Story Courtesy UNC Greensboro sports information
UNC Greensboro 4, Kennesaw State 3
UNC Greensboro 9, Toledo 8
KENNESAW, GA ? UNC Greensboro scored three runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning for a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Kennesaw State in opening day action of the KSU Classic at the Bobbie Bailey Athletic Complex. Later in the afternoon, the Spartans once again rallied for a 9-8 victory over Toledo.
Trailing 3-1 against Kennesaw State heading to the last half of the seventh, freshman Lyndsay Mouse tied things up with a two-run single to right field with Mouse taking second on the throw in from the right fielder. After a strikeout, Heather Branche reached safely on an error by Owls reliever Andrea Moss, which brought Mouse around with the game-winning run. In the process, it gave first-year head coach Jennifer Herzig her initial victory at the helm of the Spartans.
KSU starter Lisa Lamb was cruising along until UNCG’s Gwen Johnson homered to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 3-1. In the seventh, Lamb allowed a one-out single to Jennifer Bonilla and Moss was summoned from the bullpen.
The Owls reliever fell victim to a bloop single to right by Johnson. A passed ball put both runners in scoring position before Mouse singled to right to tie the game at 3-3. Moss regrouped and struck out Kara Clouser for the second out. Branche then grounded a ball back to Moss in the circle that she could not field cleanly, booting the slow roller that allowed Mouse to score from second base with the winning run.
Keri McKee helped the Owls jump out to an early lead as she stroked a two-run home run over the right field fence in the first inning, giving the Owls a 2-0 lead. Kennesaw State (5-5) also added a run in the second inning and had a chance to crack the game wide open, but could not capitalize on a bases-loaded, nobody out situation.
Johnson went 2-for-2 with two runs scored for UNCG (2-7), while starter Hannah Angel (1-3) picked up her first collegiate victory by allowing three runs on eight hits and stuck out six batters.
The second game of the day proved to be just as exciting for the Spartans. UNCG trailed 8-6 heading to the seventh, but Johnson led off the top half of the inning with a triple and Kelly Allen knocked her in with a double. Lyndsey Wilson ran for Allen and scored the tying run four batters later on a two-out single by Mouse. Krista Judge immediately followed with an RBI infield single that scored Stephanie Talarek from third with what proved to be the winning run for the Spartans.
Toledo would not go quietly as the Rockets got their first two batters on, but Vanessa Oakes (1-2) worked out of the jam to garner her first win of the year. Oakes went the distance allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and struck out seven hitters.
Johnson drilled her second homer of the day in the third inning with a three-run shot that gave UNCG a 4-2 lead. Mouse smacked a solo homer in the fourth for a 5-2 lead, but four runs by the Rockets in the fourth and two more in the fifth gave Toledo its 8-6 lead.
Johnson was the hitting star for UNCG by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. The Spartans early season hitting woes were put aside for at least this game as Judge, Adriane Audley, Bonilla, Talarek and Mouse each had two hits.
Story Courtesy Chattanooga sports information
Chattanooga 8, Miami (Ohio) 0
UAB 3, Chattanooga 2
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Chattanooga had three home runs in an 8-0 win over Miami of Ohio in its first game of the Panera Bread Challenge at Frost Stadium Friday before falling to UAB 3-2 in extra innings in the nightcap.
Freshman Toni Hutchison hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the first to put the Lady Mocs up 3-0 on the Redhawks. Ashlan Clarkson led off the fourth with a single to left field then moved into scoring position stealing second. Ashley Cuticchia singled to second base then advanced to second on a throwing error allowing Clarkson to score.
In the bottom of the sixth with a four-run lead, Amanda Hoiness led off with a home run over the fence in left field to give UTC a 5-0 lead then with one out and two on base, Brittney Whittier hit a homer to left field to give the Lady Mocs the win with an 8-0 run-rule victory.
In the night cap for against Bowling Green State, the Lady Mocs tied it up in the bottom of the seventh. Hutchison led off with a single, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Clarkson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. With two outs, Robyn Johnson flew out to right field scoring Hoiness for the game-tying run.
In the eighth inning, the international tie-break rule was invoked and each team started the next two innings with a runner on second. Bowling Green put a pair of runs on the board with a double and a single to take a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Mocs started with Hutchison on second. She advanced to third on a passed ball. Two outs later, Johnson reached on a walk. Hoiness singled to left field scoring Hutchison to bring the Lady Mocs to within one at 3-2. Ashley Cuticchia singled to advance the runners, but Johnson tried to stretch it and was thrown out at home plate ending the game.
JayCee Wood improved to 4-2 on the year and struck out two in six innings of work. She allowed four hits but did not give up a single walk.
The Lady Mocs will host Virginia at 12:15 p.m. followed by Belmont at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.
In other games Friday, Miami of Ohio got past Virginia 9-7 at Frost and Maine outlasted Belmont 12-9. Bowling Green shutout Virginia 3-0 and Maine won its second game 6-4. UAB defeated East Tennessee State 13-3 and then shutout Belmont 8-0.
