CofC Takes Two From Georgia Southern
The College of Charleston extended its win streak to seven with as the Cougars took both ends of a Southern Conference softball doubleheader ? 3-2 and 4-1 ? from Georgia Southern before 161 on Friday at Patriots Point Field in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Charleston (21-17, 5-3 SoCon) will wrap up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Terri Mesko (10-7) scattered five hits and allowed two runs in Game 1 for the win. She fanned eight. Georgia Southern’s Melissa Laliberte fell to 6-9 after up giving four hits and the three runs. She walked four and struck out 11.
The Cougars tallied a pair of runs in the first inning when Kristie Shifflett blasted a home run to left center to score Amber Shifflett who reached on a walk.
Both teams remained scoreless over the next three innings before Georgia Southern (17-23, 4-4 SoCon) added two runs in the fifth. Elizabeth Branan’s RBI-single up the middle scored Nina Iduate who pinch ran for Samantha Russo after she singled up the middle. Michelle Beasley, who reached on a miscue by Katie Peasture, scored the Eagles’ final run of the game on Heather Smith’s RBI-single.
Charleston answered with its final run of the game on a sac fly from Shannon Howard to score A. Shifflett after her second walk of the game.
Jennifer Golden led the Cougars’ offense on 2-for-3 hitting, while Izmena Cabrera and K. Shifflett had a hit apiece. Branan, who led Georgia Southern’s offense, was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
Game 2 was scoreless through the bottom of the fourth before Brittany Small hit an RBI-single to score Darla Roberson, who pinch ran for Howard after she walked. The Cougars added another run in the fifth when A. Shifflett scored on Howard’s second RBI-sac fly of the day for the 2-0 lead.
Charleston scored two more runs in the sixth on K. Shifflett’s RBI-double to left center to score A. Shifflett, followed by Golden’s RBI-single to score K. Shifflett.
Katie Sansouci (6-3) yielded Georgia Southern its lone unearned run of the game in the seventh to Beasley who singled, then reached third on a fielding miscue by Kolby Schooley and was batted in by Branan on a single through the left side.
Sansouci scattered eight hits, walked two and struck out six.
Logan Free (5-10) took the loss as she gave up three hits and two runs. She walked seven and struck out two in 4 2/3 innings of work. A.J. Street pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief and gave three hits and two runs.
A. Shifflett was 2-for-3 to lead the Charleston offense, followed by Small who was 1-for-2 at the plate. Cabrera, K. Shifflett and Golden each had a hit.
Katie Smith was 2-for-3 to lead Georgia Southern at the plate.
Furman Earns Doubleheader Split With Elon
Greenville, S.C. - Furman exploded for eight sixth-inning runs to complete its comeback in a 15-7 victory over Elon in Southern Conference softball action Friday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium. Elon rallied to down Furman 4-3 in game two.
Tied at 7-7 entering the bottom of the sixth, Amber Kiser opened the frame with a double and Abby Robertson and Stephanie Cushing followed with singles. After Megan Jaudon lined out to right field, Brythe Blakenship reached on an error to drive in the ninth run. Lana Mackey singled to load the bases and Danielle Franklin line a single through the left side to up the lead to 10-7.
A groundout by Lynn Parmer and an error led to two more runs before Robertson laced a two-run single. Cushing capped the game and forced the eight-run rule with a base hit over the leftfielder's head to plate the final run.
Elon took a 6-1 lead after two and a half innings scoring two runs in each of the first three frames. Patti Weber highlighted the Phoenix offenseive attack with a two-run blast to left-center in the second inning.
Blankenship helped Furman trim the deficit in the bottom of the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, Blakenship blooped a single just out of the reach of the shortstop to plate two runs.
After Elon added a single run in the fifth to take a 7-3 advantage, Furman pulled even in the bottom of the inning. Parmer laced a leadoff double to right and Kiser reached on a one-out single to give Furman runners at the corners. Robertson drew a base on balls and Cushing hammered a double to left-center to cut the lead to 7-5. Robertson was cut down at the plate after a passed ball moved Cushing to third, but Jaudon knotted the game at 7-7 with a two-out blast over the centerfield fence.
Vanessa Williams (1-1) earned the win for Furman after allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings of relief work. Kiser paced the Lady Paladins' 17-hit attack going 4-for-5 with a school-record five runs. Robertson went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks and a pair of RBI while Cushing went 3-for-4 with four RBI.
Reliever Samantha Schroeder suffered the loss for Elon to fall to 0-4. Schroeder was touched for six runs, two earned, in 1.1 innings of work. Melanie Helterbran and Jamie Rao collected two hits apiece for the Phoenix while Weber batted in three.
Elon rallied from a 3-2 deficit in game two to claim a 4-3 win.
The Phoenix took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first on a Debbie Zeigler RBI single and Rao sacrifice fly. Furman answered with three in the bottom of the frame. Elon starter Carol Lilley retired the first two batters of the inning before issuing three consecutive walks. Mackey followed with a three-run double off of the left field wall.
Elon tied the game on an error in the second. Furman looked to take the lead in the sixth. Mackey lined a two-out single to right, but Jaymie Shanahan threw a strike to the plate to erase Cushing.
In the seventh, Brandi Jones scored on a throwing error from Jaudon to give the Phoenix a 4-3 lead. Lilley retired the Lady Paladins in the bottom of the inning to improve to 10-7.
Lilley allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings. Blake Murray (6-11) suffered the loss for Furman after allowing two earned runs on five hits in seven innings.
