CARY, N.C. – The 12th – ranked Randolph-Macon softball team ended the second day of the Triangle Classic with a split, dropping game one to Tufts and defeating Piedmont in the final game.
The Basics:
Scores: Tufts 6, Randolph-Macon 2 // Randolph-Macon 2, Piedmont 1
Location: Cary, N.C. // Walnut Creek Softball Complex
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-4, 0-0 ODAC), Tufts (5-1, 0-0 NESCAC), Piedmont (9-7, 0-0 CCS)
How it Happened (Tufts)
Game 1:
- Tufts got on the board first with a solo homer by Heaven Oliva to begin the second inning.
- In the bottom of the third inning, the Jumbos added to their lead to take a 3-0 lead in the game. Ella Malin and Haley Leimbach both singled with one out to put pressure on the bases. Lauryn Horita knocked in Malin on a single and Oliva scored Leimbach with a single.
- The lead grew to 4-0 for Tufts in the bottom of the fourth on a one out Taylor Hurst single to bring home Paige Murphy.
- In the top of the fifth inning, Randolph-Macon started to get the bats going, as Tori Powell (Freeman, Va./Mecklenburg County) and Mya Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) recorded back-to-back singles. Reagan Hill (Hanover, Va./Hanover) allowed Powell to tag from third base on a sacrifice flyout to right field. The run would cut the deficit to 4-1 for the Lemon and Black.
- Ashley Bush (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) cut the Tufts lead in half with one swing of the bat. The junior hit a solo homer in the sixth inning and the Yellow Jackets trailed 4-2.
- In the bottom of the sixth inning, Madi Sewell capped of the game for the Jumbos with a two run home run and gave Tufts a 6-2 lead.
- Randolph-Macon did create some chaos in the bottom half of the seventh inning, being one batter away from bringing the tying run to the plate. Tufts used the early runs to defeat the Lemon and Black by a score of 6-2.
By the Numbers
- Guthrie started the in the circle for the Yellow Jackets, tossing 3.0 innings, giving up three runs on six hits for the loss. Sierra Kegley (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) pitched the final 3.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits in relief.
- Alyssa Meharg (Glen Allen./Glen Allen) was the only Randolph-Macon player to record two hits in the game.
- Bush and Hill both notched a RBI in the game for the Lemon and Black.
How it Happened (Piedmont)
Game 2:
- Randolph-Macon started the bottom of the third inning with a Powell double down the left field line. Powell would score later in the inning on a Hill sacrifice flyout to center field, giving RMC the 1-0 lead.
- Kailey Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va./Colonial) was stellar in the circle for the Lemon and Black, allowing only two walks in the first six innings and kept Piedmont off the scoreboard.
- The Yellow Jackets extended their lead in the sixth inning, starting with Charlotte Boswell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) reaching base by an error. The sophomore later scored on a Jordan Brown (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) single through the left side of the infield and extended the lead to 2-0 for RMC.
- The Lions were only able to score one run in the top of the seventh inning, but the insurance run in the sixth for the Yellow Jackets proved to be enough. Randolph-Macon finished its time at the Triangle Classic with a 2-1 win.
By the Numbers
- Jackson got the win for the Yellow Jackets, tossing a complete game shutout and allowed only one run on one hit. The sophomore struck out three and walked two.
- Hill and Brown ended the game with an RBI each.
- Powell was the only player with an extra base hit, hitting her double in the middle portion of the game.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will be back in action at home to take on Greensboro College on Wednesday, March 11 at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
