Softball splits with visiting Roanoke College

Irvine went 3-8 with two runs scored on the afternoon

Lynchburg, VA -- Down 3-1 heading into the last half of the seventh inning, Teresa Dalton picked a great time to cash in on her first collegiate home run. Dalton belted a three-run walk-off home run with two outs to lift Randolph College over Roanoke College 5-3 in game one of the ODAC doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Maroons answered back with a game two win, 6-2.

With the split Randolph improves to 17-9 overall and 7-7 in ODAC play. Roanoke sees its overall mark reach 18-8 and 8-6 in conference games.

Dalton's heroics were not only with the bat, as the first-year pitcher went all seven innings on the mound in game one to secure the win. She fanned eight Maroons, allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Roanoke jumped out to a 2-1 lead after three innings, and added one more run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 3-1. In the WildCats last at-bats, Brittany Irvine got things rolling with a single, followed by a single from Sarah Montgomery. After a strikeout and fielder's choice, Dalton stepped to the plate where she would clear the centerfield fence. Montgomery and Lindsay Cross went 2-4 each in the win.

In game two, Roanoke would score one run in the opening inning after a sacrifice fly from Felice Lowery. Randolph would respond in the bottom half of the inning when Cross bunted home Irvine in a squeeze play. In the third inning, after singles from Irvine and Montgomery, Cross came through in the clutch yet again with an RBI single scoring Irvine. Another sacrifice fly for the Maroons in the top of the fourth tied the game at 2-2. Roanoke would then explode for four runs in the seventh inning on four hits, including a lead-off triple by Kelsey Ruitenberg. Randolph would try to rally yet again, but a fly out and two ground outs would end any type of WildCats comeback.

Cross went 4-4 in game two with two RBI. Dalton and Irvine each added two hits. Dalton picked-up the loss in the circle going seven innings allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Janie Holmes recorded the win for Roanoke going all seven innings allowing 10 hits and two earned runs.

Randolph will return to action Wednesday when they welcome Guilford College for an ODAC doubleheader scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director