Story Courtesy Chattanooga sports information
Georgia Tech 11-7, Chattanooga 7-6
ATLANTA, GA - Georgia Tech swept the Lady Mocs with an 11-7 win in game one and a walk-off home run from Hosier to win game two 7-6. Whitney Haller tallied three homeruns in the two games to set a Georgia Tech record with 17 dingers this season.
Ashlan Clarkson and Toni Hutchison each hit homeruns in the sixth inning to tie the game 6-6. Clarkson’s two-run shot came with one out in the inning. Ashleigh Bull led off the inning with a single and scored on the left field blast. Alyssa Edwards singled up the middle and starting pitcher L. Richardson was lifted in favor of Sarah Wood.
Hutchison took Wood yard to tie the game 6-6 on a two-run blast. The Lady Mocs held the Jackets in the bottom of the seventh and Tara Tembey hit a double off the top of the fence in left field to get into scoring position. Wood was then pulled in favor of Humphreys who was on crutches at the start of the game. She got the next two out to end the Chattanooga threat.
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In the home half of the seventh, Hosier led off with a solo homerun to claim the win 7-6 for Georgia Tech. The Lady Jackets move to 32-12 on the year and Chattanooga falls to 22-26 overall.
Hutchison went 2-for-3 in the game with a homerun and three RBI. Clarkson was 1-of-3 with a homerun and two RBI. Edwards went 2-for-3 and Tembey and each tallied a hit in the game.
In game one, Chattanooga’s four-run sixth inning rally fell short and the Yellow Jackets won 11-7. The Lady Mocs hit two homeruns and scored four runs in the sixth to make it 8-7 in favor of Georgia Tech. The Jackets put three insurance runs on the board in the bottom of the inning for the 11-7 win.
Tembey led off the sixth with a double and Bull followed that with her team-leading eighth homerun of the year to make it 8-5. Georgia Tech got the next two batters out, but gave up a single to Edwards. Hutchison homered over the fence in right field to bring the Lady Mocs to within one at 8-7. Laci Upchurch singled to centerfield, but the rally fell short on a ground out by Jeannie Cochran to end the inning.
Georgia Tech got on the board in the first inning with a three-run shot off the bat of Whitney Haller to make it 3-0 on one hit. In the third, with one out, C. Sheridan walked then advanced to second on a passed ball. She then advanced to third on a groundout to second then scored on a wild pitch from Ashley Frizzell. S. Brown doubled to right center then scored on a triple from Hosier to make it 5-0.
In the fourth Ashley Cuticchia and Tembey reached on singles and Bull was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brittney Whittier grounded into a double play to the shortstop and Cuticchia scored from third for UTC’s first run. Chattanooga put a pair of runs on the board in the fifth to make it 5-3. Edwards doubled to lead off the inning and Upchurch hit her second career homerun to pull to within two of the Jackets. In the bottom of the inning, the Jackets scored three more runs on three hits to spread its lead to 8-3.
The Lady Mocs pulled to within one at 8-7 and Tech put three insurance runs on the board to get the win. Haller tied Georgia Tech’s single game record for RBI with six. Tied school record for runs scored in a single season (46) and set the single-season school record for homeruns with her 16th.
Story Courtesy Furman sports information
Furman 6-5, Winthrop 5-1
GREENVILLE, SC - Blake Murray registered two wins in relief and Jessica Mathis collected four hits to lead the Furman Lady Paladins to a 6-5, 5-1 doubleheader sweep of Winthrop in non-conference softball action Wednesday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Trailing 5-3 with two outs and two on in the bottom of the 10th in game one, Murray hit an apparent game-ending groundball to shortstop. The bouncer skipped between the legs of Stephanie Reid and rolled to the wall allowing two runs to score. Mathis followed with an RBI single to right-center to plate Murray for the game-winning run.
Winthrop took an early 1-0 lead on Reid's RBI double to right-center. Furman responded with a two-run, two-out triple to right-center field off of the bat of Amber Nelsen in the bottom half of the frame to take a 2-1 advantage.
After trading runs in the third inning, Lauren Blaser scored an unearned run on a fielder's choice to knot the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning. The Lady Paladins and Eagles combined to strand 13 runners before Winthrop broke through with two runs in the top of the 10th. Reid was placed on second to start the inning and Hilary Peacock singled to give the Eagles runners at first and third. Following a groundout to move Peacock to second, Lindsey Merriman singled through the left side to drive in two runs.
