Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SALEM, Va.- The Randolph softball team returned to action on Thursday as the WildCats traveled to Salem to face Roanoke in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play on Thursday. The Maroons took both games by scores of 9-1 and 9-8.

In the first game, the WildCats took the lead in the second inning. Railey Oetken (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) reached first base on an error by the Roanoke second basemen that allowed Paige Naples (Bedford, Va./Liberty) to score giving the 'Cats a 1-0 advantage.

Naples doubled to left field to start the fourth inning. A Chloe Persinger (Buena Vista, Va./Parry Mccluer) ground out moved her to third but Kayla Love (Virgina Beach, Va./Tallwood) struck out to end the inning.

RC broke throgh in the sixth inning with six runs coming across to take a 6-1 lead. The Maroons added a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to complete the scoring.
Allie Jarrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) was 2-for-3 batting. Naples went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Love was 1-for-2. 

Braelyn Cooper (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) went four innings.  She surrendered six unearned runs on six hits, walking three, and striking out five Maroons. Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) pitched one inning of relief and gave up one run on one hit with three walks and one strikeout. Danielle Shannon (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) went 2/3 of a inning giving up two unearned runs on three hits.

In the nightcap, Taylor Friess (Goode, Va./Liberty) doubled home a run and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Jarrett grounded out to second base to score Friess and give Randolph a 2-0 lead. The Maroons scored once to make it 2-1.

The WildCats broke the game open in the second inning. Oetken reached on a fielder's choice and then moved ot second on an erro which allowed Love to score. Two batters later, Friess singled to scored two runs. Another Jarrett groundout allowed a run to come home and gave the 'Cats a 6-1 lead.

Roanoke close to within 6-3 with a pair of runs in the second inning. Randolph was held off the scoreboard in the third inning. RC took an 8-6 lead in its portion of the inning with five runs scoring.

A Friess solo homer, the first of her career, in the fourth made it a one-run game. The Maroons got the run back to restore the two-run advantage. The WildCats had one run score in the top of the sixth to again make it a one-run contest. After holding the Maroons to a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, Randolph had a last chance to tie or possibly regain its lead in the seventh. The rally ended, however as the WildCats went down swinging 1-2-3 to end the game.

Friess had three of Randolph's five hits. She scored twice and batted in four runs. Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) was 1-for-3 with three runs scored. Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored. 

Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Monticello) started in the circle and went two innings. She gave up three runs on four hits and walked two. Cooper came in for 2/3 inning surrendering five runs (four earned) on three hits and walking two. Shannon pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up one run on five hits with one walk.

Randolph returns to its home field tomorrow for a doubleheader with Guilford. Game times will be at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.