VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The 23rd – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets fell in the opening game of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship series to top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan by a score of 7-1.
The Basics:
Score: (3) Randolph-Macon 1, (1) Virginia Wesleyan 7
Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. // Virginia Wesleyan University // Broyles Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (34-10, 16-6 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (40-3-1, 21-1 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Virginia Wesleyan got three straight one out singles to load up the bases in the first inning. Mackenzie Myers flew out to left field to bring in Julia Piotrowski from third to push the Marlins into the lead. Samantha Deitsch singled into left field with two outs to score Morgan Tucker and Laci Campbell to complete a three run first inning.
- In the top of the second inning, three Yellow Jackets drew walks to load up the bases, but the Marlins managed to get a pop out to hold their 3-0 lead.
- In the bottom half of the inning, Virginia Wesleyan grabbed three more runs to take a 6-0 lead. The Lemon and Black faced the bases loaded and nobody out and Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) worked a strikeout to Piotrowski and a fielders choice to get Haley Sadler out at home. The Marlins would score their runs on a throwing error and a two out single to account for the runs.
- Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) got Randolph-Macon its first hit of the game with a single up the middle in the fourth inning. The leadoff single would come to pass, as the Marlins made two very good defensive plays to get out of the inning with their 6-0 lead.
- In the fifth inning, Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) walked to begin the inning for the Yellow Jackets. She moved up to second a wild pitch and crossed home on an Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) single up the middle. Virginia Wesleyan limited the damage to one run only and Randolph-Macon cut the deficit to 6-1.
- The Marlins added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Piotrowski single into right field that platted Alexis Hudgens to up the lead to 7-1.
- The Yellow Jackets would be retired in the top of the seventh inning, dropping game one of the conference championship series by a score of 7-1.
Inside the Numbers
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing three full innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits. Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) finished the final three innings, giving up one run on two hits in relief.
- Lanyon drove in the only run for the Lemon and Black in the game.
- Boswell recorded the only other hit for the Yellow Jackets,
- Powell scored and walked twice in the game. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) walked three times.
For the Record
- Sadler moved into second in program history in career walks with 71 overall, passing her former teammate Rilee Baughan'24 that ended her career with 68.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will be back in action on Sunday, May 11 for the second game on the conference championship series at 11 a.m.