Murray (4-8) worked four innings of relief allowing one earned run on three hits to garner the victory. The sophomore recorded three strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Mathis and Amber Kiser each went 2-for-5 while Nelsen notched to RBI.
Shahna Ashard (11-6) took the loss surrendering six runs on eight hits and seven walks in 9.2 innings in the circle. Merriman led the Eagles going 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Joni Lockridge belted a two-run homer in the third and Murray limited the Eagles to one run on six hits in four innings of work. Furman upped its lead to 4-0 with two RBI singles in the fifth and added an insurance run on Mathis' RBI single in the sixth.
Winthrop scored its lone run on Laura Hill's single in the top of the sixth. Starter Julie Harvey absorbed the loss for Winthrop. Harvey (9-11) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings of work. Nesselroad received a no decision after tossing three scoreless innings as the Furman starter.
Lockridge finished 2-for-3 with three RBI while Megan Jaudon and Mathis recorded two safeties. Reid and Peacock notched two hits for the Eagles.
Story Courtesy UNC Greensboro sports information
Charlotte 5-4, UNC Greensboro 0-2
CHARLOTTE, NC ? The UNC Greensboro softball team was swept by in-state foe Charlotte in a doubleheader on Wednesday at the D.L. Phillips Softball Complex. In game one, the pitching of Charlotte’s Kristen Bowen and Kristi Killough’s home run blanked UNCG, 5-0. In the nightcap, the 49ers’ Evan Miller had three hits and two RBIs from Cee Brooks defeated the Spartans, 4-2.
The 49ers scored two runs in the first inning of game one on Killough’s two-run blast over the right field wall. Killough’s home run was her ninth of the season tying the school single-season home run record.
Then, in the third inning, the 49ers tacked on another run on Becky Matthews’ run-scoring single to right field. Charlotte rounded out the scoring with two runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Jenny Rumbles scored the inning’s first run on Karianne Huffstetler’s sacrifice fly to center field. Then, Miller scored the game’s final run on Lauren Schmitz’s single up the middle.
Bowen allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts to improve her record to 17-2 on the season.
UNCG’s Vanessa Oakes (8-7) gave up five runs on a season-high 12 hits and had four strikeouts. The Spartans offense featured singles by Jennifer Bonilla, Kelly Allen and Heather Branche.
In game two, Charlotte (28-7) scored a run in each of the first two innings, before UNCG (15-21) tied the score in the third inning. Allen, the senior from nearby Harrisburg, NC, connected on a two-run double to centerfield to square the game 2-2.
The lead was short lived though as Charlotte regained the lead for good with two runs on two hits in the third inning. Brooks provided the big hit with a two-run single to center.
Christy Murray (8-4) recorded the win after allowing nine hits and two runs with six strikeouts over five innings. Jamie Wellons only allowed one hit over two scoreless innings of relief to pick up her second save of the season.
Hannah Angel (5-10) gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work for the Spartans. Bonilla, Allen, Krista Judge and Leslie Furness each wrapped two hits to pace the UNCG offense in the nightcap.
Story Courtesy Western Carolina sports information
Mercer 8-5, Western Carolina 0-4
MACON, GA - Western Carolina struggled to find a rhythm offensively in game one of a twin bill, then got on track at the plate but could not defend nine walks in the second, falling in doubleheader action at Mercer, 8-0 and 5-4, Wednesday night in non-conference action.
The Catamounts (24-15) could only muster two hits versus five strikeouts in the opening game, five-inning run rule shutout against the Bears, while Mercer touched up Western's pitching for eight runs on 11 hits. Tallying the two hits for WCU were freshman Stephanie Beatty, who doubled, and starting pitcher, freshman Jenny Jackson. In the circle, Jackson surrendered six runs, five of which were earned, on six hits with one walk in just two and a third innings to suffer her third loss of the season, falling to 8-3. Sophomore Savannah Filley threw the final two and a thirds in relief holding the Bears to two runs, both earned, on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Giving up a run in the bottom of the second, Western trailed by just one entering the bottom half of the third. However, Mercer managed to push across five runs in the home half of the third inning, including a three-run home run to right by Jamie Madruga that chased Jackson. The Bears plated two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth and had two on with two out when the game was called by run rule.
Western appeared more like itself in the night cap, regaining its offensive prowess by pounding out nine hits, including WCU's lone homer of the doubleheader, before late inning pitching woes allowed the Bears to mount the come from behind victory, 5-4.
