ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon softball saw
Sierra Kegley (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) toss the first perfect game of her career in game two of a doubleheader with Sweet Briar.
The Basics:
Scores: Sweet Briar 4, Randolph-Macon 1 // Randolph-Macon 7, Sweet Briar 0
Location: Ashland, Va.//Randolph-Macon College//Carol Estes Park
Records: Randolph-Macon (12-10, 1-3 ODAC), Sweet Briar (13-11, 3-3 ODAC)
How it Happened
Game 1:
- Sweet Briar recorded the first hit of the game to lead off the top of second inning, as Ambrye Taylor doubled into left center field. Kailey Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va./Colonial) worked out of the inning to keep the game tied at 0-0.
- In the fourth inning, Katerina Brabson (Chesapeake Beach, Md./Northern) laced a single into right field and Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) reached on a dropped fly ball in center field. Randolph-Macon loaded up the bases on an Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) walked with one out in the inning. The Vixens worked out of the inning with two pop outs by the Lemon and Black, keeping the score at 0-0.
- Sweet Briar grabbed the lead in the fifth inning on a solo homer by Abi Sawyers. Jordan Dorrier was hit by a pitch and Annie Purvis walked still with nobody out in the inning. The Vixens sent in Ruby Hite and Lexie Aiman to pinch run. Anna Smith moved the runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Randolph-Macon cut down Hite at third base on a back pick for the second out in the inning. Jackson struck out the final batter to keep the deficit to 1-0.
- In the sixth inning, Jordan Martin walked to start the inning for the Vixens. Sophia Peterson singled to put two runners on in the inning. Taylor came through again for Sweet Briar with a single to score Martin from second base. Emily Cottingham and Ciara Nauful were sent in to pinch run. The hits continued with a Sawyers double to cash in Naufel, as the final run was scored on a Jordan Dorrier ground out and the Vixens took a 4-0 lead.
- Randolph-Macon had the bats wake up the in sixth inning, as Brown and Bush singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) singled home Brown for the first run of the game for the Lemon and Black. Kiley Lamberth (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) singled up the middle and the Vixens cut down Bush at the plate for the second out of the inning. The multiple hits scored only one run in the inning and Sweet Briar held the 4-1 advantage with one inning left.
- The Vixens made quick work in the bottom of the seventh inning, taking game one by a score of 4-1.
By the Numbers
- Jackson started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing 5.1 innings and gave up four runs on four hits. The sophomore struck out one and walked two in her time in the circle. Courtney Guthrie (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed only one hit.
- Hill recorded the only RBI in the game for the Yellow Jackets.
- Bush went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk in the game.
How it Happened
Game 2:
- Randolph-Macon started the scoring in the bottom of first inning. Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenberg County) started the game reaching base by a throwing error by the Vixens, moving up to second base. Mya Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) doubled off the wall in right center field to plate Powell from second. Brabson drew a walk to put two runners on base with no outs in the inning. Bush hit a hard double down the left field line to break open the game, scoring both Davis and Brabson. The Yellow Jackets took an early 3-0 lead after one complete inning.
- In the third inning, Brabson led of with a strikeout but reached on a wild pitch by Sweet Briar. Brabson stole second and moved over to third on a ground out by Bush. Brown knocked in Brabson on a single down the right field line. In the later portions of the inning, Kegley singled home Brown and RMC took a 5-0 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets kept the bats hot in the fourth inning, as Powell led off the inning with a single, stole second and stole third. The junior would cross home on a Brabson infield single to extend the Randolph-Macon lead to 6-0.
- In the sixth inning the Lemon and Black got Campbell Taylor (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) to draw a walk and later score on a fielding error by Sweet Briar off the bat of Brown. Randolph-Macon used a few errors by the Vixens to increase the advantage to 7-0.
- The Lemon and Black got a masterful performance from Kegley, as the freshman sat down all 21 batters she faced en route to the 7-0 win for RMC.
By the Numbers
- Kegley started the game for the Lemon and Black, tossing the first perfect game of her career. The freshman struck out seven batters in her efforts for the fourth win of her season.
- Bush led the team in RBIs with two in game two. The junior went 1-for-2 in the second game.
- Davis, Brabson, Brown and Kegley all recorded an RBI in the game.
- Powell ended the game going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases.
For the Record
- Kegley pitched the first perfect game for Randolph-Macon, since Gracie Ellis '25 tossed one against Meredith last season.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will head on the road to take on Roanoke on Sunday, March 29 at 1 and 3 p.m.
