BLOOMINGTON, Ill. --- Randolph-Macon exploded for six runs in the first inning highlighted by a three-run blast to left-center by
Reagan Hill to force a second double-elimination semifinal at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship following the Yellow Jackets 6-2 win over Virginia Wesleyan University on Sunday afternoon at Inspiration Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
Randolph-Macon (42-13) tied its program record for victories in staving off elimination for a third straight game. Virginia Wesleyan (49-4-1) saw its 18-game winning streak snapped with its first loss since April 18. The two ODAC foes will square off for a second time on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. ET in a winner-take-all showdown for one spot in the best-of-3 national championship series.
The half-dozen runs scored by Randolph-Macon in the first inning mark the most scored against Virginia Wesleyan in one inning this year and tied for the second-most in a game overall.
Most of the damage came with one down. Three straight singles by
Naomi Sadler,
Kayla Davis, and
Charlotte Boswell all reached left field with the last knock scoring Sadler for the first run. Then came the big blow with Hill smashing a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for her third homer of the season and a 4-0 Yellow Jackets lead. VWU starter
Lauren Bible issued free passes to
Blayne Talley,
Tori Powell, and
Gracie Ellis to reload the bases.
The Marlins turned to lefty
Emma Adams in relief. The 2024 ODAC Pitcher of the Year was greeted wth two straight RBI singles to right field by
Jacy Ramos and
Amanda Lanyon, who "made up" for previously making the only out in the inning to lead off the game. Adams retired the next two batters to get out of the inning, but not before RMC spotted All-American Ellis with a 6-0 headstart.
Virginia Wesleyan got one back in their half of the first inning.
Sarah Prosser doubled over the left fielder's head.
Julia Piotrowski walked and
Morgan Tucker took a free pass to first to load the bases following a pop out by
Laci Campbell.
Mackenzie Myers drove in Prosser with a fielder's choice to left as her sinking liner forced runners to hold their spots, resulting in Piotrowski being forced out at third by Ramos.
VWU tacked on one more in the second inning which, unexpectedly to all those watching, would be the final run of the contest.
Olivia Knight went deep for the third straight game, clearing the fence just left of centerfield.
Ellis took control thereafter, allowing just one hit after Knight's homer and two baserunners with an HBP accounting for the extra Marlin on the basepaths. Ellis improved to 29-5 with her 28th complete game. She gave up the two runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts including the last batter of the game.
Bible is now 27-2 as she was responsible for all six runs on four hits with three walks. Adams appeared in just her ninth game overall and certainly her longest outing since returning from injury. She gave up five hits and did not walk a batter while fanning a pair in 6.2 innings of relief.