RANDOLPH BLANKS SOFTBALL, 6-0

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Emmanuel College softball team dropped a 6-0 decision to Randolph College Monday afternoon on Day 2 action of the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic. With the win, Randolph improves to 8-5 on the year while the loss drops the Saints to 1-1 overall.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, plating a pair in the top of the first inning. Freshman Hunter Glave got things started things off with a two-out walk and senior Brittney Via (Charlottesville, Va.) followed it up with a walk to put runners at first and second for freshman Tristan Hartle (Greencastle, Pa.). Hartle laced a ball down the first base line that deflected off EC freshman first baseman Susie Kieselback's (Wethersfield, Conn.) glove, plating Glave to make it 1-0 while Via advanced to third. Sophomore Hannah Cook (Yorktown, Va.) blooped an infield single to the left side to drive in Via to account for the 2-0 score.

Following a three pitch inning by Randolph freshman pitcher Haley Christensen (Fredrick, Md.) to retire the Saints in the bottom of the third, the Wildcats loaded the bases with singles by Cook, senior Alexis Arnett (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior Haleigh Wilson (Stuart, Va.).  Next up, junior pinch hitter Patti Vinson (Williamsburg, Va.) delivered with a shot into right field to drive in Cook to make it 3-0. A great heads up play by the Saints helped them escape down just three as freshman third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) came up with a heads up play at third to cut down the lead runner and then tag the trail runner for a double play to get out of the inning.

The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the fifth to open things up to a 6-0 lead. A two-RBI single by sophomore Ashton Ewers (Gladys, Va.) made it 5-0 before a Wilson RBI single to left made it 6-0. All three runs were unearned due to a Saints fielding error in the frame.

Christensen was relieved after five innings of work by freshman Ashley Dudding (New Castle, Va.). The rookie came on to work the final two innings to preserve the win for Randolph. Christensen allowed just three hits to go along with two strikeouts while Dudding was perfect in relief.

For the Saints, the three hits came from senior designated player Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.), freshman left fielder Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) and sophomore second baseman Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.).

The Saints return to action this afternoon when they face Penn. State Altoona while the Wildcats return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon vs. Blackburn at 1:00 PM.