SALEM, Va. --- After defeating Virginia Wesleyan for their first ODAC win since 2006, Roanoke dropped the following two games to be eliminated from the ODAC Tournament. The Maroons ended their season with a 24-11 record after dropping an eight-inning decision to Lynchburg, 6-2 last evening and a 3-1 loss to Eastern Mennonite this afternoon.

 

The first seven innings proved to be a class pitching duel ass each team combined for just five hits and two runs. Jessica Zeman singled in the bottom of the first, stole second base, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. 

 

Kelsey Ruitenberg got on base due to a fielding error that allowed Zeman to score her third run of the tournament to give the Maroons a 1-0 lead. 

 

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Katherine Kouri was placed on second base and moved to third on a Lindly Theroux center field single.  Lisa Scruggs stepped up to the plate and grounded out to Lynchburg's Taylor Walker, but Kouri was able to score to make it a 6-2 game with a runner on second base with only one out. A groundout and a pop out sealed the win for the Hornets.

 

Ruitenberg pitched 7.2 innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out seven Hornets.  Lisa Scruggs recorded one RBI and Zeman was 1-for-3 with one score.

 

EMU's Lisa Lee held a potent Maroon lineup to only five hits through six innings and ended up giving up an unearned run on seven hits while striking out six batters in a 3-1 win.

 

Roanoke starting pitcher Clarissa Norwich was relieved in the first inning as EMU had two runners reach following the Blosser home run. Gretchen Wolfe entered the contest and got the next batter to retire the side. Wolfe pitched the next 4 1/3 innings for Roanoke, allowing two unearned runs on six hits while striking out three.

Janie Holmes finished out the game, allowing a leadoff single before getting the next three batters to close out the top half of the seventh inning.

 

Roanoke didn't go down quietly, as they threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back singles by Felicia Lowery and Ruitenberg plated one run as EMU made a pitching change. The next batter popped out to shortstop, giving the Maroons only one out to work with.

 

The next batter, Sarah Caudle, worked a walk to load the bases but EMU was able to get the following batter to hit into a fielder's choice with the runner coming from second to third being called for interference on the play, sealing the win.

 

Zeman reached base three times in four trips to the plate for Roanoke, including a double and a run scored. Ruitenberg was 1-for-4 with an RBI.