Tracey Dahlen went 2-for2 with two walks for Elon while Mackey went 2-for-3 with three RBI for Furman.
Furman (13-21-1, 3-5 SoCon) and Elon (22-17, 6-2 SoCon) play the rubber game of their three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.
UNCG Splits Twinbill With Appalachian State
GREENSBORO, NC ? Adriane Audley scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to give UNC Greensboro a 1-0 win and a doubleheader spilt over Appalachian State in Southern Conference softball action at UNCG Softball Stadium Friday afternoon. The Mountaineers claimed a 4-3 victory in game one to earn the split.
Appalachian State got on the board first in the top of the third inning. Kasey Motsinger hit a home run right over the right field wall to give the Mountaineers the early 1-0 advantage. Appalachian State added to their tally in the top of the fourth. Natalie Willis hit a leadoff single and moved to second with a stolen base. The right fielder took advantage of a UNCG passed ball and advanced to third base before Diana Cook hit an RBI single which plated Willis and extended the Appalachian State lead to 2-0.
UNCG responded in the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs on two hits to take a 3-2 lead. Appalachian State pitcher Keri Blackwelder walked Audley to open the inning. The shortstop was able to advance to second base when catcher Leslie Furness hit a sacrifice to third base. Audley was plated with an RBI single from Clouser which cut the Mountaineers lead to 2-1.
With Lyndsey Wilson and Kara Clouser on base, freshman Whitney Sirois hit a single through right field which dove home both Wilson and Clouser and gave the Spartans the 3-2 lead.
The score held until the top of the sixth inning when the Mountaineers were able to regain the lead by scoring two runs. Appalachian State’s Brittany Gaston hit a single to put one runner on base. The Mountaineers were able to put another runner on when Lindsay Glover was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and came home when Diana Cook hit a two RBI single giving the Mountaineers a 4-3 lead.
The Spartans had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after placing two runners in scoring position but couldn’t find a hit and left both runners stranded with a strikeout to end the inning. UNCG had another chance in the seventh inning after Mary Greenway hit a single and stole second base but again couldn’t find a hit and ended the inning with a strikeout and a ground out.
Vanessa Oakes (8-6) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on six hits. She had five strikeouts and issued no walks.
The Spartans rebounded in the late game and were able to get on the board early. In the second inning Audley hit a leadoff single and advanced to third base with a sacrifice bunt by Clouser. She crossed home plate on a passed ball from Appalachian State’s Yancy Moose to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead.
The Mountaineers had a chance in the fourth inning when they were able to put runners on second and third base but UNCG pitcher Amber Harrell struck out the next batter and catcher Kristyn Hurt grounded out to end the inning. Appalachian State had another chance in the seventh inning. Cook hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a UNCG passed ball. The Mountaineers put runners on first and third with a single from Motsinger but couldn’t find a hit and ended the game with a pop out to left field.
Harrell (8-12) picked up the win after going the distance. She allowed no runs on four hits and had five strikeouts.
Audley led the Spartans from the plate and was 3-for-2 with a run scored.
The teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
Fowler Hits Walk-Off Homerun in 5-4 Win Over Chattanooga
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Freshman Mollie Fowler hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel Western Carolina softball (18-22, 3-4 SoCon) to a 5-4 victory over Southern Conference leading Chattanooga (24-22, 5-2 SoCon) Friday at Catamount Complex. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. to close out the three-game series.
The Catamounts are now riding a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season. The club also hit four homeruns against Chattanooga the most in a game this year.
Western Carolina looked to have the game in the bag in the top of the seventh, as the team enjoyed a 4-1 advantage over the Lady Mocs. Things got interesting in the seventh, however, when pitcher Lauren Ross, who had tossed six strong innings, began to waiver a bit. She gave up a walk to Brittney Whittier and then a homerun when Laci Upchurch launched a rocker over the left field wall.
With Chattanooga now just down by one run, Head Coach Christine Hornak replaced Ross with relief pitcher Savannah Filley. Lady Moc Jeannie Cochran drew a walk off Filley and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Cochran scored off a ground out to tie the game.
Western Carolina didn't waste anytime getting on the board, scoring in the bottom of the first. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Stephanie Beatty hit her seventh homerun of the year to give the Catamounts an early 1-0 lead.
The lead swelled to 2-0 thanks to lone senior Nikki Bost in the bottom of the third inning. Bost hit her second homerun of the season when she nailed Lady Mocs' pitcher Ashley Frizzell's offering over the left field wall.
Chattanooga got a run in the fifth inning. With one out, Cochran singled up the middle and scored off an RBI single by Tia Blosser.
Bost accounted for the Catamounts third run of the game. With one out she earned a walk and stole second. She moved to third on a fly out by Beatty and scored off a throwing error by Chattanooga.
Fowler would score her first key run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. She hit a homerun over the left field wall to give the Catamounts their fourth run in the game. The run would be momentous for Western Carolina because Chattanooga would rebound and score three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at four.
Ross got the start in the game lasting six inning allowing three runs on four hits and striking out five. Since Ross left with the Catamounts leading 4-3 and Filley gave up the tying run, she gets a no decision. Filley gets the win and improves to 4-4 on the year.
Frizzell started the game for Chattanooga and was replaced by Brooke Loudermilk. Frizzell also gets a no decision and Loudermilk takes the loss, falling to 14-9 on the season.
Fowler was huge for the Catamounts in the win. She was 3-for-3 with two homeruns, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Heather Pritchard also had a multiple hit game with two singles.