The Facts:
Scores: Â Roanoke 9, Virginia Wesleyan 4, Va. Wesleyan 4, Roanoke 1
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
The Short story: The Roanoke College softball team was just five outs shy of capturing its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title in 12 seasons Saturday, but top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University rallied to defeat the Maroons 4-1 in the championship game of the conference finals.
Roanoke forced a third and deciding game with a rally of its own in the first game of the day. Trailing 4-0 in the fifth inning, RC plated nine unanswered runs to upend the eighth-ranked team in NCAA Division III. VWU won the opening game of the series 6-3 on Friday.
How it happened (Game 1):
*The Marlins scored two runs each in the second and third frames to forge a 4-0 lead.
*The Roanoke offense came to life in the fifth inning, scoring four times with two outs.
Kate Houle delivered a two-run single,
Madison Courts brought a run in with a double and
Lauren Hoffman tied the game with an infield hit.
*After Roanoke loaded the base with one out in the sixth, Houle gave Roanoke a 5-4 lead with a single.
Lilly Burns cleared the bases with a double to right center and the Maroons added an insurance run in the seventh off a wild pitch.
Inside the numbers (Game 1):
*Junior
Lindsay Gedro threw 4 2/3 innings of relief for the win, giving up just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
*Houle was 3-5 with three RBI and two runs.
*Burns finished 2-3 with a walk and
Leah Butts had a hit and a walk. Â
How it happened (Game 2):
*Gedro picked up where she left off in the second game, holding the Marlins scoreless through the first five innings.
*Butts tripled to right field to open the third inning and scored one out later on a wild pitch.
*The 1-0 lead held up until the sixth, when the Marlins finally got to Gedro after 10 scoreless innings combined. VWU's Julia Piotrowski hit a two-run homer to center field and the Marlins tackled on two runs later in the frame with a single and a steal of home.
Inside the numbers (Game 2):
*Hoffman had a hit and a walk.
*Piotrowski pulled double duty for VWU (35-8), tossing a complete game five hitter with one walk and three strikeouts to earn the win.
All-Tournament Team:
Roanoke:
Madison Courts
Roanoke:
Kate Houle
Roanoke:
Maggie McCray
Up Next:
*The 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Selection Show will air Monday, May 13 at 11 a.m. ET on NCAA.com, the Maroons (30-14) hope to see their name called to join the tournament field for the third-straight season.
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