The University of Mary Washington softball team split its 2019 season opener with visiting Randolph-Macon College, falling 7-4 in the opener and winning the second, 6-5, on the strength of a Rachel Porchie grand slam on Thursday afternoon.

Both teams gained opportunities to score in the opening three innings, but to no avail. In the fourth Randolph-Macon jumped ahead with three runs on a pair of hits, a pair of errors, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI groundout. But the Eagles answered with three in their half of the inning, as Becca Alley walked and was advanced on a sacrifice, and moved to third on a single from Caroline Bird. Alley scored on a sacrifice fly from Madi Marsden, and Hannah Bruns delivered an RBI single before Maggie Mrowka delived a run-producing double.

Randolph-Macon came back with three more scores in the fifth and added another in the seventh, before the Eagles gained one back in the bottom of the seventh. Mrowka and Danielle Newman each singled, and advanced as Dayla Sawyer walked to load the bases. Mrowka scored on an Alley fielder's choice.

Mrowka was 3-3 with a double, a walk, one run scored and an RBI to pace the offense, while Newman and Bird each added a pair of hits. Junior Jamie Purtell took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits in four innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. Megan Hibbs pitched three innings of relief, allowing one earned run on two hits with three walks.

In the nightcap, the Yellow Jackets jumped ahead with four runs in the first, but the Eagles responded with a pair in the bottom of the frame. Bruns led off with a single and advanced on a Mrowka walk. Alley walked to load the bases, and after two outs, one run scored on a wild pitch and another scored on a Mrowka single.

The Jackets added to their lead with a run in the second to extend their lead, but the deficit was erased on a grand slam from Porchie, and the Eagles kept the visitors off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Bruns led game two with three hits and two runs scored, while Marsden added two hits, with Porchie grand slam providing the key hit. Hibbs gained the win in relief, allowing two hits and one earned run in 6.1 innings, walking three and striking out two.

The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday when they host Shenandoah University at noon for a doubleheader.