College Baseball Finals–Randolph-Macon–8—3, Guilford 7—2

ASHLAND, Va. – Guilford College’s comeback bids in both games of their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) conetsts fell short as the Quakers dropped two games to the Yellow Jackets Saturday afternoon. Randolph-Macon took game one, 8-7, and the nightcap, 3-2.

Both teams traded runs early in game one with Guilford scoring the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. After Randolph-Macon countered with four runs in the bottom half of the frame, the Quakers matched the Yellow Jackets four-run rally to reclaim the lead in the top of the second inning. Guilford widened their lead by one in the top of the fourth inning before Randolph-Macon countered with three runs to reclaim the lead one half inning later. Both teams would trade a run in the fifth inning before both bullpens gained control.

John Macon Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford) reached on an error in the ninth inning with Corey Wallace advancing him to second on a single with two outs before the Yellow Jackets retired the Quakers.

Nathan Fulbright led all Quaker bats with four RBI, finishing game one 3-for-6. The Quakers’ catcher drove in the first run of the game, hitting a single down the left field line. Fulbright capped the Quakers four-run rally in the top of second inning with a one-out double down the left field line, driving in two runs to reclaim the lead. Fulbright would add his final RBI of game one in the top of the fifth frame with his second RBI-single of the contest.

Danny Ditota finished 4-for-5 with one RBI and a triple, his second of the season. Ditota drove in a run in the top of the second inning with a single up the middle to spark the Quakers’ four-run rally.

The Yellow Jackets’ Nicholas Maiolo finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, both thanks to a double down the left field line, sparking Randolph-Macon’s four-run bottom of the first inning rally. Jordan Schmeer finished 2-for-5 with two RBI in the Yellow Jackets’ three-run fourth frame.

Borja Jones-Berasaluce (3-4) took the loss for the Quakers, throwing four and one-third innings while giving up six earned runs on nine hits. Chad Wagoner relieved Jones-Berasaluce in the fifth stanza, throwing three and two-thirds innings of shutout, one-hit work while striking out one batter.

Randolph-Macon’s Nic Phelps (1-1) took the win in a two and two-thirds innings relief effort, giving up one earned run on three hits while fanning two batters. Glenn McLaughlin picked up his sixth save of the season, striking out two batters in one inning of work.

Both teams remained scoreless through the first four innings of game two. The Quakers and Yellow Jackets traded one run a piece in the fifth frame with Randolph-Macon adding to their three-run rally over a three inning stretch with a run in the sixth and seventh stanzas. Guilford countered in the eighth with one run, but the comeback bid fell short in the late innings.

Kyle Humphrey drove in the Quakers’ one run in the top of the eighth, hitting into a fielders’ choice with runners at the corners and one out.

Gabe Mirabelli was the lone Quaker with multiple hits in game two, finishing the game 2-for-4.

Schmeer added to his RBI total for the afternoon, driving in two Randolph-Macon runs on a double in the bottom of the fifth inning and a triple in the bottom of the seventh.

Corey Wallace finished the doubleheader 3-for-9 with a pair of doubles, extending his season-best hitting streak to 19 games.

Chase Shuford (1-1) pitched five and one-third innings, giving up no earned run on three hits while fanning three batters. Shuford held the Yellow Jackets without a hit for the first four and one-third innings of his outing. Justin Jordan relieved Shuford in the sixth inning, giving up one run on no hits while fanning one batter. Avery Rogers threw the final inning and two-thirds, giving up just one hit.

Jamie Hendrick (6-1) took the win for the Yellow Jackets, giving up one earned run on six hits while striking out six in seven and one-third innings of work. McLaughlin collected his second save of the day and seventh of the season, giving up just one hit in the final inning.

The Quakers (19-20, 9-11 ODAC) await their fate in the six-team ODAC Tournament after the completion of Sunday’s ODAC contests.