The Roanoke College softball team gave undefeated Virginia Wesleyan all they could handle on Friday, but dropped two close games to the Marlins in a doubleheader at the James I. Moyer Complex in Salem. Wesleyan won 1-0 and 3-1 to improve to 25-0 on the season.
In the opener Virginia Wesleyan scored the only run of the game in the sixth inning. Kiersten Richards walked with one out in the top of the sixth and was moved the second on a single from Madison Glaubk, then a fielders choice moved her to third. A single up the middle from Katelyn Biando brought in Richards to make it a 1-0 game.
In the bottom of the seventh RC’s Anna Clowdis led off the inning with a single to center field. Ruthie Williams then singled on a bunt to put runners on first and second with no outs, but Hanna Hull retired the next three batters to keep Roanoke scoreless and secure the win.
Emily Salsberry allowed only five hits and one run in a complete game performance for the Maroons, Hull allowed only three hits while striking out 16.
In the second game a three-run sixth inning lifted the Marlins to a 3-1 win. RC had an early lead when Taylor Carter led off the bottom of the first with a single to center, then stole second. With two outs, Ruthie Williams singled to right to score Carter and give Roanoke an early 1-0 lead.
After four scoreless innings, Wesleyan’s Beth Ford reached on a dropped third strike to start off the top of the sixth. The Marlins then used two walks and a two-RBI single from Jes Lindsay to take a 3-1 edge. Hull kept the Maroons off the bases in the final two innings to take the win and move to 17-0 on the mound.
Teresa Wagner (6-4) was tabbed with the loss, giving up just three runs off four hits in 5.2 innings before giving way to Courtney Oliver, who didn’t allow a hit in the final 1.1 innings. Williams was 2-for-3 with one RBI and Carter was 2-for-3 with one run scored.
The losses dropped RC to 16-12 overall and 3-3 in the ODAC for fourth place. The Maroons were scheduled to play two at Bridgewater Wednesday, but results were too late for publication.
This Saturday RC is at Shenandoah for games at 1 and 3 pm.