RALEIGH, N.C.- The Randolph softball team competed in the Grand Slam Classic held at the Walnut Creek Complex. The WildCats lost a close game to #14 Piedmont 7-6 in their first game of the day.

The teams were scoreless through two and half innings of play. The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead.

Randolph got the run back in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Taylor Friess (Goode, Va./Liberty) was hit by a pitch to bring a run in and knot the game at 1-1.

Piedmont went ahead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs. The WildCats scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make the score 4-3. The Lions increased their lead to 7-3 in the bottom portion of the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Allie Jarrett's (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) two-run double made it a 7-5 game. After holding the Lions scoreless, the WildCats went to the seventh inning with a chance to take the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Diane Mahiai (Chesapeake,Va./Salem) reached on a fielder's choice which would score Paige Naples (Bedford,Va./Liberty HS) from third base. Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) singled to load the bases. The game ended however as Dominque Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) grounded out to second base to end the game.

Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) took the loss for the 'Cats in the circle. In four innings she surrendered four runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out one batter.  Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) came in for two innings.  She gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits.

Nuckols batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Jarrett was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Lacey Lucado (Buchanan, Va./James River) was 2-for-4 with a run scored.