For Immediate Release – 4/2/16 - #283
WildCats Drop Close DH Against #8 VWC

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College softball team hosted the number-eight team in the nation in Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday.  The WildCats had two close games, but the Marlins swept the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader 7-4 and 2-0.

The Marlins crossed runners in the first inning of game one.  After two runners advanced by way of a walk and a hit batter, Cassety Howerin hit a home run over left center.  The bases were then loaded but Lauren Morris got out of the jam, including striking one out.

Despite the deficit, the WildCats answered right away.  Ki Jenkins reached on an error by the pitcher and Jessica Nowak followed with a single on the edge of the dirt.  Rebecca Montgomery then sacrificed them over with a bunt, but she reached because the third baseman bobbled the ball.  Dianne Davis drove Jenkins in with a liner to right.  Rachel Hickman knocked in Nowak with a deep groundout to the shortstop, bringing the score to 3-2 for the visitors.

After stellar pitching in the second, VWC added another run in the third.  The Marlins continued to put pressure on the 'Cats, manufacturing two in the fourth and one in the fifth.  But once again, Randolph responded.

Jenkins got the fifth inning rally going with an infield single.  Nowak added one shortly after to put two runners on.  Montgomery then reached on an error loading the bases.  Hunter Glavé stepped up and hit a hard single to right field, bringing home Jenkins and Nowak.  Nowak made a great slide to get under the tag at the plate.  However, Mary Shipp got out of the jam, with the score being 7-4.  No more runs would be tallied as game one would end with that scoreline.

Game two started off similar to game one as the Marlins tallied a run in the first inning.  Courtney Bogan walked to lead off the game and then stole second.  She was knocked in by Blake Henderson, but it would be the last for several innings.  Lindsey Chaney was in the circle for the WildCats and she did a great job of getting out of a few jams.  She also had help on the defensive end, as Montgomery threw out a runner trying to steal second.

Virginia Wesleyan managed to tack on an additional run in the sixth inning, but it would not matter.  While Chaney was pitching very well, her counterpart, Candace Kresinske (10-1) was doing the same for the Marlins.  She kept the 'Cats off the bases and the scoreboard.  She allowed only three hits in the game as the Marlins took game two 2-0.

Jenkins and Nowak both had two hits on the day.  Chaney (6-4) struck out two in her seven innings.  Kresinske fanned seven batters in her shutout for Virginia Wesleyan (19-4 overall, 6-0 ODAC).

Randolph (14-12, 3-7) will host another ODAC twin bill on Saturday.  The WildCats welcome Randolph-Macon College (21-6, 5-1) to Rivermont Ave, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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