For Immediate Release – 4/20/16 - #317
WildCats Lose Two Pitchers' Duels to Ferrum

FERRUM, VA – The Randolph College softball team squared off with newly crowned USA South Conference Champion Ferrum College on Wednesday night, and dropped both contests.  The four pitchers were excellent, but FC won by scores of 3-0 and 2-1.

Gracyn Allen-Ingle and Courtney Rudd squared off in game one, and hitters on both the teams were frustrated for the entire game.  In the first three innings, the two combined to set the side down in order four times.  Only three runners reached, two hit by a pitch (including Alexis Steljes, who is second in the ODAC) and one that reached on a single.  Allen-Ingle got out of a jam, using an inning ending double-play.  There were also nine strikeouts during those innings.

Rudd (14-8) pitched 1-2-3 innings in the next three frames as well, but Allen-Ingle (7-5) was not as fortunate.  Amanda Roberts hit a home run to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead after the first two batters got out.  The next batter walked, but Allen-Ingle got out of the inning with a backwards 'K'.  The fifth saw Rudd earn a single, but no damage was done as Allen-Ingle ended the inning the same way.

After a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, FC managed to manufacture two runs with two outs.  Logan Barbour had an RBI double, and she was knocked in by Amber Coffin, pushing the lead to 3-0.  The WildCats threatened in the seventh, as Jessica Nowak and Rachel Hickman singled, but no runners would cross the plate, ending game one.

In game two, Roberts went toe-to-toe with Lindsey Chaney, and once again both pitchers were excellent.  Much like in game one, nothing happened for either team in the first inning, as only one runner reached.  Chaney had the only strikeout over the two frames.

However, things changed for Randolph in the top half of the second, as the WildCats got things going.  Rebecca Montgomery led off with a single, but was out at second on the next at bat due to a fielder's choice.  While the bases became clear, it did not affect Dianne Davis, as she hit a shot over the left center wall, giving the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.

The next three frames would be perfect with the exception of a single by Ferrum.  However, Chaney, who also had a strikeout each inning, induced an inning-ending double play to get out of the jam.

Randolph threatened again in the fourth, as Hunter Glavé and Montgomery had back to back singles, but it was Roberts (12-7) turn to get out of the jam.  Chaney (8-5) faced similar adversity in the bottom half, but allowed no damage either.  The fifth had a runner reach in each frame, but still no runs.

However, fortunes changed in the sixth.  Glavé had her second single, but went down in a double play to end the inning.  Ferrum then worked around two outs to tie the game with an RBI single by Coffin.  Hickman singled to start the seventh in an attempted rally.  She reached second on a sacrifice bunt, but would get no further.

Chaney came out on fire in the seventh.  She struck out the first two batters.  However, Lindsey Slover stepped up and connected on her first home run of the season, winning the game 2-1.

Allen-Ingle and Chaney were definitely hard-luck losers in the two games.  Both allowed only six hits, as Allen-Ingle struck out six batters, with Chaney K-ing five of them.  Rudd struck out 10 batters in her game one win for the Panthers (27-16 overall).

Randolph (19-17, 6-10 ODAC) closes out its regular season at Shenandoah University (8-26, 2-12) on Sunday.  The WildCats will be looking to seal up at least the seventh seed in the upcoming Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament.  First pitch is at 1 p.m.

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