ASHLAND, Va. - Today marked day one of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament, hosted by Randolph-Macon College at Carol Estes Park. The sixth-seeded Guilford College softball team ended up needing to play two games, the first against third-seeded Roanoke College, and the second later determined to be seventh-seeded Averett University. Falling in the first, 10-0, the Quakers kept their season alive beating Averett 4-0, securing a spot in day two of the series.
As a result of today's matches, Averett is eliminated from the tournament. For the Quakers, their record becomes 19-23 and today's split keeps Guilford's campaign alive, giving them a chance at redemption. Tomorrow, Guilford will play the loser of the Roanoke vs. Randolph Macon matchup in hopes to make it to the final later that day.
Two pitchers took to the mound in game one against the Maroons. First,
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) took the circle, and while she threw for just 1.2 innings, allowing nine hits, she did not get any help as Roanoke got ten runs with just three of them earned. Gray was given the pitching loss, her record falling to 9-7. Needing a change,
Taylor Mitchell (St. Albans, Vt.) went to the game. She threw for the remaining 2.1 innings and struck out one, before the match was through.
Guilford's offense struggled in the first contest, getting no hits or runs. On the other hand, Roanoke was on fire from an early lead.
In game two, Gray again took up the mitt for the entire seven innings. This time around, her performance was more like what we have seen all season, as she took the pitching win, her record improved to 10-7. Upon three hits for Averett, no runs were scored, and she struck out two.
Like night and day from today's first game, Guilford offense got ten hits against the Cougars in game two, resulting in four runs. The final score stood in Guilford's favor, 4-0.
GAME 1
The contest against Roanoke College did not go as Guilford had hoped. Coming into this tournament, the Quakers knew they were the underdogs against the opposing Maroons. During the regular season, Guilford fell in both matches against this conference competitor. Additionally, in last year's ODAC Tournament, Guilford was sent home in the Championship match, also played against Roanoke. All this being said, there is definitely some built-up determination and resentment when facing this team.
Roanoke secured a massive early advantage, three runs in the first inning and seven runs in the second, all of them unearned in the latter inning. This put the Maroons ahead 10-0, a score which became final when the game ended after the fifth inning due to the run-rule.
GAME 2
Due to the double elimination nature of this tournament, and changes due to impending weather, Guilford still had one more match to play on today's slate, this time around Averett University.
The Quakers scored the first run of the contest in the second inning. At multiple moments did Guilford have a runner on third base, with both Gray and
Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) being unable to cross the plate. However, the player that struck was
Faith Fennell (Buena Park, Calif.) who eventually made it to third, and then all the way home after a walk by
Kassidy Lancos (Irvine, Calif.), though unearned.
Grace Calus (Creedmoor, N.C.) had a big opening in the third inning.The first batter of the frame, she reached first on a fielding error by Averett's second baseman. Calus then proceeded to steal second base, then third, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher, extending the score to 2-0.
Still in the third inning, the next run was scored by
Nicole Gumula (Wellington, Fla.) who was pinch-running for
Morgan Kinney (Browns Summit, N.C.), after Johnson grounded out to the second baseman. Following this, Fennell doubled down the right field line, bringing home Gray. The Cougars never got on the board and the Quakers claimed victory, 4-0.
Due to the success in game two, the Quakers remain in the ODAC tournament for another day. Saturday, May 4, Guilford will play the loser of the Roanoke vs. Randolph-Macon match at 2:30 p.m. ET. Winning that match would put Guilford in the Championship Final, taking place the same day, at 5 p.m. ET.
