The Facts:
Scores: Roanoke 3, Muskingum 1, Muskingum 4, Roanoke 1
Location: Bethlehem, Pa. (Blue & Grey Field)

The Short story: After three-straight elimination game victories, the Roanoke College softball team was knocked out of the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament by Muskingum University Saturday in a regional held at Moravian University.

After falling in their first game Thursday in the four-team, double-elimination regional, the Maroons knocked out Penn College Friday 8-0 in five innings and followed with a 3-1 win over Moravian to eliminate the host school. RC won the first game Saturday 3-1 over Muskingum but the Muskies rallied to take the second game 4-1, win the regional title, and advance in the NCAA tournament.

How it happened (Game 1):
*Eliana Shaheen doubled to score a run to put the Muskies ahead 1-0 in the second inning.
*Roanoke left the bases loaded in the first, stranded two runners on in the third, and left a single runner on in the fourth before finally breaking through in the fifth. Adriana Rivera led off with a walk and Kate Houle singled to put runners at first and second with no outs. Senior Lilly Burns crushed a three-run home run to left center to give the Maroons all the offense they would need.
*The Muskies had a runner thrown out at home with two outs in the seventh to end the game.  

Inside the numbers (Game 1):
*Rivera had two hits and Jordyn DiFava and Madison Courts each had a hit and were hit by a pitch.
*Baylee Compton tossed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win, allowing just four hits and no walks with six strikeouts.   

How it happened (Game 2):
*After two outs were recorded in the top of the first, pitcher Tareyn Born homered to put MU ahead 1-0. Bethany Rodman hit a three-run long ball later in the inning to give Muskingum a 4-0 cushion.
*Burns hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring home Rivera.

Inside the numbers (Game 2):
*Freshman Grace Clary was brilliant in relief, giving up only one hit and no walks with five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. She finishes her first NCAA Tournament with 11 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 SO in two games out of the bullpen.
*Born kept the Maroons offense in check for most of the game in the circle, allowing just two hits, four walks and one unearned run.

Roanoke All-Tournament Team Members:
Lilly Burns
Baylee Compton
Kate Houle
Heather McQueeney

Roundup:
The Maroons finish the 2024 season with a 33-16 record, the most wins for the program since the 2012 campaign (35-11). Roanoke took second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament and second in the Moravian Regional, winning seven tournament games combined.