Posted: Apr 14, 2010
FERRUM, Va. --- Roanoke salvaged a split with Ferrum in non-conference action Tuesday evening at Franklin Community Bank Field. The Maroons record now stands at 26-5, while the Panthers stand at 26-12. The Panthers took game one, 1-0, but the Maroons won the nightcap, 10-4.
It was a pitcher's duel in the opening game, as both Abigail Rexrode (Fincastle, VA, James River)(7-2) and Kaitlyn Culler (12-4) went the distance in a 1-0 decision won by the Panthers. Kashina Hancock's solo blast in the fifth inning was all the scoring in the contest as the Panthers won their 10th series game against the Maroons.
Leona Rainey (Sandston, VA, Mills Godwin), Sara Caudle (Irvington, VA, Lancaster)and Alea Bier (Bent Mountain, VA, Cave Spring)collected the only three hits for Roanoke. Rexrode pitched her fourth complete game of the season, striking out two and scattered five hits.
Hollee Warlitner (Clifton Forge, VA, Alleghany)opened game two with her first grand slam of her career to give the Maroons an early, 4-0 advantage. In the second, Rainey tripled down the leftfield line and scored on a throwing error to make it, 5-0. Warlitner walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored off a single from Lis Norwich (Hegins, PA, Tri-Valley).
After the Panthers scored four runs in the fourth, the Maroons pulled away in the top of the seventh, thanks in part to Caudles' two-RBI single to spark a three-run inning. Roanoke won its 14th game against Ferrum, including the 10th road game of the season.
Kelsey Ruitenberg (Geneva, IL, Geneva)(7-2) earned the win for the Maroons in the nightcap, going 4.1 innings with three strikeouts. Norwich closed the game in the final 2.2 innings to earn her first save of the season, finishing with four strikeouts.
In addition to her grandslam, Warlitner scored three runs and drew two walks. Ruitenberg singled, forced a walk and scored twice, as did Jaci Clark (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring), who also finished with two stolen bases on the night.
The women return to action this weekend as they take on both Lynchburg and Randolph in four big ODAC contests. The Maroons play the Hornets at 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed with a matchup against the Wildcats on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both games will be held at the Moyer Complex in the final home games of the season.
