Posted: Mar 14, 2010
SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke earned three wins on Sunday in the Ferrum Invitational at the Moyer Complex. The Maroons are now 12-1 on the year, and currently riding an 11-game winning-streak.
The Maroons defeated Peace (7-2), Piedmont (2-1) in nine innings and UVA-Wise, 3-0 to finish the tournament, 3-0. Roanoke holds a 2-0 series against Peace and Piedmont, with both games against the Lions decided by a single run in extra innings. UVA-Wise has been dealt three-straight losses to the Maroons already this season with another doubleheader scheduled next Sunday. Roanoke holds a 3-0 series lead over Virginia-Wise, all three meetings coming in 2010.
Leona Rainey (Sandston, VA, Mills Goodwin)led the Maroons this weekend batting 7-for-13 with three doubles, two runs and four stolen bases. Jessica Zeman (Willis, VA, Floyd Co.)went 3-for-6 in two games with a double, three runs and two stolen bases. Her 26 career steals moves her into sixth all-time at Roanoke. Sara Caudle (Irvington, VA, Lancaster)blasted two home runs for seven RBI's and scored twice to pace the Maroons.
Roanoke tied a season-high with 11 hits in a 7-2 win over Peace in the first game of the day. Caudle led the team, going 3-for-5 with a home run with five RBI's. Rainey went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Zeman had a single, a double, scored twice and added a stolen base.
Kelsey Ruitenberg (Geneva, IL, Geneva)(4-0) earned a complete game victory, allowing two runs with three strikeouts. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. After this weekend, she is now second in home runs (18), fifth in RBI's (128), seventh in doubles (28), 10th in total bases (210) and ninth in walks (45). On the mound, she is fifth in complete games (18), sixth in shutouts (6), sixth in appearances (63), fifth in innings pitched (269.1) and third in career strikeouts (239).
Peace scored a run in the first to take the early lead before Caudle's three-run blast gave the Maroons the lead for good in the second inning. Her two-RBI single in the fifth brought in Jaci Clark (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)and Ruitenberg to help seal the win.
Game two was a pitcher's duel as Lis Norwich (Hegins, PA, Tri-Valley)went the distance, going all nine innings. She didn't allow an earned run and finished with five strikeouts in the 2-1 win in extra innings.
Piedmont got on the board in the top of the first and held the lead for most of the contest. Then in the top of the seventh, Zeman singled, advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt, and stole third to put the tying run one bag away with one out.
Alea Bier's (Bent Mountain, VA, Cave Spring) single brought in Zeman for the tying run which sent the game into extra innings. Norwich helped her cause in the top of the ninth to earn her second win of the season. Placed on second due to the extra inning international rule, she advanced to third off a sacrifice hit from Zeman. She was brought home as Caudle reached base on an error to give the Maroons the lead and held on to earn the win.
Rainey went 3-for-5 for the second-straight game with a double and two stolen bases. Zeman had a single, a run and a stolen base.
In the final game of the day, Roanoke defeated UVA-Wise, 3-0 for the third time this season. Abigail Rexrode (Fincastle, VA, James River)(2-1) threw a complete game, scattering six hits with four strikeouts.
Rainey had a double and a run with two stolen bases, while Ruitenberg had a single and an RBI. Caudle hit a solo homer in the second as Bier added a single and a stolen base.
The women will host Virginia Intermont tomorrow at the Moyer Complex. It will be the Maroons 2010 home-opener. Roanoke swept the Cobras earlier this season and have a 3-1 series lead over their in-state foe. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
