GLASSBORO, N.J. --- Randolph-Macon softball bowed out of the NCAA Tournament Monday afternoon after Rowan scored two wins against the Yellow Jackets, winning 7-1 and 2-1. Earlier in the day, Rowan forced a second game in the championship round of the Glassboro Regional, winning the first game 7-1. The game had been scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when it was suspended Sunday afternoon due to rain and lightning.
Randolph-Macon completes its season at 40-7, the best record for an R-MC softball team in its history. The team also set a record for its best regular season finish, when it closed the regular season at 37-3 and 16-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Rowan 7, Randolph-Macon 1 (Game 1)
During play on Sunday afternoon, both teams were unable to get a run home. Senior Harley Jones (Brodnax, Va./Brunswick) was R-MC's first baserunner, reaching on an error in the second inning. Rowan had left a runner on base in the top half of the same inning.
Rowan was close to scoring a run in the third inning, but the runner -- Kristina Mueller, who had singled earlier in the inning -- rounded third and was called out at home as Jones caught a foul out, threw to sophomore Taylor Sanderford (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) at third and caught Mueller in a rundown where she was eventually at home after the tag by sophomore Sami Davidson (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) at the plate after the throw from junior Savannah Wood (Tappahannock, Va./Essex) at shortstop.
In the third, junior Kerstin Roth (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) doubled to right center with two outs, but wasn't able to round the bases.
Play was suspended midway through the fourth inning and picked back up Monday afternoon.
Wood, the first R-MC batter, was hit by a pitch to mark R-MC's first baserunner of the second day of play. But she was eventually retired on a fielder's choice and R-MC bowed out of the inning.
Rowan scored four times in the top of the fourth after stringing together a two singles, a double and a home run.
Randolph-Macon got one run back in the bottom of the sixth. Roth walked to lead off the inning. Junior Candace Whittemore (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) doubled, moving Roth to third. After a groundout by Wood, Jones grounded out as well, but sent Roth home to record R-MC's first score of the game.
Whittemore went 6.1 innings, allowing 11 hits, seven runs and fanning six. Freshman Kayley Scott (Henrico, Va./Lee-Davis) earned the final two outs while allowing two hits.
Rowan again strung some hits together to tally three more in the top of the seventh inning and forcing a second championship game.
Rowan 2, Randolph-Macon 1 (Game 2)
Randolph-Macon struck early in the first inning of the second game of the day. Roth walked to open the inning and was moved to second on a groundout by Whittemore. Wood then doubled to left center, scoring Roth and tallying the RBI.
Rowan answered an inning later as a Prof single netted the 1-1 tie.
Both pitchers took over the game until the sixth inning, when Rowan scored on an RBI single. It was enough to win the game 2-1.
In just her third loss of the season, freshman Madie Rhoads went six innings, allowing three walks and six hits but fanning five.
Wood was 2-3 on the game with junior Brittany LaPrade netting R-MC's third hit of the game, a single to lead off the second inning.
All-Tournament Team Announced
Rhoads, Wood and Jones were named to the Glassboro Regional All-Tournament team for their play over the weekend.
Jones went 2-11 with two runs scored, two RBIs and an home run.
Wood was 4-11 over the tournament, scoring an RBI as well.
Rhoads was 1-1 with a save, striking out 21 and allowing just four walks, two runs and 10 hits.
--- This release is courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports informatoin department. ---
www.rmcathletics.com