GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford softball team posted its fifth win in its last six games and claimed its second sweep in that stretch when the Quakers came through with a doubleheader sweep of Randolph-Macon by scores of 6-2 and 6-4 at Haworth Field on Tuesday, April 13th.
GAME 1: Guilford 6, Randolph-Macon 2
Randolph-Macon put the first run of the game on the board in the top of the first when Rilee Baughan drove a home run over the right field wall. Guilford answered with a home run of its own when Casey Bunting sent a pitch over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the second to knot the game at 1-1.
The two teams remained tied until the fifth inning when starting pitcher Katie McNeill helped her own cause with a solo home run to left, making for the 2-1 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets retaliated with a run in the sixth when Kamryn Stein put the first runner of the inning on base with a double to left centerfield. A sacrifice bunt by Olivia Owens moved her to third and Maddie Stone dropped a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher to deadlock the game at two-all.
Guilford broke the 2-2 tie with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth. The first of those hits came from Caitlyn Ray, who sent a single into left field. Ray reached second on a wild pitch ahead of a walk by Bunting. Ally Morales roped a single to right centerfield, scoring Ray from second, and two batters later Lauren Bowman sent a 3-run blast over the centerfield wall for the 6-2 Quaker lead.
The Quakers pounded out seven hits, highlighted by McNeill’s 2-for-3 outing from the plate that resulted in an RBI and a run. Bowman tallied the most RBI, three, after finishing 1-for-1 from the plate.
McNeill also had a solid performance on the mound, tossing a complete game where she surrendered just two runs on three hits. McNeill fanned four Yellow Jacket hitters along the way to her fourth win of the season.
GAME 2: Guilford 6, Randolph-Macon 4
Guilford carried over the offensive momentum from the first game into the early phases of the second, putting together a four-run first inning that came as a result of three hits. Emma Patterson opened with a single to left and two batters later Ally Morales drew the walk to put Patterson in scoring position.
Casey Bunting delivered an RBI double to centerfield and Alli Clemens blasted a 3-run home run over the centerfield wall to build a 4-0 lead for the Quakers.
Guilford picked up its fifth run in the third after Morales led off the frame with a double into centerfield. Grace Calus scored her teammate from third on a single through the left side of the infield.
Randolph-Macon got two of those runs back in the top of the fourth, trimming the lead to 5-2, but Guilford added its sixth run of the game in the home half of the fifth. It came when Morales kept the inning alive with a single to left. Bunting drew a walk and Emma Richardson singled back to the pitcher to load the bases. A fielding error at first allowed Morales to score the sixth run of the game for the Quakers.
The Yellow Jackets added two more runs in the top of the sixth, slicing the lead to 6-4.
After winning the first game in the circle for the Quakers, Katie McNeill picked up first save of the season in the second game after closing out the seventh due in large part to a pair of strikeouts. Abigayle Rowell (2-5) tossed six innings, allowed seven hits, four runs (one earned) and had two walks.
Morales, who finished 2-of-2 at the plate with three runs, along with Clemens (1-2, 3 RBI, run) led the way for Guilford at the plate.
Guilford makes the quick turnaround to the field and will host William Peace on Wednesday, April 14th in a doubleheader. The first game is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. and the second will follow approximately 30 minutes after completion of the first. For more information on Guilford softball check out www.guilfordquakers.com.