Softball | 3/27/2014 9:22:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist softball lost a pair of games to visiting Randolph-Macon on Thursday afternoon at the newly-dedicated Price Softball Field. Game scores were 10-1 and 5-3, respectively, in favor of the Yellow Jackets.
 
In the opener, R-MC scored the first six runs of the contest, and tallied four more in its final turn to bat in the seventh as it won, 10-1.
 
During a three-run first inning, Randolph-Macon scored via run-scoring hits by Samantha Moore and later Amanda Sopko, and also tacked on an unearned run in between following a dropped flyball by Monarchs rightfielder Morgan Prince.
 
After MU tallied a run courtesy of a Savannah Upshaw RBI double in the sixth, the Yellow Jackets added some cushion to their 6-1 edge with four runs in the seventh. Jenna Best, Sopko, Jessica Matthews and Ashley Stauffer would each cross the plate in that frame.
 
Methodist finished game one with just four hits to its credit, and Upshaw's run-scoring double accounted for its lone offensive output. Jordan Pietrolaj (1-1) started in the pitcher's circle, and took the loss. In 6.0 innings of work, she allowed six runs (3 ER) on eight hits and one walk.
 
Christine Simon went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and scored twice. RMC pitcher Best (6-2) pitched a seven-inning complete game to earn the victory. She gave up one run on four hits and zero walks and struck out four. She also helped out her own cause as she batted 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored.
 
In game two, the Monarchs (8-21) turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 advantage as they put up a three-spot in the bottom of the fourth. Cayley Oldham and Prince hit back-to-back singles to open the frame, and Amanda Taylor, Hannah Fickle and Marcy McKee each drove in runs.
 
The Yellow Jackets (11-5), however, did not trail for long as they crossed the plate four times with two outs in the next half-inning to account for the final score of 5-3.
 
After Katie Woody popped out to start off the fifth, Madison Gilman was hit by a pitch, and Sharese Jarvis fouled out for the out number two. With Gilman on first, Sopko homered to left and tied the action up, 3-3. Best hit a two-out single, and proceeded to steal second. Stauffer drove in Best with an RBI double down the left field line for the tiebreaking run, and two batters later Simon batted home Stauffer with another run-scoring double.
 
In its last time to bat, Methodist had a two-out single by Upshaw in the bottom of the seventh, but Tanya Van Dyk popped out to shortstop for the day's final out.
 
Allyson Aycock was 2-for-3 for MU, which had eight base hits in all during the nightcap. Game two starter Brittany Miller (4-9) was tagged with the loss. She tossed 5.0 innings and surrendered five runs on 12 hits and one walk. She struck out one.
 
Simon batted 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBI for Randolph-Macon, and Sopko had two hits and a two-run home run along with a stolen base. Yellow Jackets pitcher Kelsey McLaughlin (5-3) went the distance for the complete game effort. She went 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and walked none. She struck out four.
 
Methodist will return to play on Saturday against Meredith. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm in Raleigh, N.C.