The EMU softball salvaged a key ODAC split on Sunday, winning the nightcap against Randolph-Macon in walk-off fashion.  The win puts the Royals at 6-9-1 in conference play, just a half game out of the final playoff spot heading into the final week of the regular season.

Randolph-Macon 11, EMU 1 – 5 innings
After a scoreless first, the Yellow Jackets took over quickly by scoring twice in the second.  Mariah Foltz (Broadway, Va./Broadway) had a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame, and she eventually scored on an infield hit from Nicolette Cuevas (Suffolk, Va./King's Fork).

But R-MC broke open a close game with six runs in the fourth and the Royals struggled to string together their offense.  The visitors added two more in the fifth for the final margin.

EMU had six hits in the game, but no player had more than one.  Jordan Aylor (Madison, Va./Madison County) started in the circle and was touched up for seven earned runs in 4.2 innings.  Senior Molly Smith (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) also gave up three runs in 0.1 innings.

EMU 6, Randolph-Macon 5
The Royals didn't get their first hit in the nightcap until a leadoff single in the fourth from Brooke Sigrist (Crimora, Va./Fort Defiance).  By then the visitors already had a 5-0 lead.  But that's also when the tide of game turned.

Foltz, who was pitching, allowed only two base runners over the final three innings, and the Royals got things rolling in the sixth.  Sigrist again led off with a single, and with two outs, Foltz shot an RBI double to score the Royals' first run.  Aislinn Lucas (Grottoes, Va./Fort Defiance) followed with a two-run single, as EMU trimmed the deficit to 5-3.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, the women rallied again.  After back-to-back singles, R-MC's shortstop committed an early to load the bases.  Smith put a clutch single through the left side of the infield and two runs scored to tie the game at 5-5.  The Yellow Jackets intentionally walked fellow senior Brooke Hensley (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) to set up the force out at home with just one out.  Foltz then hit a ground ball to first, but the throw home was off target and sailed to the backstop as Aylor came in to score the winning run.

Sigrist had three of EMU's nine hits while Smith finished 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.  Foltz had a hit, run and RBI, while Lucas had two RBIs with her one hit.

Foltz also went the distance in the circle and improved to 4-1 with the win.  She struck out seven while only three of R-MC's runs were earned.

The important win snapped a four-game losing skid and leaves Eastern Mennonite at 13-16-1 overall and 6-9-1 in the ODAC.  With just four road games left in conference play over the coming week, the Royals sit behind Guilford (7-9) in a battle for the final playoff spot.

EMU plays ODAC twinbills at Roanoke on Tuesday and Sweet Briar on Saturday.  They also have a non-conference date at Southern Virginia on Thursday.

Senior Recognition
Before the games, Eastern Mennonite honored their two seniors: Brooke Hensley and Molly Smith.  The two have played softball together as children, in high school and now at EMU.  Both have won multiple All-ODAC awards and both are leaving imprints on the EMU record books.

At shortstop, Hensley holds EMU records with 348 career assists, 125 career singles and 40 singles in a season, and is tied for a record with 178 career hits.  Smith is just behind her teammate with 176 career hits and 124 singles.  Her 37 career doubles are just two away from EMU's record.