2021-22 ODAC Softball News

  • Marlins Win Amherst Regional, Advance to Face CNU
    May 15, 2022
    The No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan University softball claimed the Regional Champion Title after defeating the Amherst College Mammoths 9-2 in the final game of the 2022 NCAA Amherst Regional Bracket. Junior catcher Caitlin Myers was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, while Emily Seale, Ariana Rolle, and Julia Sinnett all earned All-tournament accolades as well.
  • R-MC Claims Ashland Regional with Win Over MIT
    May 15, 2022
    The season will continue for No. 16 Randolph-Macon as it captured the regional championship with a victory over MIT on Sunday afternoon. It's the second regional championship for the Yellow Jackets who also won a regional title in 2019. The Jackets now await the winner of Eastern Connecticut State and Kean to see who they will play in the super regional. That game will be played on Monday. It did take some waiting for the Lemon and Black as they weren't sure if they would play today or not. Three games were played in total on the day with MIT winning an elimination game against Susquehanna to force a rematch with Randolph-Macon. Susquehanna won the first elimination game of the day as the River Hawks defeated Farmingdale State in the first game of the day.
  • Davis, Baughan Supply Power in Yellow Jackets Win Over MIT
    May 14, 2022
    Rain didn't damper No. 16 Randolph-Macon's spirits as it defeated MIT in Game 3 of the Ashland Regional on Saturday morning. Despite the precipitation, the Yellow Jackets were able to get the game in and get the bats going as they homered twice against the Engineers to advance in the winner's bracket.
  • Marlins Win, Hold Off Late Rally from Husson
    May 14, 2022
    The No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team held off a late rally from the Husson Eagles to win 3-2 on day two of the 2022 NCAA Softball Championship Tournament.
  • Rally Falls Short for Maroons in NCAA Softball
    May 14, 2022
    The Maroons would face The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in an elimination game in the Case Western Reserve Regional of the 2022 NCAA Softball Tournament. TCNJ would use a four-run fourth inning to take control of the matchup. The Maroons would not go quietly as they scored one in the bottom of the fourth and another one inning later to make it a two-run game. However, despite loading the bases twice in the closing innings, the Maroons could not complete the comeback and fell to the Lions 4-2, and would be eliminated from the tournament.
  • Ellis Twirls Gem to Lead R-MC to NCAA Opening Victory
    May 13, 2022
    Randolph-Macon righty Gracie Ellis allowed one run on four hits in a complete-game effort to help Randolph-Macon College open the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament with a 2-1 triumph over Farmingdale State on Friday afternoon.
  • Marlins' Seale Tosses Four-Hit Shutdown in NCAA Win Over Rochester
    May 13, 2022
    The No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan University softball team shut out the University of Rochester 2-0. in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Softball Championship Tournament. Sophomore pitcher Emily Seale threw a complete game shutout, while Ariana Rolle and Karlee Fretz scored the two runs.
  • Maroons Fall by Narrowest of Margins in NCAA Softball First Round
    May 13, 2022
    For the first time since 2013, the Roanoke softball team competed in the NCAA Tournament when they made the trip to Cleveland, Ohio to compete in a Regional hosted by Case Western Reserve. The Maroons faced Concordia (Wisconsin) to open the four-team, double elimination, tournament. A fourth inning home run would produce the game's lone run as Roanoke fell to the Falcons, 1-0.
  • Marlins Have Company in NCAA Softball Bracket, Joined by Yellow Jackets and Maroons
    May 09, 2022
    The "best softball conference in Division III" will see three teams enter the national bracket following the announcement of the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament field on Monday afternoon. Reigning champion Virginia Wesleyan University, owners of the ODAC's automatic entry, will be joined by at-large selections Randolph-Macon College and Roanoke College among the 62-team field.
  • VWU's Sinnett, R-MC's Ellis Headline All-ODAC Softball Awards
    May 03, 2022
    Bridgewater College, University of Lynchburg, and Virginia Wesleyan University each earned six all-conference honors with Lynchburg and Randolph-Macon College securing two special plaudits each to headline the 2022 All-ODAC Softball Awards. Virginia Wesleyan University third baseman Julia Sinnett garnered ODAC Player of the Year laurels, while Randolph-Macon righty Gracie Ellis collected both ODAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year accolades. Lynchburg mentor Dawn Simmons was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year, while fellow Hornet Sophie Tully received ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition from the league's athletic communications personnel.
