LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Randolph softball team hosted #4 Christopher Newport on Sunday afternoon at the Randolph Softball Complex. The Captains took the doubleheader by scores of 8-7 and 15-1.
The losses drop the WildCats' overall record to 5-12, CNU remains undefeated at 21-0.
The first game was scoreless until the Captains scored four runs in the top of the fourth. The WildCats were held hitless until their fourth inning when Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) hit a double to left field with one out and then stole third base. Allie Jarrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) singled to right centerfield to score Irving to get the 'Cats on the scoreboard. Diane Mahiai (Chesapeake, Va./Salem) then singled to move Jarrett to second base and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Lacey Lucado (Buchanan, Va./James River) hit a deep fly ball to center field and Jarrett tagged up and scored to make it 4-2.
The score remained the same through the fifth inning. The Captains plated three runs in the sixth inning to go ahead 7-2. In the Randolph portion of the inning, Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) led off with a single to the pitcher. Irving reached on an error and Jarrett singled to load the bases. After Mahiai popped up to second base to record the first out, Lucado again hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Nuckols. Kayla Love (League City, Texas/Tallwood) followed with a single down the left field line to score a pair of runs as the WildCats closed the score to 7-5.
Christopher Newport scored once in the seventh inning to go ahead 8-5. Randolph began a rally in their seventh as Paige Naples (Bedford, Va./Liberty HS) led off with a triple to right field. Taylor Friess (Goode, Va./Liberty) hit a fly ball to left to score Naples. After Nuckols fouled out the catcher, Irving walked and eventually advanced to second base on a passed ball. Jarrett singled to score Irving. With the tying run on first base, Mahiai struck out to end the game.
Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) went the distance for the WildCats in the circle. She allowed eight runs (five earned) on 15 hits. She walked four and struck out two.
Jarrett was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI. Irving was 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, and three runs scored. Naples was 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Lucado had two sac flies and two RBI. Love was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
The second game saw the Captains jump on the WildCats in the first inning with a pair of runs then add five more runs in the third inning to lead 7-0. A run in the fourth inning made it 8-0. Randolph's only run came in the fourth inning on a Friess RBI single.
Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Monticello) started in the circle and pitched 2 1/3 innings. She surrendered five runs on four hits, walking three and striking out one. Danielle Shannon (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) came in relief for 4 2/3 innings and gave up 10 runs on nine hits, walking five and striking out one.
Nuckols was 2-for-4. Lucado batted 1-for-3 with a run scored. Friess was 1-for-2 with a RBI.
Randolph travels to Mary Washington and Wednesday afternoon. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 3:00 p.m.
