Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)

The Eastern Mennonite University softball team gave their senior class recognition between games and then a conference sweep following game two as the Lady Royals defeated Randolph-Macon 2-1, and 9-1 on Sunday, April 13.

EMU is now tied with Roanoke College, pending results from today, in third place in the Old Dominion Atheltic Conference as the Lady Royals have one final home series to play on Thursday, April 17, at 2:30 p.m., against the Wasps of Emory & Henry.

With the series sweep, EMU improves to 26-11 overall and 11-5 in the ODAC while Randolph-Macon falls to 19-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

Senior pitcher Natasha Viafora (Stanley, Va./Page Co.) did her damage from the plate and in the circle as she held the Yellow Jackets to one run on five hits through seven innings, while going 2-for-3 from the plate in game one.

Randolph-Macon scored their only run of the game in the fifth inning as Carrie Barchick drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. The Yellow Jackets had threatened to score back in the third inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Viafora was able to get the final out of the inning on a fly out to end the threat.

Game one starting pitcher Courtney Brooks proved to be just as difficult for the Lady Royal hitters to handle as Viafora was for RMC. Brooks held the Lady Royals scoreless through the first five innings before EMU was able to break through and tie the game at one as sophomore Brittany Caricofe (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) had an RBI ground out, scoring Mandee Madden (Winchester, Va./John Handley).

EMU clinched the game in the next inning as freshman first baseman Jessica Sullivan (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) reached on a single up the middle to lead off the seventh. Allison Painter (Steeles Tavern, Va./Riverheads), pinch running for Sullivan, advanced to second on a stolen base and then came into score on a double by Viafora.

Viafora, who was tied with teammate Jamie Fraysher (Waterford, Va./Loudoun Valley) for first place on the EMU career wins list, now holds the record with 33 following the win today.

In game two, the Lady Royals were again led by a strong effort in the circle as sophomore Nicole Wade (Madison Heights, Va./Liberty Christian) went five innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with two walks and five strike outs. Wade is now tied with Viafora for the team lead in wins with eight.

EMU scored early and often as the Lady Royals went up 7-0 after four innings. Caricofe, who along with freshman Jessica Sullivan (Crimora, Va./Wilson Memorial) made several key defensive outs in the outfield in game one, followed up that performance with a 3-for-4 day at the plate in game two, including two runs scored and a team high four RBIs.

Blosser was 1-for-4 with two runs scored while Sullivan had three RBIs in the game.

Senior catcher Miranda White (Verona, Va./Fort Defiance) went 2-for-3, scoring a run while driving in two more.

EMU was able to close out the sweep in the bottom of the fifth inning as senior outfielder Anna Coleman (Fairfield, Va./Rockbridge) got things started with one out as she singled up the middle. Madden reached on a throwing error, pushing Coleman to second. Following a ground out, Caricofe drove them both in with a single through the right-side, delivering a 9-1 win for the home team.

Madden scored a pair of runs in game two while Coleman finished the game 1-for-1 with a run scored.