VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The 23rd – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets rallied in the sixth inning to tie the game up, but ultimately fell to Virginia Wesleyan in the conference title game.
The Basics:
Score: (3) Randolph-Macon 2, (1) Virginia Wesleyan 3
Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. // Virginia Wesleyan University // Broyles Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (34-11, 16-6 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (41-3-1, 21-1 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Virginia Wesleyan saw runners on the corners with two outs, following an infield error by the Yellow Jackets in the first inning. The Marlins put a double steal into play and guided by another fielding error by Randolph-Macon took an early 2-0 lead.
- In the top half of the sixth inning the Lemon and Black needed to get the bats hot quickly. Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) did just that by leading off the inning with a sharp single into left field. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) followed up her teammate with an infield single to put two runners on with nobody out. Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) followed suit with the Yellow Jackets third straight hit to score Lanyon from second base, cutting the deficit in half. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) did her job with a sacrifice bunt to move Sadler and pinch runner Mya Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) into scoring position with one out. Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) came through with the fourth Randolph-Macon hit of the inning to score Sadler from third, tying the game up at 2-2. Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) tried to score Mya Davis with a squeeze bunt and Virginia Wesleyan was able to get Davis out at home to preserve the 2-2 score.
- The Marlins saw Mackenzie Myers hit a one out fly ball to right field to barely plate Julia Piotrowski on the sacrifice flyout. Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) almost nailed Piotrowski at home but the the throw was just late, giving Virginia Wesleyan the lead back at 3-2.
- The Yellow Jackets could not find the tying run in the top of the seventh inning and would fall in the conference title game by a score of 3-2.
Inside the Numbers
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing six full innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits. The senior tallied two strikeouts and did not give up a walk.
- Kayla Davis and Boswell recorded both RBIs for the Lemon and Black with singles in the sixth inning.
- Lanyon and Sadler both ended the game with a hit and a run scored.
For the Record:
2025 ODAC All-Tournament Team:
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will await their placement in the 2025 NCAA Division-III Softball Selection Show on Monday, May 12.