Story Courtesy Western Carolina sports information
Western Carolina 11, Drexel 10
CHARLOTTE, NC - Western Carolina plated seven runs in the top of the first inning, but needed a two RBI double by freshman Samm Keppel in the top of the seventh to knot the game nine to force extra innings. In the top of the eighth, sophomore Savannah Filley blasted a two-run home run then held the Dragons at bay to earn her first career victory as Western defeated Drexel, 11-10, on Friday afternoon at the Phillips Complex.
Western Carolina starting pitcher, defending Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week freshman Mendy McKenzie, threw the first four innings, allowing six runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits while striking out three. Lifted in the fifth for Filley, McKenzie received no decision on the afternoon. Filley scattered four runs, including one in the bottom of the eighth, on five hits with a strikeout to earn the win.
Freshman Allyson McCubbins led Western offensively, going 4-for-4 on the afternoon with a run scored and driven in. Freshman infielder Samm Keppel was 2-for-4 at the plate, but drove in three runs with two doubles and a stolen base, while McKenzie was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Western opened scoring in the top of the first after drawing three walks in the first four batters, putting McCubbins on first, Mollie Fowler on second, and defending SoCon Player of the Week, Lauren Ross, on first. Junior Ashley Adams reached first, scoring McCubbins for the game's first run, keeping the bases loaded. The next batter, McKenzie, helped her own cause with a single, riving in two runs. Freshman Jenny Jackson singled to left field, scoring Adams, and McKenzie was plated on a double by Keppel. Jackson and Keppel would also tally runs in the first giving WCU seven runs on four hits with one Dragon error in the opening frame.
Drexel answered in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on three hits, and then again in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to cut the Catamount lead to one, 7-6.
After holding Western scoreless for four innings, Drexel pulled ahead in the bottom of the fifth. Filley replaced McKenzie on the mound at the inning's outset, striking out the first batter she faced, but a dropped ball and an error on the ensuing throw to first put a runner at first. The tying run was sacrificed to second and advanced to third and later scored on back-to-back singles. Two additional runs were pushed across on an RBI double down the left field line to give the Dragons the 9-7 lead.
Down to its final three outs, Filley opened the top of the seventh inning with a walk and took advantage of a passed ball to move into scoring position at second. Jackson singled, putting runners on the corners as Filley moved to third. It was then that Keppel delivered the two-run double to tie the game at nine. WCU had a chance to go ahead before the inning concluded, as McCubbins singled to again put runners on the corners with one out, but a pop up and an unassisted ground out to first ended the Catamount threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, right fielder Jenny Jackson recorded all three outs, with a two out single sandwiched in between to force extra innings.
With international tiebreaking rules in effect, Fowler opened the inning at second base in the visitor half of the eighth. Ross grounded out to her counterpart at first unassisted and Adams struck out before Filley delivered a two-run blast to push WCU ahead, 11-9.
In the home half of the eighth, the Dragon runner on second scored on a one out single up the middle, but a pop-up to first and a fly out to left field ended the game, giving WCU its third-straight victory.
Story Courtesy College of Charleston sports information
College of Charleston 9, Dayton 1
Akron 4, College of Charleston 3
CHARLESTON, SC ? Jennifer Golden launched her fourth home run of the season to help the College of Charleston power past the Flyers of Dayton 9-1 in five innings at the 2006 Cougar Classic in softball action at Patriots Point.
With the win the Cougars even their record at 4-4 with Amber Havnar earning the win from the circle. Havnar improves to 2-1 on the season as she went four and two-thirds innings striking out four batters. CofC scored nine runs on eleven hits in the game.
Dayton, whose first game of the season was cancelled due to inclement weather, falls to 0-1 on the season. The Flyers scored one run on six hits committing one error on the day. Erin Lafayette was credited with the loss, her first of the season.
Amber Shifflett went two for four at the plate in her first collegiate start for Charleston with one run batted in. Jayme Durand was also two for four at the plate with an RBI and Golden was one four three on the day with three RBI’s.
Shannon Howard took a no-hitter into the fifth inning but a three-run sixth and one-run seventh allowed the Akron Zips to defeat the College of Charleston 4-3 in game five of the 2006 Cougar Classic.
The Cougars fall to 4-5 on the season with Howard being credited with the loss. She now stands at 2-4 on the season. The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow as CofC will play host to North Florida at 1 p.m. and Marshall at 3 p.m.
Charleston earned three runs on nine hits but two costly errors let Akron slip by. The Zips scored four runs on eight hits committing one error on the day.
Jayme Durand hit her first homerun of the season to go along with her three-for-four performance at the plate along with Amber Shifflett who was also three-for-four on the game.
Story Courtesy Appalachian State sports information
Appalachian State 10, North Carolina A&T 2
Charlotte 2, Appalachian State 1
CHARLOTTE, NC - Appalachian State University softball split on the opening day of the Holiday Inn First Pitch Classic hosted by Charlotte. The Mountaineers won the afternoon game versus North Carolina A&T, 10-2, in five innings but dropped the nightcap to Charlotte, 2-1.
