LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph softball team hosted Greensboro on Wednesday afternoon in their home opener. The WildCats fell behind early in both games and mounted comebacks but fell short as the Pride won both games by the scores of 5-4 and 3-2.

In the first game, the WildCats trailed 5-0 after five innings. In the Randolph sixth, Jenna McDermott (Townsend, Del./Middletown) led off with a walk and then stole second. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lexi Lama (Benson, N.C./West Johnson) singled to centerfield to score McDermott. Charlize Taylor (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) singled down the right field line to move Lama over to third base. Taryn Campbell (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Lama to score. Olesia Walch (Raleigh, N.C./St. Thomas More Academy) singled and advanced to second on an error by the Greensboro first baseman which allowed Taylor to come around and score. Dominque Irving's (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) RBI single scored Walch and the score was now 5-4 Greensboro.

Jenna St. John (Concord, Va./Appomattox) retired the Pride batters in order in the top of the seventh. In the WildCat seventh, Railey Oetken (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) led off with a single. A McDermott fielder's choice got pinch runner Liz Mason (Lynchburg, Va./Heritage) out at second base. Lexi Hawkins (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian) popped out to second base. Lama was hit by a pitch which moved McDermott into scoring position. The game ended, however, on Taylor's pop out to the pitcher.
Paige Scruggs (Cowpens, S.C./Chesnee) started in the circle for the WIldCats. She pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and walked two. She struck out one. St. John came in for the final 3 2/2 innings and allowed just one run on five hits. She walked two and struck out one.

Oetken finished 2-for-4. Walch was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI. McDermott was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

In the second game, the WildCats were behind 3-0. Randolph got a run back on a Hawkins RBI single in the bottom of the third. The score remained that way until the bottom of the seventh. Scruggs pinch hit and was hit by a pitch to get on base. Walch pinch ran and then stole second. An Oetken groundout moved Walch to third. She would score on Irving's RBI bunt single. Irving stole second and represented the tying run. The comeback would fall short as Delaney Nuckols (Rockville, Va./Patrick Henry) grounded out and Hawkins popped out.

Walch pitched six innings in the circle for the 'Cats. She allowed three runs on seven hits. She walked three and struck out one. Emily Morris (Esmont, Va./Monticello) pitched one scoreless inning and walked two batters.

Irving was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a stolen base. Hawkins finished 1-for-2 with a RBI and a stolen base. Oetken went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Randolph travels to Raleigh, N.C. this weekend to participate in the Grand Slam Classic hosted by William Peace. The WildCats will first play Elmira at 12:00 p.m. followed by LaGrange at 4:00 p.m.