ASHLAND, Va. – Junior
Liz Cowell (Verona, N.J./Mount Saint Dominic) notched the game-winning RBI to lift the Gettysburg College softball team past 10th-ranked Randolph-Macon College 5-4 in game one (eight innings) on Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets took game two from the Bullets by the final score of 3-1.
The last time the Bullets have won against a top-10 team was back in 2010 as they took down No. 5 Messiah College 11-0 in five innings at Bobby Jones Field. Gettysburg (3-1) also downed Randolph-Macon (4-2) when they were ranked No. 17 back in 2017, winning 9-6 in the nightcap in Ashland, Va.
A fast start by the Bullets in game one put them ahead 3-0 after the first inning. Lead-off hitter junior
Sarahrose Jonik (Glenmoore, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) opened the inning with a triple to right field. As the third batter in the lineup, sophomore
Shelby Baker (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) singled through the right side to bring Jonik home for the first tally. With two outs in the inning, sophomore
Emily Colline (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata) came up to the plate to blast a two-run homer, her third-straight of the season.
Randolph-Macon posted a run in the bottom of the third and picked up a pair in the fourth to tie the game at three-all. Casey Abernethy scored off of Maddie Stone's RBI single bunt. Stone then stole home to close out the bottom of the fourth.
The fifth inning resulted in a three-up, three-down for both teams.
The hosts took over the lead in the sixth as Brittany LaPrade singled to center field allowing Savannah Wood to score.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, an RBI single by junior
Rachel Julie (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) tied the game at 4 apiece.
The Bullets defense stopped the Yellow Jackets from scoring in the bottom of the seventh with three quick outs, extending the game into the eighth inning.
Cowell produced the game-winning RBI as she singled to right field in the top of the eighth to push the Bullets past the Yellow Jackets.
Cowell went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run, RBI, and a double. Baker also collected two hits, one run, and an RBI, while Colline accumulated two RBIs, a hit, run, and homer. Senior
Morgan Clauser (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington) posted four strikeouts in eight innings to register her second win from the circle.
Randolph-Macon recorded its first and second run in the bottom of the first and fifth inning, respectively to hold the 2-0 advantage in game two.
Jonik pounded a solo dinger in the top of the sixth to score the lone run for the Bullets.
The Yellow Jackets added on another run in the bottom of the sixth when Sam Scifres recorded an RBI single.
Gettysburg was unable to make the comeback as three straight outs in the top of the seventh inning concluded game two.
Jonok knotted the only hit for the Bullets. Freshman
Skylar Spinner (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern) was hit with the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings.
Gettysburg starts its spring break trip with eight games at The Spring Games in Winter Haven, Fla. The Bullets open the week against Suffolk University and Eastern Connecticut State University on Sunday, March 10 at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
