RALEIGH, N.C. – The Randolph College softball team mounted a late comeback effort but came up just short in an 8-7 loss to Marymount (Va.) and fell in a close 8-7 contest to New York University.
After falling behind early, the WildCats responded with a strong second inning to even the game.
Kyndall Shapiro reached base and came around to score when
Laura Herzig singled to center field for Randolph's first run.
Addy Compton followed with an RBI single, and
Rylee Humble drove in another run on a groundout to tie the contest at 3-3.
Marymount used a five-run third inning to take an 8-3 lead, but Randolph continued to battle at the plate.
The WildCats answered in the bottom of the third when
Michaela Williams delivered a two-run single through the right side, scoring
Amanda Lawhorn and
Victoria Porretta to cut the deficit to 8-5.
Randolph chipped away again in the fifth inning as
Chesney Shook singled down the right field line to bring home Porretta and make it 8-6. The WildCats pulled within one in the sixth inning when Lawhorn doubled to left field to score
Delaney Sipes.
Randolph threatened late but could not complete the comeback.
The WildCats tallied 11 hits in the contest. Williams led the team with two RBIs, while Lawhorn went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Shapiro added two hits and scored a run, while Herzig, Compton, Shook, Humble, and Sipes each recorded a hit.
Sipes also provided a strong relief performance in the circle, tossing three scoreless innings to keep Randolph within striking distance.
Against NYU, after three scoreless innings, NYU broke through in the third with five runs to take an early 5-0 lead.
The WildCats answered in a big way in the fourth inning with a five-run rally to tie the game. Lawhorn started the scoring after coming around to score on an RBI single from
Edie Jennings. Compton then delivered a two-run double to left field to score Shook and Williams and cut the deficit to 5-3. Humble followed with an RBI groundout to plate Herzig, and Porretta tied the game with a single up the middle that brought Compton home.
Randolph carried the momentum into the fifth inning when Herzig singled up the middle to score Williams and give the WildCats their first lead of the game at 6-5.
The WildCats added another run in the sixth as Shook singled to left center to score
Sammie Carroll and extend the lead to 7-5.
NYU responded in the bottom of the sixth with two runs to even the score at 7-7. In the seventh inning, NYU pushed across the game-winning run on a fielder's choice that resulted in an unearned run.
Randolph finished with 15 hits in the contest. Herzig led the way with a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and a run scored, while
Rachel Arce also recorded three hits. Shook added two hits and an RBI, Jennings finished with two hits and an RBI, and Compton drove in two runs.
The 'Cats are back on the road to Southern Virginia for a doubleheader on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
