FERRUM, Va.- The Randolph softball team played its final regular season doubleheader of the season on Saturday as it faced Ferrum. The Panthers took both games winning 7-6 and 10-5.
The WildCats took an early lead in the first inning of the first game. Paige Naples' (Bedford, Va./Liberty) RBI double scored one run and Randolph led 1-0. Randolph went up 2-0 in the second inning on a Lexi Hawkins (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian) solo homer.
Ferrum tied the game with a two-run second inning and took the lead with a two-run third inning. The Panthers increased their lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning.
The WildCats closed to two runs in the sixth inning as Taylor Friess' (Goode, Va./Liberty) single scored one run to make the score 5-3. In the top of the seventh inning and with a runner on third base, Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Monticello) reached on an error that scored Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry). Two batters later with two outs and runners on second and third, Kayla Love (League City, Texas/Tallwood) doubled to right center to bring home two runs and give the 'Cats a 6-5 lead. Ferrum would get a two-run walk off homer from Brianna Weaver to win the game.
Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) got the start in the circle for the WildCats. She pitched two innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) came in for the last four innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits. She walked one and struck out three.
Hawkins went 2-for-4 with a homerun, one run scored, and one RBI. Nuckols finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Diane Mahiai (Chesapeake, Va./Salem) was 2-for-3.
In the second game, Ferrum led 6-0 after three innings. In the Randolph fourth inning, the WildCats scored four times to close to 6-4. The Panthers broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning to lead 10-4. The WildCats got a run back on a Friess RBI single in the fifth inning to end the scoring.
Danielle Shannon (Greensville, Va./Riverheads) pitched three innings in the circle. She surrendered six runs on seven hits and struck out one. Morris came in for 1 2/3 innings. She gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits. She walked two and struck out one. St. John pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief and did not allow a hit.
Nuckols collected three hits and two RBI. Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) was 2-for-4 with a run scored, a run batted in, and she stole a base. Hawkins was 2-for-4 with a run scored and batted in. Lacey Lucado (Buchanan, Va./James River) went 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Randolph finishes the season 10-29 overall and 4-14 in the ODAC.