#5 Marlins Rally for Split with Randolph-Macon

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The No. 5-ranked Virginia Wesleyan College rallied with two outs in the seventh inning of game two to tie up the contest, ultimately winning 3-2 in the eighth inning. Randolph-Macon captured the first game by a 2-1 score in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup.

Game 1: 2-1 Randolph-Macon Victory

Mary Shipp allowed just one hit to the Yellow Jackets until the fourth inning as Candace Whittemore was equally impressive for R-MC.

Three singles for the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases in the fourth for Skylar Toth, who hit the ball to third base. Kayla Dost forced the Macon runner at home to keep the game scoreless. Hayden Fontenot put the first run on the board as she singled home Cori Spartana in the subsequent at bat.

The Marlins answered in the bottom of the fifth as Taylor Galvin walked in front of a Teresa Cardamone single. Kiersten Richardson singled on a bunt to third base to load the bags with one out. Whittemore picked up an out in the next at bat, but Courtney Bogan managed a single to left that scored Galvin. LeAnn Adkins, who entered to run for Cardamone, attempted to score the go-ahead run but a good throw by Toth in left field got her out at home.

Virginia Wesleyan collected two quick outs in the top of the seventh before Whittemore tripled to center. Diane McDaniel singled her home for the go-ahead run.

The Marlins managed a hit in the bottom of the seventh, but could not bring her across the plate.

Whittemore (13-2) struck out six while allowing five hits and a walk in seven innings. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate to go along with the game-winning run scored.

Richardson went 2-for-3 for the Marlins as Shipp (10-4) surrendered eight hits while striking out three.

Game 2: 3-2 Virginia Wesleyan Victory (8 innings)

The second game started a lot like the first as Kandis Kresinske managed to shut down Randolph-Macon through three innings. Seven of the first Yellow Jacket outs were via strikeout, including the first five of the game.

Randolph-Macon, once again, got on the board first as Sierra Ford homered to left for a 1-0 lead with two outs in the fourth, the Yellow Jackets' first hit of the game.

Nelda Bagley tried to make the one-run lead hold up for R-MC, keeping the Marlins off the board until the final inning of regulation.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Cassetty Howerin singled to right field, scoring Beth Ford from second to send the game to extra innings.

Due to international rules, a runner is placed on second base at the beginning of each extra inning. Following a sacrifice bunt that moved Spartana to third, Whittemore singled to center for a 2-1 lead.

The Marlins took advantage of the initial runner starting in scoring position as Galvin singled up the middle to put runners on the corners while chasing Bagley from the game.

Whittemore collected a strikeout for the first out of the frame, but Richardson struck with a single to center that scored Blake Henderson from third to tie the game once again. Liz Bailey followed with a double down the left field line that scored Richardson for the game-winner.

Howerin had three hits in game two while Richardson went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Kresinske (11-1) picked up the win, pitching a career-best eight innings. She surrendered just one earned run on three hits while striking out 11.

No. 5 Virginia Wesleyan (22-5/7-1) travels to Bridgewater College (6-20/1-7) Saturday for a 1 p.m. ODAC doubleheader.