  • Virginia Wesleyan Lifts Sixth Straight ODAC Softball Trophy
    May 02, 2022
    Virginia Wesleyan University may not have been the top seed for the first time since 2011, but its championship pedigree remains intact. The third-seeded Marlins defeated fourth-seeded Roanoke College, 1-0, in the second of two championship games on Monday afternoon, capping a weather-impacted four days at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va., with the program's sixth straight and league-record 14th ODAC softball crown. Virginia Wesleyan (33-11), ranked 14th in the country by the NFCA, needed a second title contest to earn the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament after 17th-ranked Roanoke (30-12) earned a 5-3 victory in Monday's first contest. The Maroons, along with ODAC hopefuls Randolph-Macon College (32-9) and University of Lynchburg (26-19) must rely on the Division III Softball Committee for at-large selections to the 64-team national field. The bracket will be announced on Monday, May 9 on www.ncaa.com.
  • Weather Forces Adjustments to the ODAC Softball Tournament Schedule
    April 30, 2022
    Mother Nature did not cooperate with the ODAC Softball Tournament as play has been suspended due to inclement weather at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. Four hours of rain not only saturated the outfields on both game fields, but also collected on the tarps. With rain predicted to fall through 7:30 p.m. ET and considerable time needed to prepare the fields for safe play by the competitors, the decision was made to start the process to prepare for early competition on Saturday. Games 11 and 12 in your brackets are now slated for 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday morning. Third-seeded Virginia Wesleyan will meet #4 Roanoke on field one, while top-seeded Lynchburg and #2 Randolph-Macon will square off on field three. The status for play in the remaining three games will be evaluated on Sunday morning and communicated once determinations have been made with reference to further weather pending for the area.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    April 25, 2022
    Week 34 marks the second to last weekly report of the ODAC season as sports close or prepare to end their regular season campaigns. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 25, include (pictured from left and top): Gracie Ellis from Randolph-Macon softball, Conner Butler from Roanoke baseball, Drew Ramos from R-MC baseball, Shanan Hester from RC softball, Taylor Witherell and Julia Thomson from Washington and Lee men's and women's lacrosse, Will Kistler from W&L men's tennis, and Christina Harris from Lynchburg women's tennis.
  • ODAC Softball Tournament Field Set
    April 23, 2022
    ODAC softball has lived up to its moniker as one of the top conferences for the sport in Division III, as evidenced by three nationally ranked programs for much of the campaign. Each of those teams found themselves part of one of three ties that needed solving on the final day of the regular season to determine the eight-team field of the 2022 ODAC Softball Tournament. For the first time since 2019, ODAC teams return to the friendly confines of the James I. Moyer Sports Complex, the traditional home of the league tournament. Play begins on Friday, April 29, and continues through the championship and possible "if game" in the double elimination format on Sunday, May 1.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    April 18, 2022
    ODAC standings are tighter than ever through week 33 of the season as spring postseason tournaments approach. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 18, include (pictured from left and top): Emma Stiffler from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Garrett Jackson from Lynchburg baseball, Jack Averna from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Natalia Garcia Molina from SU women's tennis, Mitchell Perry from Virginia Wesleyan men's tennis, Emily Charlton from LYN softball, Reilly Owen from SU baseball, and Sarah Wimer from Bridgewater softball.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    April 11, 2022
    Perfect games, personal bests, and team and individual milestones dot profiles for ODAC athletes and teams from week 32 of the 2021-22 season. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 11, include (pictured from left and top): Luca Docking from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Ruth de Souza from Sweet Briar women's tennis, Libby Bowman from RC women's lacrosse, Avery Neaves from Lynchburg baseball, Rilee Baughan from Randolph-Macon softball, Nick Mattfield from LYN baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, and Gene Perle-Jones from Shenandoah men's tennis.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    April 04, 2022
    Week 31 moved us into the final month of the year as conference teams and student-athletes start the stretch run towards the close of the spring season and the final postseason events of the year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 4, include (pictured from left and top): Gracie Ellis from Randolph-Macon softball, Thomas Haller from Washington and Lee baseball, Myles Webb from R-MC baseball, Anna Grace Terrell from Lynchburg softball, Luke Kammerman from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Janie Stillwell from W&L women's lacrosse, Levi Vigdorchik from LYN men's tennis, and Ryan Roeber from Bridgewater women's tennis.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    March 28, 2022
    Week 30 of the 2021-22 season was heavy in ODAC competition as teams get ready for the turn of the calendar to the final month of regular season play this year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 28, include (pictured from left and top): Lyndsey Sears from Ferrum softball, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, John Benner from W&L baseball, Karle Cundiff from Lynchburg softball, Avery Neaves from LYN baseball, Allie Schwab from W&L women's lacrosse, Ray O'Brien from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, and Elizabeth Teefey from LYN women's tennis.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    March 21, 2022
