GSU SOFTBALL SWEEPS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
ORANGEBURG, S.C. ? The Georgia Southern softball team swept South Carolina State in a midweek doubleheader. The Eagles improve to 13-17 as they head into Southern Conference play this weekend at Chattanooga.
Georgia Southern 4, South Carolina State 0
Freshman Lindsey Hopkins (McDonough, Ga.) reached on an infield single and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Heather Smith (Williamson, Ga.) in the first inning to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
In the third, back-to-back RBI singles from seniors Maria Laurato (New Orleans, La.) and Katie Smith (Goose Creek, S.C.) added to the GSU advantage. Laurato eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Michelle Beasley (Metter, Ga.) to make the score 4-0.
Junior Melissa Laliberte (Cobourg, Ontario, Canada) fanned eight Bulldog batters and gave up only one hit for the win and improves to 4-6. Janae Palmer falls to 2-8 for South Carolina State.
Georgia Southern 12, South Carolina State 1 (6 innings)
Georgia Southern jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning as the first three batters reached base and scored. Hopkins, freshman Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) and Heather Smith each singled and came around to score.
The Bulldogs put a run on the board in the bottom half of the first as Tifanie Lewis was issued a bases loaded walk.
The Eagles scored five runs in the fifth. Junior Aubrey Thweatt (Georgia, Vt.) scored on an Elizabeth Branan (Alpharetta, Ga.) double to left center and Laurato hit a two-RBI single to center field that drove in Hopkins and Iduate. GSU added two more runs on a passed ball and wild pitch.
Georgia Southern added to the 8-1 lead in the sixth on back-to-back hits from Hopkins and Iduate and another multi-RBI hit from Laurato.
Hopkins went 4-for-4 in game two and Iduate tallied three hits. Laurato led the Eagles with four RBI.
Senior A.J. Street (Lilburn, Ga.) improves to 3-4 on the season for GSU. She struck out six batters in five innings of relief for the win. TaTreka Polite drops to 0-7 for The Bulldogs.
UNCG drops two games at East Carolina
GREENVILLE, NC ? The UNC Greensboro softball team dropped both games in a non-conference doubleheader with East Carolina Thursday afternoon at East Carolina Softball Field. The Spartans dropped a 2-1 decision in game one and were no-hit in a 3-0 loss in the night cap.
UNCG (17-18) took a 1-0 advantage in game one with a run scored by junior Mary Greenway. The Roanoke, VA native led the inning with a leadoff single and advanced to second when Brittany Ausley was putout at first base. Greenway was plated with a RBI single from Adriane Audley.
The Pirates tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth inning with a leadoff home run from Charina Sumner. East Carolina had a chance to add another run with two runners on base but the inning ended when Paige Baggett grounded out to UNCG pitcher Vanessa Oakes.
East Carolina scored their game winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Pirates started the inning with a leadoff single by pinch hitter Christina Merrida. Merrida, who advanced to second when teammate Kaui Tom was out at first base, was plated when Jessica Johnson hit a sacrifice fly.
Oakes (7-3) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hit in 6.0 innings of work. She walked one and had two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the game was held scoreless through the first five innings with both teams only managing one hit. East Carolina got on the board first with a home run through left field from Joyce Roodenberg in the fifth inning. UNCG tried to tie the game up in the top of the sixth but couldn’t get their bats going with two strikeouts and a fly out to end the inning.
East Carolina sealed the series sweep with a two-run sixth inning. The Pirates started the inning with a single and from Paige Bagett. Bagett advanced to second on a UNCG put out and came around the bases with a RBI double from Erin St. Ledger. The Pirates added another run when Tiffany Shaw, who pinch ran for St. Ledger, came home on an RBI single.
Amber Harrell (5-10) picked up the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Hannah Angel pitched 0.1 innings in relief.
The Spartans open Southern Conference action this weekend when they head to Greenville, SC for a weekend series with Furman. The Spartans return to UNCG Softball Stadium March 31 when they welcome Chattanooga for a weekend series.