WINCHESTER, Va. – The 24th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team opened up conference play with two hard fought games at Shenandoah on Thursday afternoon.
The Basics:
Scores: Shenandoah 4, Randolph-Macon 1 // Shenandoah 2, Randolph-Macon 1
Location: Winchester, Va.//Shenandoah University//Rotary Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (10-8, 0-2 ODAC), Shenandoah (13-3, 2-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- Shenandoah started the scoring in he bottom of the third inning, taking the 1-0 lead. Allison McQueeney drew a one out walk and stole second. Cadence Rieg walked to put two runners on with two outs in the inning. Makayla Cox popped a pitch up in the infield, a miscommunication by Randolph-Macon allowed the ball to drop and McQueeney scored from second.
- In the fourth inning, Peyton Jensen singled with one out to put pressure on the bases. The Hornets received a huge hit by Paige Eagleton, as she homered over the right field fence and the lead grew to 3-0 for the Hornets.
- Shenandoah added one run in the sixth inning to increase its lead to 4-0. McQueeney walked with two outs, stole second and scored on a Rieg single.
- In the seventh inning, Jacy Ramos (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) started up the Yellow Jacket bats with a single. Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenberg County) drew a two out walk to put two runners on base. Mya Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) kept the inning going by reaching first on a fielding error by Shenandoah and allowing Ramos to score. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) came as the potential tying run, but the Hornets managed to record the final out and took game one 4-1.
By the Numbers
- Sierra Kegley (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) started the game for the Lemon and Black, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits in 3.2 innings. The freshman recorded five strikeouts and four walks. Katerina Brabson (Chesapeake Beach, Md./Northern) finished the final 2.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit and struck out two.
- Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Tabb), Ramos and Brabson recorded a hit each in the game.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- Kailey Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va./Colonial) was efficient in the circle in the first four innings, giving up only three hits. The sophomore allowed two Hornet runners on in the fifth inning with one out and retired the final two batters to hold the scoreless game.
- Randolph-Macon saw Powell begin the sixth inning with a single and Davis reached base on a bunt to put two runners on with no outs. Hill bunted both runners into scoring position in the next at-bat. The Yellow Jackets tried to run a safety squeeze with Brabson and Shenandoah doubled up Powell at home to get out of the inning with a 0-0 score.
- In the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets got Keagan Cooper to single up the middle to lead off the inning. Eagleton pinch ran and stole second, putting the go-ahead run into scoring position. Cox reached base with a fielding error at first base by the Lemon and Black and Eagleton was able to move to third base. Sydney Adler pinch ran and moved into scoring position during the next at-bat. Eagleton scored on a wild pitch to give Shenandoah the 1-0 lead and Adler scored on a groundout by Sarah Connell. The Hornets need three outs in the top of the seventh with a 2-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon did see Kiley Lamberth (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) hit a solo homer in the seventh to cut the lead in half. Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) kept the inning going with a walk and Bailey Talley (Craisgville, Va./Buffalo Gap) was sent in to pinch run. Brown singled to move the tying run into scoring position and she represented the go-ahead run. Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) walked to load up the bases with one out. Powell reached first on a fielders choice, but Shenandoah took the force out at home to keep the lead with two outs. Davis grounded out to the pitcher to end a comeback opportunity for the Yellow Jackets and fell in game two by a score of 2-1.
By the Numbers
- Jackson tossed six innings and gave up two runs on five hits and struck out three in the game.
- Davis ended the day going 2-for-4 to lead the team at the plate.
- Lamberth homered to account for the only run in the game for the Yellow Jackets.
- Powell, Brabson, Meharg and Brown all recorded a hit in the game.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will head to #15 Christopher Newport to conclude the week on Sunday, March 22.
