BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The 24th – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets defeated #4 Rowan by a score of 1-0 to move into the National Semifinal of the Division III College Softball World Series.
The Basics
Score: #24 Randolph-Macon 1, #4 Rowan 0
Location: Bloomington, Ill. // Illinois Wesleyan University // Inspiration Field
Records: Randolph-Macon: 41-13 // Rowan: 49-4
How It Happened
- Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) was stellar in the circle for the Yellow Jackets. The senior sat down the first twelve Prof batters in order from the first inning to the fourth inning. Ellis recorded five strikeouts in the first four innings to keep Rowan from reaching base and more importantly off the scoreboard.
- In the fifth inning, the thirteenth batter was hit by a pitch to give the Profs their first runner in the game. Ellis saw her teammate Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) make two huge diving catches in the fifth inning to keep the score at 0-0.
- Liz McCaffery hit a two out single in the sixth inning to break the no-hitter bid for Ellis and give Rowan a threat in the bases. McCaffery ended up stealing second, but Ellis worked out of danger with hard lineout to left field.
- In the top of the seventh inning, Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) led off with a single through the left side of the infield, representing the go-ahead run for the Lemon and Black. Ellis bunted Powell over to second base to put the go-ahead run into scoring position. Lanyon laced a two-out single into center field to bring Powell home from second, giving Randolph-Macon a 1-0 lead.
- Payon MacNair hit a huge leadoff double into the left field gap to bring the potential winning run to the plate for Rowan. Mikayla Dansky pinch ran for the Profs and was moved over to third with a sacrifice bunt. Breanna Bryant fouled out to left field to left field to put two outs on the board. Ellis struck out Aly Reim in three straight pitches to end the game and send the Yellow Jackets into the National Semifinal with a 1-0 win over Rowan.
By The Numbers
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing a complete seven inning shutout, giving up only two hits. The senior also struck out seven batters in the second elimination game of the Lemon and Black.
- Lanyon had the biggest hit of the game with her RBI single in the seventh inning. The senior had two of the five hits for the Yellow Jackets.
- Powell ended the game scoring the winning-run that followed her single in the seventh inning.
- Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) had a hit and a walk in the game for Randolph-Macon.
For the Record
- The win is second most wins in program history, surpassing the 40 wins that was set during the 2018 season. The most wins in school history came during the 2023 season that ended the year with 42 wins.
Press Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_o4ARpyU4
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will move onto the National Semifinal game tomorrow with #3 Virginia Wesleyan at 11:00 a.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. ET. If the Yellow Jackets win the first game they will play at 4:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 ET against the Marins.
