Posted: Apr 08, 2009
SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke softball went 1-3 over the weekend while in Lynchburg, Va. this weekend in ODAC action. The Maroons are now 18-8 overall, 8-6 in the ODAC.
The women were swept by Lynchburg, 3-2, 6-2 on Saturday afternoon as Dawn Simmons won her 300th game of her career for the Hornets. LC increased its winning-streak to 14 games after the sweep to remain atop the ODAC standings.
Tara Campbell sent a pitch deep over the left field fence in the bottom of the first to drive in Audra Della Rosa and give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
However, the Maroons struck back in the third inning. Barbie Miles walked Felice Lowery to load the bases and Kelsey Ruitenberg drew another walk to give Roanoke their first run. Clarissa Norwich grounded out to first base, but Jessica Zeman was able to cross home plate to tie the game at 2-2.
LC scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning as Ashley Hohenberger singled and Katie Bruce was able to reach home plate on a throw.
Della Rosa went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored one run while Campbell went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run. Miles threw all seven innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run, and tossing seven strikeouts.
Janie Holmes and Lisa Scruggs provided the only two hits for Roanoke with Holmes getting her second double of the season. Norwich (5-3) struck out two batters in her fifth complete game performance of the season while scattering six hits.
Homeruns was the name of the game in the second game as Amber James provided Lynchburg with a 2-0 lead after two innings after she hit a two-run bomb down the right field line to drive home Campbell.
Roanoke came within a run in the third inning after Ruitenberg doubled to plate Lowery, but a Lauren Dugay three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth put the game out of reach for Roanoke.
James finished the game 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI and Duguay was 2-for-3 with one score and three runs batted in. Bruce tossed a complete game, scattering nine hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
Sara Caudle went 3-for-4 while Ruitenberg was 2-for-3 including her seventh double of his the season and two RBI. Lowery was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Ruitenberg (5-2) took the loss on the mound for Roanoke. She struck out two batters and gave up four runs.
Down 3-1 heading into the last half of the seventh inning, Dalton belted a three-run home run with two outs to lift Randolph College over Roanoke, 5-3 in game one of the ODAC doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Maroons answered back with a game two win, 6-2.
With the split Randolph improves to 17-9 overall and 7-7 in ODAC play. Roanoke sees its overall mark reach 18-8 and 8-6 in the conference.
Dalton's heroics were not only with the bat, as the first-year pitcher went all seven innings on the mound in game one to secure the win. She fanned eight Maroons, allowing nine hits and three earned runs.
Roanoke jumped out to a 2-1 lead after three innings of play, and added one more run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 3-1.
In the Wildcats last at-bat, Brittany Irvine got things rolling with a single, followed by a single from Sarah Montgomery. After a strikeout and fielder's choice, Dalton stepped to the plate where she would clear the centerfield fence. Montgomery and Lindsay Cross went 2-4 each in the win.
Scruggs finished 3-for-4 with an RBI-double while Ruitenberg was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Kristin McCormick hit her second home run of the season in defeat. Caudle added an RBI-double.
Ruitenberg pitched the first five innings with one strikeout and one run allowed. Wolfe (6-4) took the loss in relief while striking out three batters in 1.2 innings.
In game two, Roanoke scored a run in the opening inning after a sacrifice fly from Lowery. Randolph responded in the bottom half of the inning when Cross bunted home Irvine in a squeeze play.
In the third inning, after singles from Irvine and Montgomery, Cross came through in the clutch yet again with an RBI single scoring Irvine.
Another sacrifice fly for the Maroons in the top of the fourth tied the game at 2-2. Roanoke would then explode for four runs in the seventh inning on four hits, including a lead-off triple by Ruitenberg. Randolph tried to rally again, but a fly out and two ground outs would end any type of Wildcats comeback.
Ruitenberg went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple while Caudle had a three-RBI double. Norwich had a single and two runs batted in. Lindly Theroux had a pinch-hit single and scored a run.
Janie Holmes (2-0) pitched her first complete game of the season and struck out three batters in the win.
Cross went 4-4 in game two with two RBI. Dalton and Irvine each added two hits. Dalton picked-up the loss in the circle going seven innings allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Janie Holmes recorded the win for Roanoke going all seven innings allowing 10 hits and two earned runs.
The women will host Emory & Henry in an ODAC doubleheader this Wednesday, April 8. The Maroons are 30-2 against the Wasps in the series, winning the last four meetings. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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