Guilford Softball Quakers Close Out Home Slate with Split Versus Roanoke

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford College softball team closed out the home portion of its 2021 schedule on Saturday, April 17th with a split against ODAC rival Roanoke. The Maroons won the first game in six innings by an 8-0 margin, but the Quakers retaliated with a 5-3 win in game two. Guilford ends the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 7-9 mark in ODAC play.

Roanoke 8, Guilford 0 (6 inn.)

Roanoke struck first in the game, assuming a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rebecca Hensley single to left centerfield to record the first hit, moving home when teammate Brooke Trapuzzano roped a hit to right field, past the diving defender, and motored home for an inside-the-park home run.

The Maroons moved the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on an infield miscue that allowed Shanan Hester to score from second on the play.

Roanoke added to its lead in the top of the fifth, leading off the inning with a single up the middle by Lauryn Chappell. Hensley grounded to the right side of the infield, getting Chappell at second, but managed to reach second shortly thereafter with a stolen base of her own. Trapuzzano put two runners on base for the Maroons with a single.

Rachel Sirbaugh brought Hensley home from third on a single through the left side of the infield, making for a 4-0 lead. A walk by Jada Karnes loaded the bases for Roanoke, which took advantage of an error at third that scored Trappuzzano for the 5-0 lead.

The Maroons capitalized on three hits and an error, stretching the lead to 8-0 in the process. A single to short by Chappell put the first runner of the inning on base for Roanoke. After Trapuzzano reached on a two-out error in left field, which moved Chappell to second, Shanan Hester delivered a double to right field for the 7-0 lead. Sirbaugh followed with a double to center, plating Hester, as Roanoke tallied its eighth run.

Guilford was responsible for seven hits in the game, including two each from Caitlyn Ray and Ally Morales, both of which had one double.

The top half of the Maroon lineup accounted for a bulk of its offense, coming through with seven hits, six RBI and seven runs. Trapuzzano (2-4, 2 RBI, 3 runs, HR), Hester (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double) and Sirbaugh (2-3, 2 RBI, double) made the biggest impact among the top half of the lineup. Chappell, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored also made her presence felt.

On the mound, Roanoke was led by Jada Karnes who tossed a complete game seven hitter in her ninth win of the season. Katie McNeill (5-4) took the loss for the Quakers after allowing nine hits, eight runs (four earned runs) and striking out four Roanoke hitters.

Guilford 5, Roanoke 3

In similar fashion to the first game of the afternoon, Roanoke jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning of game two. Brooke Trapuzzano sent a single up the middle and teammate Shanan Hester followed with a double to right to put runners at second and third. Rachel Sirbaugh kept the offense hot with a single to centerfield, scoring both Trapuzzano and Sirbaugh in the process.

Guilford answered with a run in the hold half of the first when Caitlyn Ray reached base on a single up the middle. Ally Morales followed with a base knock of her own, following by an RBI double to left centerfield by Casey Bunting. The Maroons ended the scoring threat with a double play in the infield.

After keeping the Maroons offense at bay, Guilford had its first multi-run inning of the day in the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits and a pair of Maroon errors. Emily Calus reached base on a fielder’s choice and an error allowed Casey Bunting to move to second. Two batters later, Alli Clemens reached on an error that loaded the bases for teammate Jessie Beck. Beck delivered a clutch three RBI double to centerfield, clearing the bases for the Quakers, who forged in front 4-2.

Roanoke trimmed the lead to one in the top of the sixth with a two-out home run over the centerfield wall by Kate Houle. Guilford got the run back in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on a pair of errors to manufacture the fifth run of the game on a grounder to third by Clemens, moving ahead 5-3 in the process.

Abigayle Rowell (4-5) capped off senior day festivities with her fourth win of the season after scattering eight runs and three hits over seven innings. The biggest bat in the Guilford lineup came from Jessie Beck, who finished 1-for-3 with three RBI. Casey Bunting and Alli Clemens also contributed one RBI for the Quakers.

Guilford will complete the season with two road series at Lynchburg (April 21st) and Randolph (April 24th). For more information on Quaker softball check out www.guilfordquakers.com.