SALEM, Va. - The 23rd – ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets saw
Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va./New Kent) hurl thirteen innings of one run softball between the first two games of the conference tournament. The Lemon and Black defeated sixth-seeded Ferrum and seventh-seeded Roanoke to push into the pod two final tomorrow afternoon.
The Basics:
Score: (3) Randolph-Macon 6, (6) Ferrum 1 // (3) Randolph-Macon 3, (7) Roanoke 0
Venue: Salem, Va. // Roanoke College // Moyer Sports Complex
Records: Randolph-Macon (33-9, 16-6 ODAC), Ferrum (14-24, 10-12 ODAC), Roanoke (21-21, 10-12)
How it Happened (Ferrum)
- Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) kicked off the bottom of the second inning, ripping a double into the right center field gap. Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) had a productive at-bat, allowing Hill to score on a sacrifice flyout to right field and giving the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
- In the third inning, Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) singled up the middle and to start the offense for Randolph-Macon. The sophomore used her speed to steal second and move to third on a passed ball. Naomi Sadler (Emporia, Va./Brunswick) reached on a fielders choice and the speed by Meharg showed up once again beating the throw home from the Panthers. Sadler managed to get over to third base, but Ferrum held tough defensively and the Lemon and Black extended their lead to 2-0.
- Ellis retired the first ten batters she faced from the Panthers and added four strikeouts before Macie Bell singled for Ferrum in the fourth inning. The Panthers managed to get two runners on with two hits, but Ellis managed to get out of danger.
- In the top of the sixth inning, the Panthers Kaylee Hughes reached on a fielding error by the Randolph-Macon infield. Hughes later scored on a clutch two-out single up the middle by MiMi Shields to cut the deficit in half for Ferrum. The Yellow Jackets would keep the the damage to one run, holding a 2-1 lead going into the final at bats.
- The Lemon and Black played small ball in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Blayne Talley (Richmond, Va./Cosby) reached base by way of an error on a bunt, moving the sophomore to second base. Powell put down a nice bunt and would also be safe at first, as the Panthers made another error and that allowed Talley to score from second. Ellis would lay down the third straight bunt for Randolph-Macon, she also made it to second base and the error also allowed Powell to score. The Yellow Jackets used a total of four errors to put together a four run inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets brought in Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) to finish off the game in the top of the seventh inning. The junior allowed only one hit and secured the 6-1 conference tournament opening game win.
Inside the Numbers (Ferrum)
- Ellis started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing six full innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits. The senior also struck out eight batters and grabbed her nineteenth win of the season. Guthrie was sent in to complete the seventh inning for the Lemon and Black.
- Sadler led the team in RBIs with two in the game, while Powell accounted for the only other RBI in the game.
- Hill was the leader in the clubhouse in hits with two in the game, adding a double to her scoreline.
- Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run), Ellis and Meharg all had a hit in the first game of the day for Randolph-Macon.
How it Happened (Roanoke)
- Randolph-Macon received a walk and back-to-back hits by Hill and Boswell to load up the bases with two outs. Lindsay Gedro worked out of danger, throwing a flyout to Talley to keep the early 0-0 tie.
- The Maroons were threatening to score in the top of the third inning, starting with a Aniyah Blake bunt single. Blake was able to reach third base with a bad throw by the Lemon and Black. Adriana Rivera reached first with a fielders choice as Ellis tried to get Blake at third. Roanoke had runners on the corners and nobody out in the inning. Kassidy Lancos reached on a fielders choice, as Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Yorktown) threw a strike to Kayla Davis (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) to get Blake out at home. Ellis sat down the final two batters of the inning and kept the runners stranded on base.
- In the bottom of the third inning, the Yellow Jackets received hits by Davis, Hill and a walk by Boswell to load up the bases with one out. Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) was sent in to pinch run for Davis. Ramos scored on a dropped flyball that was hit by Talley, giving Randolph-Macon the 1-0 lead. The Maroons did force the bases to remain loaded and keep the deficit to 1-0.
- Amanda Lanyon (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) cracked a double over the Maroons center fielders head to start the bats up in the fourth inning. Sadler singled home Lanyon with hard ground ball up the middle, making it all the way to second base with an error by the Roanoke outfield. Davis drove in Sadler with the second consecutive hard hit single up the middle. The bats getting hot would drive the lead to 3-0 for the Yellow Jackets.
Inside the Numbers (Roanoke)
- Ellis got the start in game two of the day for Randolph-Macon. The senior won her twentieth game of her senior season. She tossed all seven innings and gave up only six hits and struck out three batters.
- Hill, Sadler and Davis all ended the night with multi-hit games with two in the night cap.
- Talley and Davis accounted for the RBIs for the Yellow Jackets.
- Lanyon and Boswell each had the final two hits in the game.
Up Next
- Randolph-Macon have move onto the ODAC Tournament Pod Two "Final" on Monday, May 5 at 4:00 pm. The Yellow Jackets will take on the winner of (2) Bridgewater or (7) Roanoke, that will play tomorrow at 1:00 pm.