Jackson put the Catamounts on the board in the top of the first with short-lived, 1-0, lead, grounding out to drive in the game's first run from third. The Bears took advantage of a bases loaded walk by WCU starter Mendy McKenzie in the home half of the frame to knot the game at one, which is where it stood until the top of the third. With one on, junior Ashley Adams belted her team-leading 12th home run of the season, clearing the wall in left center off Bear starting pitcher, Stephanie Rossman, to give the Catamounts the 3-1 lead.
WCU added a fourth run to its lead an inning later when freshman Allyson McCubbins lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield, scoring Beatty for the 4-1 advantage which it would hold until the bottom of the sixth. Down to its final six outs, Mercer rallied by first taking advantage of free passes which plated two runs to slice the deficit to one, 4-3. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Bears' Kristin Talamantes ripped a shot into left field scoring two and giving Mercer its first lead of the game, 5-4.
April Cunningham, who relieved Rossman in the fifth, worked quickly in the seventh and struck out the final batter to pick up her first collegiate win as the freshman struck out two in three innings of hitless relief.
McKenzie suffered the loss for Western, her second-straight defeat dating back to game three of the series in Boone against Appalachian State, despite holding the Bears at bay for five solid innings. The Clemmons, N.C., native tossed five and two thirds innings, running into the most trouble in sixth. She was credited with allowing all five runs on just four hits while striking out five, but did surrender a career-worst nine walks. Filley threw the final two thirds innings in scoreless and hitless relief.
Freshman Heather Pritchard led the Catamounts at the plate in the second game, going 2-for-4 with her fourth double of the season, a stole base and a run scored, with freshman Samm Keppel finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Adams led four players with a single hit in the contest, driving in a team-best two runs.
Story Courtesy Elon sports information
North Carolina 5-8, Elon 0-1
CHAPEL HILL, NC - The Elon softball team fell in doubleheader action to North Carolina on Wednesday evening at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels earned a 5-0 win in the first game before taking the second game 8-1.
In the first game, North Carolina pitcher Crystal Cox allowed just one hit in five innings of work while striking out 10 batters to lead the Tar Heels.
UNC got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Cassie Palmer drew a walk before Ashley Oxendine singled to put runners on first and second. Casey Testa knocked an RBI single through the left side to score Palmer and go ahead 1-0.
The Tar Heels continued the scoring in the bottom of the third inning when Jennifer Jacobs blasted a two-run homer out of right centerfield to push the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth with runners on first and second, Testa knocked a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Palmer. Jacobs then singled through the right side to plate Oxendine and go ahead 5-0.
Cox moved to 17-5 on the season with the win. Amber Johnson tossed two innings in relief, giving up one hit and fanning four batters.
Samantha Schroeder (5-5) suffered the loss for Elon after hurling a complete game and giving up five runs (three earned) on 11 hits while striking out three batters.
Jacobs led the Tar Heels from the plate, going three-for-four with one run and three RBI. Testa went two-for-three and posted two RBI and Theresa Nicholas went two-for-three.
Debbie Zeigler and Patti Weber registered one hit a piece for the Phoenix.
In the second game, Elon got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning. Jaimie Rao led off the inning with a double to left field before Erica Ayala put down a sacrifice bunt to move Rao to third base. With two outs, Nicole Ellis knocked a double to left centerfield to plate Rao and put the Phoenix on top 1-0.
North Carolina (35-10) responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Oxendine led off with a double before Jacobs walked and Emily Troup singled to load the bases. Anna Evans then knocked a two-RBI single to plate Oxendine and pinch runner Marissa May to go ahead 2-1. Troup scored on an error by the Elon shortstop to put the Tar Heels ahead 3-1.
North Carolina added five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Testa launched a solo home run over the left field fence and pinch hitter Alyssa Francona blasted a grand slam out of centerfield to put the Tar Heels up 8-1.
Whitney Meeks (9-3) sufferd the loss after tossing five innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out one batter. Melanie Helterbran threw one inning in relief and gave up four runs on one hit and retired two batters.
Cox (18-5) picked up the win for North Carolina after hurling two and two-third innings in relief and giving up no runs on one hit and striking out three. Starter Lisa Norris threw three and one-third innings and gave up one run on two hits while striking out one batter. Amber Johnson tossed one inning and gave up no runs on one hit.
Ellis led Elon from the plate, going two-for-three with one RBI while Rao recorded one hit and one run.
Evans paced the Tar Heel offense with two hits on two at-bats, one run and two RBI. Troup also went two-for-two from the plate and posted two runs.