Junior Lindsay Glover (Greensboro, N.C.) led the Apps at the plate, going 4-for-8 with three runs over the two games. Freshman pitcher Kayla Richardson (West Jefferson, N.C.) gave up four hits in five innings of work in the opener with two unearned runs. Junior Keri Blackwelder (Stanfield, N.C.) got the start versus Charlotte, pitching all six innings and giving up two runs on six hits. Blackwelder also drove in the Mountaineers’ lone run in the loss. The split moves ASU’s record to 1-7 on the season. North Carolina A&T and Charlotte stand at 3-1 and 2-4, respectively, entering the second day of the tournament.
Appalachian jumped out to a commanding lead versus North Carolina A&T in the 1 p.m. game, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning. The ASU rally was kept alive by two of the Aggies’ five errors on the afternoon. Freshman Brittany Gaston (Roswell, Ga.) also tripled in the inning to drive her sister, Ashley Gaston.
North Carolina A&T got a run in the bottom of the first inning when Chaola Simmons scored on a passed ball. The Aggies added another run in the third frame when Simmons scored on a Tabitha Veney double.
Appalachian added to its lead in the fourth inning with another run as Kari Davis (Cornelius, N.C.) managed to draw the bases-loaded walk to bring Diana Cook (Concord, N.C.) across the plate. The Mountaineers ended the game in the fifth inning, adding two runs to get the eight-run advantage needed to enact the mercy rule. Kasey Motsinger and Glover hit singles in the sixth to bring in ASU’s final runs of the game.
Appalachian had a season-high nine hits in the win with catcher Kristyn Hurt (Siler City, N.C.) leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance. Motsinger also had a multi-hit game with two to go along with her two RBIs. Brittany Gaston scored twice with two RBIs as well.
The Apps didn’t fare as well in the nightcap, falling to the host Charlotte, 2-1. The squad managed to get six hits off the 49ers, but left nine runners stranded in the loss. Glover went 3-for-4 from the plate and scored ASU’s lone run.
Charlotte got both its runs in the bottom of the third inning as Karianne Huffstetler opened the rally with a double to left field that was followed by Evan Miller’s triple to left center. Miller then scored via a single from the next batter, Lauren Schmitz to give Charlotte a 2-0 lead which would prove to be enough for the win.
Appalachian got on the board in the top of the fourth inning as Glover led off with a single and was advanced by Motsinger’s sacrifice bunt. A Cook single moved Glover to third and Blackwelder, the pitcher, helped her cause with an RBI single to left center. The Mountaineers couldn’t get another run across, despite having two runners in scoring position in the final three innings.
Story Courtesy Elon sports information
Elon 3, Ohio 2
Oakland 1, Elon 0
BURLINGTON, NC ? The Elon softball team finished 1-1 on the first day of the Elon University Invitational held at Burlington Springwood Park on Friday afternoon. Elon downed Ohio 3-2 in the first match up of the day before falling to Oakland 1-0.
Ohio got on the board first in the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded, Emily Futscher drew a walk to push Debbie Szalejko across home and give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
Elon earned all of its runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Paige Goss notched a walk with the bases loaded to score Brittney Waters and knot the game 1-1. With the bases still loaded, Debbie Zeigler singled up the middle to plate Goss and Nicole Ellis and give the Phoenix a 3-1 advantage.
Ohio (4-4) put another run up in the top of the seventh. Kelly Rodriguez scored on a ground out by Maghan Lundsford to cut the lead to one at 3-2. But Elon retired the next two batters to take the victory.
Whitney Meeks (3-0) picked up the win for Elon after throwing four innings in relief and giving up one run on two hits and striking out four batters. Samantha Schroeder started the game for the Phoenix and tossed three innings, giving up one run on five hits.
Candace Warden suffered the loss for the Bobcats after hurling four innings and giving up three runs on three hits and striking out five. Zoe Heim tossed two innings in relief and gave up no runs on one hit.
Zeigler led the Phoenix from the plate, going two-for-three with two RBI. Goss and Patti Weber also recorded hits for Elon. Alicia Catlette led the Ohio offense, going two-for-two while Szalejko also posted two hits.
The Elon-Oakland game was a defensive battle with three total hits and neither team recording a hit until the fourth inning. The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when the Golden Grizzlies put the winning run on the board.
Camie Knorr led off the inning and reached first base on an error before Stephanie Zellner put down a sacrifice bunt to move her to second base. With one out, pitcher Laura Chomokos tripled to right centerfield to score Knorr and give Oakland the 1-0 edge. Oakland (2-0) recorded three straight outs in the bottom of the inning to earn the win.
Chomokos earned the win for the Golden Grizzlies going all seven innings and giving up no runs on just one hit while retiring six batters. Carol Lilley (0-2) suffered the loss for Elon (5-2) after tossing a complete game and giving up one run on two hits while striking out eight batters.