#16 Randolph-Macon - 2, Farmingdale State - 1

Ashland, Va. - The Farmingdale State softball team fell to host-school and #16 Nationally ranked Randolph-Macon, 2-1, in their opening game at the 2022 NCAA Regionals on Friday afternoon.

The Yellow Jackets (33-9) got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore center fielder Olivia Owens (Salisbury, Md.) hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI single from junior designated player Natalie Robinson (Woodbridge, Va.).

In the top of the third, FSC (29-4) senior shortstop Julianna Prescia (Oakdale, N.Y.) led off with a single and moved to second on an error. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, Prescia was thrown out trying to score on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat.

Following a 1-2-3 bottom half of the third, senior catcher Lyndsey Shaw (Sayville, N.Y.) hit a single before senior center fielder Priscilla Rivera (Brentwood, N.Y.) recorded a bunt single and advanced on an error to set up second and third with no outs.

After a line out to left field, junior first baseman Brooke Walker (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) notched an RBI single to center to bring in Shaw and tie the score at 1-1. Randolph-Macon freshman pitcher Gracie Ellis (New Kent, Va.) limited the damage by forcing the next two batters to ground out.

The Yellow Jackets regained the lead, 2-1, on a two-out RBI double from senior catcher Sami Davidson (Stafford, Va.) in the bottom of the fourth.

The game remained 2-1 heading into the seventh inning and Walker notched a leadoff single. Ellis would record a strike out before a wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed Walker to move to second base. After a ground out moved Walker to third base, Ellis forced the final batter to pop out to end the game.

Farmingdale State freshman pitcher Ava Shorr (North Babylon, N.Y.) (L, 13-2) suffered just her second loss of the season, throwing a complete game and allowing just seven hits and two earned runs.

Walker recorded a pair of singles and an RBI, while Shaw and Prescia had one hit apiece for the Rams.

Ellis (W, 20-5) earned the win for Randolph-Macon, tossing a complete game with seven strike outs. 

The Rams will now play #21 Susquehanna University in an elimination game tomorrow, Saturday, May 14th at 12:30 p.m. Randolph-Macon and Massachusetts Institute of Technology will square off in the winner's bracket starting at 10 a.m. (Note: revised start times) 

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