Lynchburg, Va. -- The 15th-ranked University of Lynchburg softball team cruised to a sweep of No. 24 Randolph-Macon, winning 4-1 and 7-2, Saturday at home.

The Hornets' pitching staff got the job done all day long. Senior right-hander Taylor Belknap (Arden, N.C.) threw a four-hit gem in the opener, allowing just one unearned run to earn the victory. Junior right-hander Alex Cisar (Sykesville, Md.) followed in Game 2, scattering six hits and two earned runs for her team-best eighth win of the season.

Junior shortstop Kayla Hugate (Chesterfield, Va.) led the Lynchburg offense with a five-hit day in the leadoff spot, while senior first baseman Mackenzie Chitwood (Ferrum, Va.) drove in five runs.

THE RUNDOWN

Game 1 Final: No. 15 Lynchburg 4, No. 24 Randolph-Macon 1

Game 2 Final: No. 15 Lynchburg 7, No. 24 Randolph-Macon 2

Records: No. 15 Lynchburg (18-4, 3-1 ODAC), No. 24 Randolph-Macon (11-6, 1-3 ODAC)

Venue: Moon Field, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1

• Neither team broke through early as both Belknap and Yellow Jackets pitcher Candace Whittemore were dominant.

• The Hornets finally put up a crooked number in the third, when Chitwood blasted a three-run homer to center field, scoring Hugate and senior designated player Taylor Mabry (Bassett, Va.), to put Lynchburg up 3-0.

• Lynchburg tacked on its fourth run on Chitwood's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

• R-MC rallied for a run in the sixth on Whittemore's fielder's choice, but that's all the Yellow Jackets would get as Belknap nailed down the complete-game win.

Game 2

• The Yellow Jackets scored an early run in the first on Brittany LaPrade's RBI single, but Lynchburg responded for three in the bottom half. Sophomore center fielder Haylee Wood (Goode, Va.) brought two in with a double down the left-field line, and junior second baseman Sarah Commons (Glen Allen, Va.) knocked an RBI single as well.

• Lynchburg made the lead 5-1 in the second on freshman third baseman Olivia Herman's (Westminster, Md.) two-run single.

• A Cisar wild pitch made it 5-2 Hornets in the fourth, but Lynchburg added insurance in the fifth and sixth to lock down the win.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will return to non-conference action Sunday, March 24 with a doubleheader at William Peace in Raleigh, N.C. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.

--LYN--