For immediate release – 3/1/2016 - #230
Randolph Earns First DH Sweep of the Season

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College softball team won both games against Southern Virginia University on Tuesday, with both games ending in mercy rule victories.  The WildCats won game one 15-0 in five innings, before winning the second 11-3 in six.

Lindsey Chaney (1-0) got the start in the circle and took control right from the start.  After walking one batter, she set the rest of the side down in order, including striking out the second two.  Chaney also had a 1-2-3 in the second and the third, which included a 'K' in both.

While Chaney was dealing, the offense was scoring.  Ki Jenkins started off the first with a single.  After stealing a base, Jessica Nowak drove her in.  Rachel Hickman drove in a run off of a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.  It was followed by a single by Dianne Davis to complete the scoring in the inning.

With that 3-0 lead, the WIldCats continued to put pressure on their visitors.  In the second inning, Haley Brickles and Jenkins reached via the walk.  After a strikeout, the next five batters reached.  Two were walked, two hit singles, and one reached on an error.  In all six runners scored.

The bottom of the third provided more scoring for the 'Cats.  After an opening putout, the next five batters - Rachel Lee, Alexis Steljes, Davis, Hannah Winfree, and Whitney Critchley - all walked.  The run scored two runners putting the lead at 11-0.

The fourth saw the Knights get two hits, but Chaney stranded both with two strikeouts.  The WildCats added four more in the bottom half of the inning, which included a sacrifice fly by Davis.  Lauren Morris ended the game with a scoreless fifth, as mercy rule set in.

Gracyn Allen-Ingle (1-0) started off game two with a strong 1-2-3 inning.  Randolph followed it with four runs.  Rebecca Montgomery singled in Nowak, and Erin Wehrhan added two RBI on a single, scoring Brittany Campbell and Davis.

The two teams then traded runs over the next inning and a half, before the WildCats exploded with several more.  Hunter Glavé had an RBI on what would have been a sacrifice fly, but the center fielder dropped it.  Montgomery then drove in two with a blast into left center, including Glavé.

The Knights responded with another run in the fourth, as the WildCats still led 8-3 going into the bottom half of the fourth.  Randolph answered again with two of their own, including one coming on a double-steal by the corner outfielders.  Jenkins took second, while Wehrhan scored.

Over the next inning and a half, neither team could score, as defensive play shined.  Jenkins made a magnificent diving grab in left in the fifth.  Campbell snagged a liner right at her, and tagged the runner at third to end the sixth.

Hickman started the sixth off with a single.  After stealing second, and advancing to third on a grounder, she scored on a Nowak sac fly.  It ended the game 11-3.

Nowak finished the twin bill with a team-high five hits.  Montgomery's three RBI were the most of any player on the day.  Chaney, Allen-Ingle, and Maggie Goldberg combined to strike out 12 batters.  Sarah Edwards had two hits and an RBI for SVU (2-4 overall).

Randolph (4-2) will be off until Saturday.  The WIldCats will play Centenary College (NJ), but the game will be played in Puerto Rico.  The 'Cats will spend the whole week in Puerto Rico, matching up with Centenary and other schools multiple times.  It will also be the first game of the season for CC.

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