College Softball Finals – #6 Guilford 3, #3 Randolph-Macon 0; #2 Eastern Mennonite 3, Guilford 2 (ODAC Tournament)

SALEM, Va. – Guilford College’s Courtney Lackey threw a complete-game shutout in Guilford’s first game of the day against Randolph-Macon College as the Quakers split their two games to stay alive in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament at the Moyer Sports Complex. The sixth-seeded Quakers defeated the third-seeded Yellow Jackets, 3-0, to advance to face second-seed Eastern Mennonite University, who came back in the final inning to claim victory, 3-2.

The Quakers (25-17) and Yellow Jackets combined for five hits in the first four innings in the afternoon contest as the Quakers held off a two-out Randolph-Macon rally bid with runners on first and second. Guilford took advantage of a one-out error in the top of the fifth frame as Jordan Starke drove home the game’s first run with runners at the corners. After preventing another Randolph-Macon comeback bid in the bottom half of the inning, the Quakers’ bats provided insurance runs in the final inning with a two-out rally in an inning where Guilford produced four hits. Makayla Carver hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to extend the lead. The Yellow Jackets produced an extra-base hit with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, but Lackey fought off a Randolph-Macon comeback bid as Lackey regained control to induce a fly out to seal the win.

The Quakers carried momentum into their winner’s bracket matchup with Eastern Mennonite in the evening when Guilford rallied with one out in the opening frame as Makayla Crawford singled with runners at the corners to put the Quakers on the board. Guilford mounted a rally bid one inning later by loading the bases with one out, but the Royals produced two put outs at home plate to keep the Quakers from driving home a run. Lackey prevented trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning as she closed an Eastern Mennonite rally where the Royals placed runners on first and second with two outs as Guilford held the lead. A Caroline Barnette home run to lead off the top of the seventh inning gave the Quakers a two run lead, but the Royals rallied with one out as Lauren Seale knocked a two-run double into left center field to tie the game. Tiffani Shaheen knocked a two-out single to complete the comeback and claim the win.

Carver finished the day two-for-five, knocking two hits in game one with two RBI. Taylor Boyd was one of two Quakers with three hits over both games, batting three-for-five while Sabrina Moreno hit three-for-seven. Crawford led the Quakers in game two, hitting three-for-four with one RBI.

Lackey (10-6) record all but one out on the day, starting both contests. She struck out five and waked one in a seven-hit complete-game shutout in game one. Lackey struck out two and walked five in a six and one-third inning effort where she gave up four hits. Maggie Shaffer threw the final one-third inning in relief, giving up one hit.

The Quakers continue in the ODAC Tournament tomorrow in an elimination contest with fourth-seeded Lynchburg College at 10 a.m. for the right to continue into afternoon play.