    ODAC teams finished up some late spring break trips in week 29 with a smattering of conference games populating weekly results. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 21, include (pictured from left and top): Brett Lindsay from Eastern Mennonite baseball, Sarah Wimer from Bridgewater softball, Calvin Pastel from Shenandoah baseball, Reilly Cisar from SU women's lacrosse, Chris Martel from BC men's lacrosse, Christina Harris from Lynchburg women's tennis, Canon Secord from BC men's tennis, and Emily Seale from Virginia Wesleyan softball.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    March 14, 2022
    More spring break trips mixed in with general non-conference and some league contests throughout week 28. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 14, include (pictured from left and top): Gabriel Alexander from Bridgewater men's lacrosse, Ana Patino from Sweet Briar women's tennis, Emma Stiffler from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Henry Delavergne from SU baseball, Rilee Baughan from Randolph-Macon softball, Will Davis from Ferrum baseball, Jada Karnes from Roanoke softball, and Nicolas Alvarado from Randolph men's tennis.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    March 07, 2022
    Spring Break is here for several schools in week 27 with a plethora of games in all spring sports from trips to warmer locations for tournaments and invitationals. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 7, include (pictured from left and top): Mark Sprague from Virginia Wesleyan men's lacrosse, Sophie Tully from Lynchburg softball, Tyler Harvey from Ferrum women's lacrosse, Canon Secord from Bridgewater men's tennis, Natalia Garcia Molina from Shenandoah women's tennis, Grayson Thurman from LYN baseball, Emily Seale from VWU softball, and Carrson Atkins from LYN baseball.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    February 28, 2022
    Spring sports continued their early season campaigns in week 26 as they continue through largely non-conference action before getting to ODAC play later this spring. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 28, include (pictured from left and top): Grayson Thurman from Lynchburg baseball, Taylor Garcia from Washington and Lee women's tennis, Sydne Sawyer from Guilford women's lacrosse, Dylan Wolfe from LYN men's lacrosse, Alli Clemens from GC softball, Avery Neaves from LYN baseball, Gracie Ellis from Randolph-Macon softball, and Felix Bevc from Virginia Wesleyan men's tennis.
  • ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
    February 21, 2022
    Week 25 marks the final report of the season for basketball. But there is no shortage of action in the ODAC with the upcoming basketball and indoor track & field championships as well as more spring sports kicking off their campaigns. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 21, include (pictured from left and top): Sean Duffy from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, Avery Smith from Randolph-Macon women's tennis, Canon Secord from Bridgewater men's tennis, Whitney Hopson from Roanoke women's basketball, Hanna Bishop from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Brett Tharp from BC baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Henry Delavergne from Shenandoah baseball, Rilee Baughan from R-MC softball, and Liam Ward from Guilford men's basketball.
  • Virginia Wesleyan Headlines ODAC Softball Preseason Poll
    February 08, 2022
    The past four seasons for ODAC softball mark arguably the most successful period for any conference sport with 12 national qualifying teams, four trips to the Division III final eight tournament, and three national titles. Virginia Wesleyan University has hoisted those three walnut & bronze prizes. While it is no surprise to see the Marlins top the 2022 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll with 81 points powered by nine first place votes, this season's VWU squad will have a very different make-up. The Marlins will be without the winningest pitcher in NCAA Division III history, Hanna Hull, for the first time since the 2016 season. Four-time reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Brandon Elliott must not only replace Hull, ODAC Player of the Year Jessica Goldyn and a host of other All-ODAC standouts, but he must do so with the aim of contending within one of the best softball conferences in the country. While that list no longer includes multiple national qualifier Emory & Henry College (reclassified to NCAA Division II), the ODAC remains stacked with top teams and talent populating their rosters. The University of Lynchburg and Randolph-Macon College are among those dozen teams that have earned NCAA bracket positions multiple times in the last four seasons. The Hornets sit second in the ODAC poll with 68 points, while the Yellow Jackets -- three years removed from a NCAA championship final eight appearance -- rank fourth with 61 markers. Roanoke College occupies the space between those two squads in third position with 64 tallies and the remaining first place vote. In the following sections, we take a quick look back at last season and get a feel for what to expect for the upcoming softball campaign.
  • VWU's Hull Headlines 20 ODAC Academic All-Americans
    August 19, 2021
    With the start of the 2021-22 academic and athletic campaigns quickly approaching, ODAC members and their student-athletes continue to haul in major postseason honors from the 2020-21 season. Conference student-athlete distinction and influence extends well beyond their athletic arenas with several taking home Academic All-America recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).