SALEM - The Maroons battled for a win against Guilford in a rain-delayed morning game on Saturday, but lost to Emory & Henry for the second time in the weekend to be knocked out of the 2015 ODAC Softball Tournament. The Maroons close the season with a record of 22-14, and went 15-5 in ODAC play.

Roanoke's 15 wins in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference ties the best win total (2013) in the past eight seasons. The Maroons got off to a rough start in the beginning of the season, playing tough, nationally ranked teams. However, the Maroons bounced back in the second half of the season, closing the regular season winning 12 of its final 14 games. This season also marks the final season for four Maroons: Rhea Schleicher, Alexis Roop, Kelly Higbie and Jenna Pendleton.

Higbie finishes her career at Roanoke College as one of the best to enter the pitching circle for the Maroons. She recently became the all-time leader at RC in strikeouts, fanning 383 batters. She ranks in the top five all-time at Roanoke in numerous categories: wins (2^nd - 67), saves (5^th - 4), appearances (1^st - 129), games started (1^st - 110), complete games (1^st - 87), shutouts (2^nd - 19), and innings pitched (1^st - 698.2).

In the first game of the day, Roanoke took on Guilford College in an elimination game in the losers bracket of the ODAC Tournament. Guilford got on to Roanoke in the top of the second inning. With two outs, the Quakers went on to score three runs, giving the Maroons a tough hole to climb out of.

However, the Maroons charged in the bottom of the inning. Ruthie Williams led off in the inning with a walk. Becca Wenger also took a walk, putting two runners on. Higbie reached on a fielder's choice, with Williams getting out at third. Rhea Schleicher hit a single up the middle to load the bases. Jordan Meador cleared the bases with a grand slam, her second home run of her career. After two innings, Roanoke led 4-3. The Maroons extended the lead in the bottom of the third, as Katie Smith scored on a throwing error, putting the Maroons ahead 5-3. The Quakers only scored one more run in the top of the fifth, but the Maroons got the win and stayed alive in the ODAC Tournament.

Roanoke finished with six hits, led by Jordan Meador, who went 2-3 with one run scored and four RBIs. Katie Smith, Becca Wenger, Kelly Higbie and Rhea Schleicher all scored one run each as well. Higbie pitched the complete game, giving up four runs off four hits, while striking out two.

The Quakers had eight hits, led by Caroline Barnette and Calli Pastor with two hits each. Casey Snead was tabbed with the loss, giving up five runs off four hits.

In game two of the day for the Maroons, they took on Emory & Henry for the second time in the weekend. The two teams played in an increasingly muddy contest, as the rains poured down on field one of the Moyer Complex. Field crews continued to fix the field during the game to ensure that the game was completed. The Wasps chipped away at the Maroons during the game, scoring one run in each of the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Roanoke's lone run came in the bottom of the fifth, as Rachel Guilliams hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. However, the Maroons could not make up the deficit created by the Wasps, and fell 4-1 to be eliminated in the ODAC Tournament.

In the second game, the Maroons finished with seven hits, led by Becca Wenger going 2-3. Rachel Guilliams scored the Maroons lone run in the contest, hitting a solo home run. Higbie gave up four runs off nine hits, striking out three batters.

The Wasps were led by Riley Pudney, Taylor Doss, Danielle Loving and Alyssa Clark, all of which had two hits. Brandy Bryant earned the win, giving up one run off seven hits, striking out five.

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