Posted: Mar 12, 2014
Both teams stayed scoreless through the first two innings in the rainy and windy weather. It wasn't until the bottom of the third when the Quakers put up the first runs of the game. Brooks Bray scored on an infield fielding error, taking the 1-0 lead for Guilford. Two batters later, Marty Wilcox hit an RBI single through the left side plating Laura Hall on the play. With two outs, Maggie Shaffer hit a two RBI single to the infield, allowing both Wilcox and Machala Vestral to score. After three innings, the Maroons trailed 4-0.
Roanoke responded in the top of the fourth as Kelly Higbie, who singled to reach base, stole second allowing Rhea Schleicher to slip home for the first run for Roanoke. Two batters later, Alexis Roop hit an RBI single up the middle, plating Higbie, and pulling the Maroons within two, 4-2.
In the bottom of the same inning, Guilford put four more runs on the board. Cynthia Hayes and Wilcox both had RBI hits, with Wilcox hitting a triple to plate a run. Rachel Howard picked up an RBI on an infield out, plating Hayes. Taylor Boyd had an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Wilcox on the play. After four innings, the Quakers now led 8-2. Guilford scored one more in the bottom of the fifth as Emily VanHaneghan scored on a throwing error. That run would become the Quakers' ninth and final run of the contest.
The Maroons started to battle back in the top of the sixth. With one out, Emily Lawrence hit an RBI single to right field, bringing around Jordan Meador to score the Maroons third run. Next up, Sarah Groft hit an RBI single to center field, allowing Roop to cross the plate. After a foul out, Taylor Sutherland hit a three run home run to bring the Maroons back within two, 9-7. However, the Maroons recorded their final out of the inning in the next at-bat. The Quakers held off Roanoke in the top of the seventh as well, as the Maroons fell 9-7 in ODAC play.
The Maroons were led by Kelly Higbie who went 3-4 on the afternoon. She was followed by Taylor Sutherland who had two hits, including the three run shot in the sixth. Sutherland's homer picked up a team high three RBIs. Kelly Higbie pitched all six innings, giving up nine hits and striking out one.
For Guilford, Marty Wilcox led the team with three hits, going 3-4 on the afternoon. She was followed by Calli Pastor, who tallied two hits. Wilcox finished with two runs scored and two RBIs as well. Maggie Shaffer was the winning pitcher of record, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up four runs off five hits while striking out two.
The second contest of the afternoon was rained out due to "monsoon-like" rain after the first game. The Maroons return to action on Saturday, March 15th as they take on nationally ranked Christopher Newport University on the road. The first pitch of the double header is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
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