NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The 24th – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets used two homer runs to score six runs in the first three innings and
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) shutout #2 Christopher Newport in the circle to win the Newport News Regional by a score of 6-2.
The Basics
Score: (2) Randolph-Macon 6, (1) Christopher Newport 2
Location: Newport News, Va. // Christopher Newport University // Captains Park
Records: Randolph-Macon: 37-11 // Christopher Newport: 36-6
How It Happened
- Christopher Newport got on the board in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Candace Slaw led off the game with a triple into center field and scored on a wild pitch.
- In the bottom half of the first inning, Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) started the offense with a single. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) followed up the lead off single with a single of her town to put runners on the corners and zero outs. Lanyon scored on a fielding error by the Captains to tie up the game and move Sadler to this base. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) produced a run, scoring Sadler on a ground out to second base and thus giving Randolph-Macon the 2-1 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets extended their lead on a two out Blayne Talley (Richmond, Va./Cosby) solo homer to left field in the second inning.
- In the third inning, Sadler and Hill both singled to put pressure on the Christopher Newport defense. Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) launched a three run bomb over the left field fence with two outs in the inning. The home run opened up the game for the Lemon and Black with a 6-1 lead.
- Ellis was elite for the third day in a row for Randolph-Macon. The senior allowed one run in the first inning and did not allow another run for the next five innings, holding the Captains offense to minimal success. Christopher Newport was unable to get a runner into scoring position in those five innings.
- In the seventh inning, Natalie Quinlan hit a solo home run to begin the inning and cut the Yellow Jacket lead to 6-2. Christopher Newport never was able to get the tying run to the plate and Ellis forced a pop out to end the game. Randolph-Macon would take home the regional championship with a 6-2 win.
By The Numbers
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing seven full innings, giving up two runs on six hits. The senior also struck out two batters and grabbed her 24th win of the season.
- Powell led the offense with three RBIs on her home run in the third inning.
- Talley and Hill also recorded an RBI each for the Yellow Jackets.
- Sadler tallied a multi-hit game with her two in the regional final.
For the Record
- Randolph-Macon will advance to its first super regional since 2023. The Yellow Jackets will appear in their fourth super regional in program history and fourth in the last five season.
All-Tournament Team
Press Conference
LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxDKzVEA4RI
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets have punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Softball Super Regionals that will take place at the end of next week. The location and times are still TBD.
