LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph softball team hosted cross-city rival Lynchburg on Wednesday afternoon. Both games of the doubleheader went to extra innings. The Hornets won the first game 6-1 while the WildCats walked off a victory in the second game 6-5.

The win by Randolph in the second game ends a five-game winless streak to Lynchburg. It is the first for the 'Cats over the Hornets since 2018.

Game 1 was a pitcher's duel as the teams were scoreless through seven innings. Randolph starting pitcher Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) went seven scoreless innings with Lynchburg only once getting a runner to third base. With a runner placed on second in the eighth inning, an error allowed Lynchburg to score the game's first run. They would go on to score five more times to lead 6-0.

Randolph had its opportunity in its portion of the eight inning. With the WildCat runner on second, Taylor Friess' (Goode, Va./Liberty HS) single moved Liz Mason (Lynchburg, Va./Heritage) over to third base. Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) then singled to score Mason and move Friess to second. Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) reached on fielder's choice but Friess was tagged out at third base. Allie Jarrett (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) popped up to first base and Kayla Love (League City, Texas/Tallwood) lined out to the pitcher to end the game.

St. John went 7 1/3 innings for the WIldCats in the circle. She allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits walking one and striking out two. Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) came in relief for 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits.

Irving was 3-for-4 with a run batted in. Nuckols, Friess, and Paige Naples (Bedford, Va./Liberty) were all 1-for-3.

In the second game, Lynchburg jumped on Randolph early as it led 3-0 after two innings. The WildCats had their chance in the fourth inning. With one out, Railey Oetken (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) singled to right field. Lexi Hawkins (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian) walked. Friess singled to load the bases. Irving popped out. Nuckols then laced a triple down the right field line to bring home three runs and tie the game up.

In Lynchburg's eighth, one run scored on a wild pitch while a second run came on a Caroline Joy RBI single. In the WildCats' eighth, Lexi Lama (Benson, S.C./West Johnson) sac bunted to move Lacey Lucado (Buchanan, Va./James River) to third base. Naples pinch hit and reached on a fielding error to score Lucado and make it 5-4. Hawkins singled to left to advance Naples to second. Friess walked to load the bases. Irving then came up and smacked a 1-2 pitch to center field for a double to score two runs to win the game for Randolph.

Scruggs went 7/2 innings and surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits. She walked two and struck out two. The win went to Chloe Persinger (Buena Vista, Va./Parry McCluer) who pitched 1/3 inning of scoreless relief.

Irving had another three hit performance as she was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Hawkins was 2-for-3 with a run scored as was Friess. Nuckols hit 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.

Randolph hosts its regular season home finale on Saturday as it welcomes defending conference and National Champion Virginia Wesleyan to Lynchburg. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 1:00 p.m.