ended the first game going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
- Davis, Hill, Boswell and Ramos all recorded an RBI for the Yellow Jackets.
- Powell ended the game with two hits, three runs scored and a stolen base.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- Randolph-Macon kicked off the second game with a Powell walk and with two outs in the inning, she scored on a Talley single. The Lemon and Black started quick on offense to take a 1-0 lead.
- In the sixth inning Hill singled with one out, stole second and moved over to third on a ground out. Hill ran home on a wild pitch to grab the Yellow Jackets much needed insurance with a 2-0 lead.
- The Lemon and Black saw Ellis single with one out in the seventh inning. Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) pinch ran and moved to third base when Ramos reached first on a Sweet Briar error. Meharg and Ramos both scored with two outs on a Lanyon double into right center field, doubling Randolph-Macon's lead to 4-0. The Vixens made another error to allow Powell to reach first and let Lanyon score from second base. The three run inning grabbed the Yellow Jackets a 5-0 lead.
- Ellis sat down Sweet Briar in order in the bottom half of the seventh inning to secure the no-hitter and the sweep.
Inside the Numbers:
- Ellis started game two for Randolph-Macon and tossed her fourth no-hitter of the season in the seven inning game. The senior struck out ten batters and walked three for her 18th win of the season.
- Lanyon ended game two with two RBIs on her seventh inning double. Talley recorded the only other RBI for the Yellow Jackets.
- Hill had two hits and two stolen bases in the second game of the doubleheader.
For the Record:
- The 30-6 record marks the eighth time in the last ten seasons in which the Yellow Jackets have won thirty plus games. This is the fourth consecutive year in which Randolph-Macon has put up thirty plus wins.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will sit idle before welcoming in conference rival #5 Virginia Wesleyan for a conference matchup on April 24 at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
