FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.- The Randolph softball team started its 2023 season on the road as they faced Methodist in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The WildCats picked up a pair of wins with 5-4 and 7-4 victories.

In the first game, Randolph got on the board first. Jenna McDermott (Townsend, Del./Middletown HS) led off with a double. Lexi Hawkins (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian) doubled to centerfield to score McDermott to give the WildCats a 1-0 lead.

The Monarchs scored twice in the bottom of the third to go ahead 2-1. The WildCats tied it up in the fourth on a Lexi Lama (Benson, N.C./West Johnson HS) RBI single. Randolph added a pair of runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Railey Oetken (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) singled to score two runs to give the 'Cats a 4-2 lead.
Methodist plated a run in the fifth and sixth innings to knot the score at 4-4. The game would be tied after seven innings and go to extras. In the Randolph eighth, Taryn Campbell (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) singled to score one run to put the WildCats ahead 5-4. In the Monarch eighth, Hannah Lovick reached on a fielder's choice and Haley Fethke was out at third base. Randolph pitcher Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) got Maria Kollar to fly out and struck out Emily Angel to end the game.

Oetken was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. McDermott went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Hawkins went 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in.
Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) started and went four innings. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits. She walked one and struck out four. St. Johns pitched four innings to get the win. She surrendered just one run on four hits and struck out three batters.

In the second game, Randolph scored first on an Oetken RBI single. Randolph went ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Alexa Tretola (Morrisville, N.C./Panther Creek HS) RBI sac bunt.

The Monarchs went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning. The WildCats grabbed the lead back with a two-run third inning.

Randolph added to its lead in the sixth inning. Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) reached on an error that allowed two runs to score and Oetken's RBI single made it 7-4.

Methodist threatened in the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases loaded. With the winning run at the plate, Olesia Walch (Raleigh, N.C./St. Thomas More Academy) struck out Grace Hobbs to end the game and secure the Randolph victory.

Walch got the win for the WildCats in the circle. She pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed just three hits. She walked four and struck out two.

Oetken batted 2-for-4 with two RBI. Dominique Irving (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Campbell went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Nuckols scored two runs.

Randolph travels to Southern Virginia on Wednesday. Game 1 of the doubleheader starts at 1:00 p.m.