LYNCHBURG, Va.- It was a layoff longer than expected but the Randolph softball team finally returned to action on Sunday as it hosted Averett in non-conference action. The WildCats won the first game 5-3 while the Cougars took the second contest 7-2.

Randolph's overall record now sits on 4-6. Averett is 3-7.

In the first game, the Cougars scored twice in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The 'Cats got one run back on a Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) RBI single in the bottom half of the inning.

AU went ahead 3-1 in the third inning but runs by the WildCats in the fourth and fifth innings would tie the game up at 3-3. In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Nuckols came through for the 'Cats as she dropped a double into centerfield to plate a pair of runs and give Randolph a 5-3 lead. Starting pitcher Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) retired all three batters she faced in the seventh inning on groundouts to pick up the win.

Nuckols was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in. She also stole a base.  Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) batted 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot with two runs scored. Playing in her first collegiate game, Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Railey Oetken (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) was also 2-for-3. Alyssa Swords (Prince George, Va./Prince George) finished 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored.

St. John went the distance for Randolph in the circle. She scattered six hits across seven innings giving up three runs (two earned), walking three, and striking out two batters.

In the second game, Averett went ahead 4-0 after four innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Randolph appeared to score a pair of runs but Irving was tagged out at home to end the inning after a discussion between the umpires.

The WildCats got their two runs in the sixth inning. Stark scored on a wild pitch and Nuckols singled home Irving to make it 4-2.  The Cougars, however, got a two-out three-run triple by Anna Coleman in the top of the seventh to pull away and take the game.

Starting pitcher Danielle Shannon (Greensville, Va./Riveheads) went four innings and gave up three earned runs on nine hits. She walked three and struck out four. Chloe Persinger (Buena Vista, Va./Parry McClure) pitched three innings in relief and surrendered three runs on four hits while walking two.

Irving was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Nuckols also was 2-for-3.

Randolph is back at home on Tuesday afternoon as it hosts Mary Baldwin. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 3:00 with the second game following around 5:00 p.m.