For immediate release – 3/25/2016 - #267
Montgomery Hits Two Homers in Game Two, but 'Cats Fall Short; Split with Wasps

EMORY, VA – Rebecca Montgomery hit two home runs in game two of the doubleheader, but the Randolph College softball team could not hold on for the victory over Emory & Henry College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action on Friday.  The WildCats won game one 8-5, before succumbing in game two, 13-11.

Game one featured a pitcher's duel right from the start.  Ki Jenkins found herself on third with only one out in the first, but Taylor Banner got out of the jam.  Lindsey Chaney was not as fortunate in the bottom half of the inning as the Wasps scored a run, but hits would be hard to come by over the next few innings.

Banner continued to maneuver herself out of jams through the next three innings.  Chaney sat E&H down 1-2-3 in the second and third, striking out three.  However, in the fourth, Caley Hodge homered to left to give Emory & Henry a 2-0 lead.  But once again, Chaney settled down and struck out Danielle Loving to end the inning.

The WildCats threatened once again in the fifth.  Despite having two singles and two walks, the 'Cats could not score (one runner was caught stealing).  Chaney struck out another batter in the bottom frame, but got herself into a jam.  Hannah Winfree (3-2) came in to finish the inning.

As was similar to the games on Wednesday, the hitting came alive late in the game.  Erin Wehrhan, Jordyn Knapp, and Whittney Critchley hit three-straight singles to load the bases in the sixth.  Jessica Nowak followed the triumvirate with a bases clearing double.  After an out, Dianne Davis stepped to the plate.  She hit her first career homer over the left field wall, giving Randolph a 5-2 lead.  Winfree followed with a solid inning to keep the lead.

The WildCats stepped to the plate in the seventh and added to the advantage.  Brittany Campbell started it off with a base knock up the middle.  Ashley Dudding followed suit through the left side.  After a sac bunt, Knapp walked to load the bases.  Following a fielder's choice, Nowak cleared the bases once again, with a two-bagger to left center.

The 'Cats lead was 8-2 entering the final frame, but the insurance runs were needed.  Riley Pudney homered down the left field line, scoring the three with two outs.  However, Winfree forced Hodge into a pop out to end the game.

After both teams went down quietly in the first inning of game two, the bats quickly came alive.  Rebecca Montgomery sent a shot over the short porch in left, scoring Hunter Glavé as well, who led off the inning with a walk.  However, the Wasps responded right away.  The hosts used four singles, a walk, and an error to score four and take a 4-2 lead.

The advantage would not last long as the WildCats loaded the bases in the third.  Following a hits batsman, Glavé and Montgomery registered hits, which went around two fielder's choices.  With the two outs, Knapp drove in Glavé and Montgomery with a single through the left side, tying the game.

Unfortunately, E&H scored four runs over the next two innings.  The first run was tallied after a bases loaded situation in the third.  Hodge scored on a fielder's choice.  In the fourth, Emory & Henry had four runners cross the plate in a variety of ways to take a 9-4 lead.

The next inning saw the teams trade runs.  Knapp singled in Campbell after a throwing error, but Rachel Smoot scored for the hosts to keep the advantage at five.  However, the WildCats would not go down quietly.

Once again, the sixth was a big offensive inning.  Jenkins and Critchley reached base on errors, before Nowak drove in Critchley to start the rally.  Davis was up next, and she kept things rolling with a two-RBI double to left center.  E&H switched pitchers once again, but it was no use as Glavé singled in the next at bat.  She stole second to get into scoring position, but it would not matter.  Montgomery was up next.  She crushed it once again over left field to give the 'Cats an 11-10 lead.

However, Randolph could not hold on to the lead in the next inning.  The Wasps scored three times to take a two-run advantage.  The WildCats loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs, but could not cap off the comeback.

Nowak finished the day with five hits and seven RBI, while Montgomery tallied three and five.  Davis added two hits and four runs batted in over the two games.  Riley Pudney had four RBI for Emory & Henry (8-14 overall, 1-1 ODAC).

Randolph (12-8, 1-3) stays on the road on Saturday.  The WildCats travel to Guilford College (16-4, 1-1) for a twin bill that starts at 1 p.m.

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