LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph softball team hosted Eastern Mennonite in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Royals took both games winning by scores of 1-0 and 13-9.
The WildCats' overall record now stands at 6-21 overall and 0-6 in the ODAC. The Royals improve to 17-4-1 and 3-3 in the ODAC.
The first game was a pitcher's duel as both starters went the distance in the circle. Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out three. The lone run came in the second inning as a passed ball allowed the runner to score. Scruggs retired the side in the fifth, sixth, and seven innings.
Randolph recorded four hits. Lexi Hawkins (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian) had two of them and finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Lacey Lucado (Buchanan, Va./James River) was 1-for-2 and Diane Mahiai (Chesapeake, Va./Salem) 1-for-3.
In the second game, EMU got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Randolph responded in its portion of the inning. Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) was hit by a pitch and then stole second base. Lucado walked. Kayla Love (League City, Texas/Tallwood) singled to left field to load the bases. Mahiai singled to center field to bring home two runs and tie the game at 2-2. She would then advance on a passed ball as did Love. Hawkins laced a single to center field to score Love and runners advanced on a wild pitch. Lexi Lama (Benson, N.C./West Johnson) reached on an error by the Royals shortstop that allowed Mahiai to score and the WildCats now led 4-2.
EMU scored twice more in the second inning to tie the game up at 4-all. The WildCats tied it as Irving scored on an inside the park home run, her third of the season, to put Randolph ahead 5-4.
The Royals tied the game again with a run in the fourth inning and then took the lead back with a three-run fifth inning. The 'Cats rallied in their half of the sixth inning. Paige Naples (Bedford, Va./Liberty) led off with single. Chloe Persinger (Buena Vista, Va./Parry McCluer) singled and then Taylor Friess (Goode, Va./Liberty) singled to load bases with no outs. Irving was hit by a pitch that allowed a run to score. Two wild pitches allowed runs to score as Randolph tied the game at 8-8. Lucado then hit a deep fly to right field that Irving tagged up and scored to put the WIldCats ahead 9-8.
Eastern Mennonite regained the lead on a three-run homer by Grace Fravel and led 11-9. The Royals scored twice more to go up 13-9.
Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) got the start in the circle. She went 1 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Danielle Shannon (Greenville, Va./Riverheads) came in for 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking three. Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Deep Creek) pitched one inning and surrendered four runs on two hits while walking four Royals.
Irving was 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with a homerun, three runs scored, two RBI, and one stolen base. Naples hit 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Friess was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Love, Mahiai, and Hawkins were all 1-for-4 at the plate. Mahiai had two RBI while Hawkins had one RBI.
The WildCats travel to Guilford on Tuesday afternoon. Game 1 of the doubleheader begins at 2:00 p.m.
