HARRISONBURG, Va.- The Randolph softball team traveled to Eastern Mennonite on Tuesday for its final regular season doubleheader of the season. The WildCats split the doubleheader as they got a 17-13 win in the nightcap.

The 17 runs scored marked a season-high for the 'Cats. It is the most runs scored by the team since putting 19 on Sweet Briar in 2017.

Taylor Friess (Goode, Va./Liberty) led off with a triple to center field to start things off. She then stole home plate to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead. A Chloe Persinger (Buena Vista, Va./Parry Mccluer) double scored Allie Jarrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) to put Randolph ahead 2-0. The Royals tied it up in their portion of the inning with a pair of runs.

In the Randolph third, Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) led off with a home run to left field, the first of her collegiate career, as the WildCats regained the lead at 3-2. Two more WildCat runs scored in the third inning as the 'Cats lead grew to 5-2. A four-run third inning for Eastern Mennonite, however, swung the lead back to the home team's favor 6-5.

The Royals added five runs in the fourth inning to increase their lead to 11-5. The WildCats had a big rally in the fifth inning. With runners at second and third and two outs, Railey Oetken's (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) single scored two runs to make it 11-7. A Friess single scored Oetken. With two runs on again, Paige Naples (Bedford, Va./Liberty) singled to score Friess and then a Persinger RBI single made it 11-10 to put the WildCats back in the game.

After holding EMU scoreless in the bottom portion of the fifth inning, Randolph looked to take the lead back. Kayla Love (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) walked to lead off. Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Monticello) singled and Stark singled to score Love and tie the game up. After Oetken reached on a fielder's choice, she then stole second base. Friess walked and with the bases loaded, Allie Jarrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) walked to bring a run in. A Naples fielder's choice scored Oetken and a Persinger single scored another run as Randolph got out ahead 14-11.

An Oetken single in the top of the seventh allowed two runs to score and gave the WildCats a 17-11 lead. EMU rallied with two runs in the bottom portion but ultimately fell short in the end.

The WildCats totaled 15 hits in the game. Persinger was 3-for-4 with a double,a run scored, and three runs batted in. Friess went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Naples batted 2-for-5  with a double, a run batted in, and two runs scored. Morris, Stark, and Oetken were a combined 6-for-10 with seven runs scored and six runs batted in.

Persinger got the win in the circle. She pitched 3.1 innings and gave up two unearned runs on four hits  while walking one batter. 

The first game saw Eastern Mennonite win 13-2. Naples was 3-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Oetken went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Friess batted 1-for-2 with a double.